Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Left Out: Enfranchising Children’s Grief and Loss

By: Jessica Milette, MSW, RSW All human beings have the capacity to grieve: people with intellectual disabilities, those living with a traumatic brain injury, and children of all ages. However, many people can experience disenfranchised grief when someone dies. Disenfranchised grief is generally grief that is not usually openly acknowledged, socially accepted or publicly mourned.…

Janice – “Crying”

Janice explains how crying helps physically and emotionally.

Grief, Breastfeeding, and Care

In this essay, I share a bit about my story of grief and breastfeeding. I also share some thoughts about the cultural grief some people are carrying about the lack of support afforded to lactating families whose goal it is to feed their baby from their body. I use some gendered language throughout this essay…

Rev. Sky – “What is a trigger”

Rev. Sky explains triggers, identifying them and what you need.

Jen – “1st year non-judgmental”

Jen discusses the ups and downs of the 1st year.

Corrie – Grieving during a pandemic

Corrie discuss the grieving during a pandemic

Christian – “Jeff’s Story”

Christian tells Jeff”s story… the good and his struggles.

Keith – “My story”

Keith tells his story and why he became a counsellor.

Cara – People with intellectual disabilities need to be recognized and honoured in their grief

Cara talks about grievers living with intellectual disabilities and that it’s not about those of us who are neuro-typical, giving them a voice or providing them or saying things for them. Rather, it’s that they already have a voice. They already have these experiences and they want them to be recognized, acknowledged and honoured.

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Jenn – In grief an art therapist can be there to walk with you

Jenn discusses how an art therapists can support you in those moments of pain. They are there to honour your stories and experiences.

Madelyn -Healing and support group for Asian Canadian women

Madelyn discusses the value in having your voice heard