Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Thoughts on International Overdose Awareness Day 2023

August 30, 2023

We lead multifaceted lives, and the deaths of those we love who have died by drug poisoning contain multitudes. The death of a loved one can bring intense grief, shock, anger, shame, or guilt. People who use drugs, and those who love them that they leave behind, face stigma in North America’s dominant, settler culture.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / Death By Overdose / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic

Jenn – Your art completely belongs to you

January 24, 2022

Jenn explains the wonderful thing about art is that piece belongs completely to you and you have the power to do whatever you wish with it . She makes some suggestions as to what you may want to do.

Art / Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Video

Grief, Exhaustion, & Rest

March 21, 2024

Many people consider grief to be a response to the death of a loved one, but we grieve so much more than that. Grief is an emotional response to loss of any kind. Both real or perceived loss can trigger the response. The loss of a job, a miscarriage, a breakup, losing a sentimental item,…

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter

Kristal – Attending Memorials as a Support Worker

April 23, 2023

Kristal discusses the importance of finding ways to honour people that have been lost and how they have impacted you. She speaks to how she often chooses not to attend public memorials for those she has lost as a support worker as they are often very overwhelming. Instead, she has her own personal rituals or ways of honouring those she has lost personally including opening a window. She discusses how this practice was used when she worked in palliative care.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Death By Overdose / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Video

Maureen – “Grief can come back”

October 17, 2019

Maureen explains however grief comes back, you are OK.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Perinatal / Video

Janice – “Own our feelings”

December 10, 2018

Janice discusses the goals of emotional work and arriving at a peaceful place.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Video

Janice – “Feelings”

December 10, 2018

Janice talks about the importance of allowing our feelings as that’s the only way to get through them.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Video

Keith – “You need not be alone”

December 10, 2018

Keith discusses getting help, resources and that you don’t need to be alone.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Video

Rev. Sky – “Emotions”

December 10, 2018

Rev. Sky talks about the emotions that come along with loss and outlets that can help.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Grief and Trauma / Video

Michele – Expressive arts and healing grief

March 14, 2022

Michele defines expressive arts and how they can help healing in grief

Art / Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Video

Calls to Care, Calls to Action: Bearing Witness to Global Catastrophic Loss of Life and Traumatic Events

December 6, 2023

We bear witness to stories of mass loss of lives, stories of families in Gaza being forced from their land, loss of culture and traditions, and countless other ways systems of colonization and oppression can contribute to other non-death losses those who are directly affected currently and have historically faced. As we discussed in a previous article, we can also experience collective grief following natural disasters, accidents, international conflict, and acts of violence that have resulted in catastrophic loss of lives.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief

Maureen – “Your experience of loss is unique”

October 17, 2019

Maureen explains how your experience of grief is your own.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Featured Videos / Video