Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Keith – “Knowing what to say”

Keith gives practical advice about helping someone in grief.

Jenn – Your art completely belongs to you

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.

Kristal – Attending Memorials as a Support Worker

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.

Christian – “Stigma of opioid death”

Christian talks about the social acceptance of an opioid overdose.

Thoughts on International Overdose Awareness Day 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.

Janice- “Stay with feelings”

Janice talks about how feelings can be buried and how working through them can help.

Maureen – “Grief can come back”

Maureen explains however grief comes back, you are OK.

Janice – “Go into feelings”

Janice explains how important it is to pay attention to your feelings.

Jessica M – It’s OK not to cry

Jessica discusses how grief is individual and finding the way forward can be different for everyone.

Janice – “Grief can be complicated”

Janice discusses disenfranchised grief and holding on to hurt.

Janice – “Let the feelings come up”

Janice talks about how it can help to let the feelings come up.

Shannon – Power of Presence

Shannon discusses how just showing up, being present is a powerful way of supporting to someone who has lost. Listen more – talk less.