Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Amanda – “Hospice like home”

Amanda discusses the value of feeling like being at home during palliative care.

Cara – Intellectual disabilities, sharing and expressing about grief

Cara discusses how it’s very important that people living with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to not only know about the information about the person being ill and dying and having the choice and opportunity to go to after death rituals. It’s also really important that they get the opportunity to share their story in whatever way they communicate. This can be verbally through sign language, through communication books, art, music, going for walks, being in nature

Jacqueline – Crying

Jacqueline talks about how grief is love and how crying is natural

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.

What Does Grief Support Look Like?

When we experience significant, on-going symptoms of grief that interfere with our adjustment to the reality of our loss, it can be time to seek professional help. It can be difficult to know where to find help and what grief support options are available.

Christian – “Stigma of opioid death”

Christian talks about the social acceptance of an opioid overdose.

Marija – Permission to mourn

Marija discusses the value of being allowing yourself to mourn

Christian – “Remembering together in a meaningful way”

Christian discusses the power of memories.

Madelyn – Accept what you are feeling

Madelyn talks about how it’s ok to not be ok.

Madelyn – Rituals and the Chinese grieving process

Madelyn talks about expressing your grief in Chinese cultures and how rituals are a war of grieving providing comfort

Tending to My Garden of Grief

So long as I remember the lives of those I have lost, honour their presence and impact on me and celebrate their spirit, they will continue to live with me and the pain will feel bearable. It will no longer stop me in my tracks. Instead, it will encourage me and propel me forward through the transmutation of that grief into something different, something more nuanced and fluid. I’d like to share a practice for processing grief which I have found to be especially helpful.

Maureen – “Peer vs professional support”

Maureen talks about getting help and what is right for you.