Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Chantal – Anticipatory grief

Chantal defines antipatory grief and the grief before the physical loss

Cara – The real issues for grieving people with intellectual disabilities

Cara provides some context for the real issue of grief in the lives of people with intellectual disabilities and those supporting them, including that we consider that there’s not a lot of education or information out there about how best to support someone with an intellectual disability who is grieving.

Amanda – “Listening”

Amanda shares the importance of listening and being comfortable with silence.

Cara – Defining Intellectual disabilities and grief

Cara discusses how grief literacy needs to be improved across the board for people with intellectual disabilities to learn more about grief, death and dying. There is a great need to include them in this natural, normal part of life that we’ll all experience.

Caleigh – Play Session

Caileigh discusses child play sessions, how children can learn about confusing feelings of grief and ways to cope.

Janice – “Feelings”

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

Janice – “Risks”

Janice talks about risks in behaviour and progress.

Jessica M – Finding Hope

Jessica shares memories of her brothers birthday which was just before her mothers death and how they all found hope

Jessica M – The value of talking about grief

Jessica talks about living in North America and the fear many people have about talking about grief but that it is very important to talk. It makes us feel less alone and helps us move through our grief. It’s also how you can keep your lost one alive.

Marija – Permission to mourn

Marija discusses the value of being allowing yourself to mourn

Jean – What grief feels like physically

Jean discusses the physical effects she has experienced in grief

Claudia – My story

Claudia tells her story about art and grief