Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

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.

Maureen – “Trust yourself”

Maureen talks about finding your own way in your healing process.

Claudia – My story

Claudia tells her story about art and grief

Jen – “Yoga for grief”

Jen discusses how yoga can help release stress and give you strength to help deal with the circumstances you need to deal with.

Janice – “Grieving alone”

Janice discusses grieving alone and when its important to have people around you that can listen and understand what you are feeling.

Keith – “How can you help”

Keith explains that by imagining being in someone’s position can show you practical ways of helping them.

Keith – “You need not be alone”

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

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.

Rev. Sky – “Grief is a journey”

Rev. Sky talks about her personal loss and the positive changes that happen as we journey through grief.

Maureen – Preparing for holidays

Maureen gives some ideas to help during holidays like connecting and taking time out

Keith – “Difference between grief and mourning”

Keith explains how grief is internal and mourning is external.

Caileigh – Through play children learn so much about their grief

Caileigh discussed how children learn so much about their grief through play. There’s less confusion, there’s less anxiety, there’s more awareness. For the child and the parent, there is more acceptance of grief.