Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Keith – “We need one another”

Keith talks about the importance of story, understanding our journey and how we are connected.

Adrianna – Death doulas and grief

Adrianna explains what a death doula is

Jean – It’s all about love

Jean talks about losing her husband to a heart attack on valentines day

Maureen – Holiday kindness and grief

Maureen discusses grieving during the holidays and being lifter up by kindness

Janice – “Photographs”

Janice explains how photographs can be a doorway to help move forward.

Jessica M – Finding Hope

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

Claudia – You do not have to be an artist to do art therapy

Claudia explains why you do not have to be an artist to benefit

Chantal – Anticipatory grief

Chantal defines antipatory grief and the grief before the physical loss

Alongside

That is also our best, and only role, when supporting a person with a developmental disability to grieve. We must be the one that comes alongside. There is no closer place we can get to. We must be present, be with, perhaps not understanding or comprehending what the person we support is experiencing, but alongside them nonetheless. We must be there, ready to provide whatever we can discover of their unique need in grief.

Michele – Expressive arts and healing grief

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

A Million Other Things: Grieving a Drug Poisoning Death

Sister, father, son, niece, best friend – some of these words might be how you would describe your loved one who has died of an overdose or drug poisoning. People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) are not defined by their substance use – they are a million other things to those who love and miss them dearly. Drug poisoning and overdose deaths are stigmatized in our society. The focus is on how the person died, not who they are. Society still holds onto old notions and beliefs about drugs which come with a value judgment about people who use drugs, which further contributes to stigma. Not everyone who uses drugs is an addict and not all drug use is inherently problematic. People who use drugs deserve dignity and respect when we are remembering and honouring those who have died by overdose or drug poisoning.

Sara – My Story

Sara talks about why she became a music therapist, espression and connecting to feelings