Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Michele – Advice to younger grieving self

Michele tells what advice she would give to her younger grieving self

Jenn – Art can give a break from grieving

Jenn talks about one of the most overlooked benefits of making art during bereavement. It can provide and escape from your grief.

Chantal – Anticipatory grief

Chantal defines antipatory grief and the grief before the physical loss

Jacqueline – Advice to Younger Self

Jacqueline talks about seeking help and being kind to yourself

Madelyn – Holding space

Madelyn explains how holding space can help anyone in grief

Amanda – “Ministry of Presence”

Amanda discusses how being present with someone can be helpful.

Christian – “When people say dumb things”

Christian explains how he deals with people who say dumb things.

Claudia – Working with an art therapist

Claudia how all art making is theraputic and working with an art therapist amplifies the process in a positive way

Maureen – “Pregnancy and infant loss”

Maureen explains how pregnancy and infant loss is often misunderstood or underestimated.

Jacqueline – Art Therapy & Grief

Jacqueline discusses about art therapy and how it brings a special layer to help move through grief

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.

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.