Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Maureen – “Our 20th Anniversary”

Maureen talks about she dealt with her miscarriages and how she felt after 20 years.

Jacqueline – Advice to Younger Self

Jacqueline talks about seeking help and being kind to yourself

Keith – “How can you help”

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

Chantal – Anticipatory grief

Chantal defines antipatory grief and the grief before the physical loss

Keith – “You need not be alone”

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

Michele – Covid and virtual support

MIchele discuss support and how COVID has affected our grief in so many waysort

Claudia – Art therapy and costs

Claudia talks about how people may shy away from art therapy because of costs and how training schools can be an option

Corrie – Grieving during a pandemic

Corrie discuss the grieving during a pandemic

Rev. Sky – “Weepies”

Rev. Sky talks about weepies, that they are OK and how to deal with them.

Carrie – Validation

Carrie talks about validation and feeling that someone is full responsive and fully present to you and what is going on in your grief… feeling “felt”

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.

Carrie – Thanatology

Carrie explains how thanatolgy is the study of death dying grief and loss.