Video

Kristal – Lack of Memorials During Pandemic

Kristal talks about how memorials can offer closure to people who are grieving, find a community, and share stories. With the absence of this during the pandemic, many people turned inward to grieve or isolated, which can create safety issues and have an impact on mental health. She speaks to how this leads to depression, physical pain, and it compounds upon itself.

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Jacqueline – How to help a grieving friend

Jacqueline discusses the power of just being there with someone in grief

Claudia – Art in community versus art therapy

Claudia explains how art therapists are trained and how what they do is different that doing art in community

Karyn and Cathy – “Suicide”

Karyn and Cathy discuss how the stigma of suicide impacted the lack of acknowledgement of their grief and loss. Karyn and Cathy continues to grieve the death of their father by suicide.

Lisa – Music and her connection with her father

Lisa talks about the gratitude she has for reconnecting with her father before he died and how much music was a connection for them

Angie – Cumulative grief, cumulative trauma

Angie discusses the challenges of policing and how trauma and grief can accumulate

Jackie – Warming up to do art

Jackie explains how warming up is a way into expressive arts

Chantal – The benefits of the physical part of art making

Chantal talks about how art can release energy in a healthy cathartic way

Kate – Stigma

Kate discusses how difficult the stigma is to deal with

Doug M – “Photographs”

Doug explains why photographs are so important in helping you deal with grief. Doug continues to grieve the death of his first wife.

Russell – “Supporting each other”

Russell discusses how he is adjusting to the new normal. Russell continues to grieve the perinatal death of his son.