Coping During the Pandemic

Coping During the Pandemic Playlists

View video playlists related to specific topics, including both participants and grief professionals. Use the controls at the top-left to navigate videos within each playlist or use the larger arrows to view additional playlists.

Grief Stories features short videos, podcast interviews, and blog posts offering ideas for coping with grief. The tools and activities on this website are intended to be used as a resource for people who are grieving, those who are supporting grievers and healthcare professionals. The information provided is NOT meant to be a substitute for professional therapy.

All content, including our videos, is vetted by health care experts.

Grief Involves Powerful Emotions.

Experiencing loss during the pandemic includes all the usual challenges of grief. It also involves navigating on-going changes and uncertainty that impact how we honour and remember someone who has died.

From isolation during illness to restrictions on gatherings for funerals and memorials, all aspects of loss are affected. At the same time, we're coping with anxiety and struggles in our day-to-day lives brought on by the realities of the pandemic. At Grief Stories, we're grateful for the support of Northumberland United Way in creating supportive content for those experiencing loss during the pandemic.

Content Funded By

Northumberland United Way logo

Northumberland United Way

We are thankful for the Northumberland United Way Grant Funding that was distributed to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community.

Pandemic-Related Blog

Anticipatory Grief During a Pandemic

Posted in

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW It is 2020 and the world is gripped by a relentless pandemic. The news is filled…

Ways to Mourn During the Pandemic

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Ways to Mourn During the Pandemic The restrictions related to the global pandemic are intended to…

Lake in a forest

When You Can’t Be There As a Loved One Dies

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW There are times when we have some warning that a loved one is dying. We can…

Thinking About Death and Dying

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Though everyone eventually dies, it can be difficult to think about death and dying and many…

All Pandemic-Related Videos

Coping during the pandemic
  • Coping during the pandemic

Kim – Support at the hospital

Kim – Support at the hospital

Kim discusses how tough COVID made the hospital experience and the support she received

Zoreena – Burnout and counseling

Zoreena – Burnout and counseling

Zoreena talks about her father's decline in a nursing home during COVID

Kim – You can get through this

Kim – You can get through this

Kim talks about the difference between her Dad and her Mum's death

Nicole – Pandemic’s Effect on Safe Spaces and Mental Health Access

Nicole – Pandemic’s Effect on Safe Spaces and Mental Health Access

Nicole discusses how the pandemic affected access to safe spaces and shelters for those living rough and living with addiction.

Jane – Loneliness while processing grief

Jane – Loneliness while processing grief

Jane talks about grieving without her extended family because of the pandemic and how that's impacted things like scattering ashes and having celebrations of life.

Kate – COVID and grieving with my parents

Kate – COVID and grieving with my parents

Kate shares about how COVID was stress on top of dealing with the loss of her brother

Laura- Loss to Covid & Disconnection

Laura- Loss to Covid & Disconnection

Laura shares her experience losing someone to covid and navigating attending attending funerals during the pandemic.

Zoreena – Tribute

Zoreena – Tribute

Zoreena talks about tributes, family, pulling together and not being able to have a funeral

Maureen – “Permission to mourn”

Maureen – “Permission to mourn”

Maureen explains about grief being valid and how important it is to look after yourself.

Jessica M – A Parking Lot Memorial

Jessica M – A Parking Lot Memorial

Jessica shares how her family gathered after her uncle died during COVID and how her family came up with a creative way of getting together in a parking lot.