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

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…

Anticipatory Grief During a Pandemic

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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…

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

Zoreena – Ask for help

Zoreena – Ask for help

Zoreena explains how important it is to ask for help

Lynda – “Old age home and guilt”

Lynda – “Old age home and guilt”

Lynda discusses how hard it is during the pandemic to have a loved on in an old age home

Jane – Connection, place, and grief

Jane – Connection, place, and grief

Jane talks about the difference between living alone in Toronto while grieving during the pandemic compared to her experience once she moved closer to her family in Northumberland.

Karyn and Aidan – Support from others

Karyn and Aidan – Support from others

Karyn and Aidan discuss how family, friends, and people they didn't know in the community supported them.Talking, meals, dog walking are among the things that made a huge difference.

Zoreena – Passing on kindness

Zoreena – Passing on kindness

Zoreena talks about wakes, funerals, COVID and the importance of kindness

Maureen – “Not being able to be with your loved one”

Maureen – “Not being able to be with your loved one”

Maureen discusses ideas of how you can honour a loved now until it is safe to come together.

Kara – Starting a grief journey again

Kara – Starting a grief journey again

Kara explains how Covid-19 has made her have to relearn tools to help in her grief. The pandemic changed the way Kara continued to grieve the loss of her partner.

Karyn and Aidan – Our story

Karyn and Aidan – Our story

Karyn and Aidan - Karyn tells the story leading up to John's death during the pandemic

Andrea – My Story

Andrea – My Story

Andrea shares her story of losing her husband during a pandemic

Zoreena – Tribute

Zoreena – Tribute

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