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

Posted in

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

Posted in

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

All Pandemic-Related Videos

Coping during the pandemic
  • Coping during the pandemic

Andrea – Dealing with personal belongings

Andrea – Dealing with personal belongings

Andrea discusses dealing with her late husbands personal belongings and the need to purge

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.

Zoreena – Passing on kindness

Zoreena – Passing on kindness

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

Karyn and Aidan – Coping with the COVID restrictions

Karyn and Aidan – Coping with the COVID restrictions

Karyn and Aidan talk about how they dealt with not being able to visit John in hospital

Lynda – “The importance of getting professional help”

Lynda – “The importance of getting professional help”

Lynda discusses the many ways professionals can help.

Maureen – Isolated in a nursing home

Maureen – Isolated in a nursing home

Maureen talks about her father-in-law isolated and palliative during the pandemic

Sarah K – Grieving in isolation

Sarah K – Grieving in isolation

Sarah discusses isolation, being in grief during the pandemic and the importance of keeping connected

Maureen – Funeral during the pandemic

Maureen – Funeral during the pandemic

Maureen talks about funeral arrangements during a pandemic

Marija – Types of Loss in a Pandemic

Marija – Types of Loss in a Pandemic

Marija explains how all of the losses we experience during a pandemic are compounded

Maureen – “Grief doesn’t stop, even when the outside world is in crisis”

Maureen – “Grief doesn’t stop, even when the outside world is in crisis”

Maureen gives suggestions about how you can help people in grief