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

Practical Possibilities for Mourning in a Pandemic

Posted in

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Practical Possibilities for Mourning in a Pandemic When someone we care about dies, we have a…

Grieving Through Another Pandemic Holiday Season

Posted in

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Grieving Through Another Pandemic Holiday Season This is our second year collectively facing a crisis across…

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…

Thinking About Death and Dying

Posted in

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

Jane – Struggling to process layers of grief

Jane – Struggling to process layers of grief

Jane talks about her experience navigating multiple losses in a short time and the impact the pandemic has had on that by adding even more multi-facitated layers of grief

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.

Laura- Loss from Addiction

Laura- Loss from Addiction

Laura shares her experience losing a friend to overdose and navigating attending a memorial during the pandemic.

Zoreena – Ask for help

Zoreena – Ask for help

Zoreena explains how important it is to ask for help

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.

Karyn and Aidan – Planning a celebration of life during COVID

Karyn and Aidan – Planning a celebration of life during COVID

Karyn and Aidan discuss creating a celebrating of life during the pandemic

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Karyn and Aidan – Grief changes

Karyn and Aidan – Grief changes

Karyn and Aidan talk about how grief changes, coping, strength, crying, talking, comfort and support

Andrea – Loneliness and support

Andrea – Loneliness and support

Andrea talks about how tough it is to be alone and how her friends and family have come through for her

Jane – Remembering loved ones

Jane – Remembering loved ones

Jane talks about some ways she remembers her grandparents since her passing and the comfort that brings her as she grieves for them.