Grief and Trauma

Left Out: Enfranchising Children’s Grief and Loss

By: Jessica Milette, MSW, RSW All human beings have the capacity to grieve: people with intellectual disabilities, those living with a traumatic brain injury, and children of all ages. However, many people can experience disenfranchised grief when someone dies. Disenfranchised grief is generally grief that is not usually openly acknowledged, socially accepted or publicly mourned.…

Sarah K – Grieving during a pandemic

Sarah discusses how the pandemic has pulled back the curtain on grief

Brenda and Dale – “Their Story”

Brenda and Dale tell the story of their son’s suicide. They continue to grieve the death of their son by suicide.

Brenda and Dale – “Seeking Help”

Brenda and Dale discuss how seeing a counsellor helped them. They continue to grieve the death of their son by suicide.

John Martin – The Shocking Reality of Painful Loss

John talks about shock and grief

Rev. Sky – “What is trauma?”

Rev. Sky discusses how trauma affects us on many levels.

Christian – “Stigma of opioid death”

Christian talks about the social acceptance of an opioid overdose.

What I know about grief

The following are some things I know to be true about grief for me, based on my lived experience. Some of them may resonate with you as well. Grief is unique to the people experiencing it in each moment, so please take whatever makes sense to you from this share and leave whatever doesn’t.

Rev. Sky – “If you have experienced sudden loss”

Rev. Sky discusses things you can do to help navigate emotions.

Donna B – “Brotherhood of Military”

Donna talks about support from the extended family of the military. Donna continues to grieve the death her son during service in Afghanistan.

Krista – “It does get easier”

Krista talks about time and acceptance. Krista continues to grieve the death of her son from opioid overdose.

Collective Grief

When the death of a person affects many members in a community, city, country, or across the world, people will experience collective grief.

These are some things that can help people through the experience of collective grief across a community.