Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Grief and Disability: Carrie’s Story

It has become clear to me over time that we have much work to do to ensure the delivery of disability-sensitive grief literacy and grief support. In March of 2022 my proposal for four 1-hour sessions was approved, we provided the program for 20 participants. My heart was full in each session.

My heart remains full of hope that conversations, education, and expertise about disability sensitive end of life care and grief support will gain momentum as more and more people join in on this vital conversation.

Thoughts on International Overdose Awareness Day 2023

We lead multifaceted lives, and the deaths of those we love who have died by drug poisoning contain multitudes. The death of a loved one can bring intense grief, shock, anger, shame, or guilt. People who use drugs, and those who love them that they leave behind, face stigma in North Americaā€™s dominant, settler culture.

A Million Other Things: Grieving a Drug Poisoning Death

Sister, father, son, niece, best friend ā€“ some of these words might be how you would describe your loved one who has died of an overdose or drug poisoning. People Who Use Drugs (PWUD) are not defined by their substance use ā€“ they are a million other things to those who love and miss them dearly. Drug poisoning and overdose deaths are stigmatized in our society. The focus is on how the person died, not who they are. Society still holds onto old notions and beliefs about drugs which come with a value judgment about people who use drugs, which further contributes to stigma. Not everyone who uses drugs is an addict and not all drug use is inherently problematic. People who use drugs deserve dignity and respect when we are remembering and honouring those who have died by overdose or drug poisoning.

Marija – The wilderness of grief

Marija discussed acknowedging all aspects of grief and living with grief.

Amanda – ā€œHospice like homeā€

Amanda discusses the value of feeling like being at home during palliative care.

Sara – Music and celebration of life

Sara explains how music can play an importand and significant role in celebrations of life.

Janice – ā€œGo into feelingsā€

Janice explains how important it is to pay attention to your feelings.

Madelyn – My story

Madelyn tells her story and how she became a music therapist working in palliative care

Sara – My Story

Sara talks about why she became a music therapist, espression and connecting to feelings

Cara – Intellectual disabilities, sharing and expressing about grief

Cara discusses how it’s very important that people living with intellectual disabilities have the opportunity to not only know about the information about the person being ill and dying and having the choice and opportunity to go to after death rituals. It’s also really important that they get the opportunity to share their story in whatever way they communicate. This can be verbally through sign language, through communication books, art, music, going for walks, being in nature

Michele – Normalizing conversations around death dying grief and loss

Michele discusses grief literacy, the importance of talking and that dying is a part of life

Sara – Creating music

Sara explains how creating music can be a part of the grieving process