Bereavement Professionals’ Insights

Amanda – “Reach out”

Amanda discusses the importance of connecting with others.

Donna – “Grief in conversation”

Donna discusses language and talking about grief.

Sara – Creating music

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

Michele – Creative expression and processing grief

Michele tells what advice she would give to her younger grieving selfMichele talks about coping that since being a child how creativity helped

Claudia – Defining an art therapist

Claudia talks about art therapy as a form of psycho therapy

Keith – “Hope”

Keith talks about time, healing and hope.

Maureen – “My miscarriages and attachment”

Maureen tells about her miscarriages, attachment and understanding why she felt so terrible.

Claudia – Taking your art home after art therapy

Claudia talks about why sometimes not to take your art home after therapy

A Million Other Things: Grieving a Drug Poisoning Death

Sister, father, son, niece, best friend – 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 – 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.

Caileigh – Advice to my younger self about grief

Caileigh talks about things that you can do to balance out feelings that it’s okay to experience all of the big feelings that you have, to find joy in little moments, and to find ways that you can cope with those big feelings.

Sara – Lyrics

Sara talks about how lyrics can have an impact on how we experience music

Jessica M – Legacy

Jessica explains legacy and gives examples including her own.