Supporting Others

Betsy – Adoption and grief

January 26, 2023

Betsy tell her story of losing her adopted son to cancer

Death of a Child / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

Maureen – “Peer vs professional support”

October 17, 2019

Maureen talks about getting help and what is right for you.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Supporting Others / Video

Nicole – Advice for Other Professionals Managing Grief

March 25, 2023

Nicole discusses dealing with repeated loss while working in community outreach, not being afraid to be human.

Collective/Community Grief / Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Death By Overdose / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Professional / Supporting Others / Video

Grief, Breastfeeding, and Care

September 30, 2024

In this essay, I share a bit about my story of grief and breastfeeding. I also share some thoughts about the cultural grief some people are carrying about the lack of support afforded to lactating families whose goal it is to feed their baby from their body. I use some gendered language throughout this essay…

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Perinatal / Supporting Others

Kate – Time to process

March 11, 2023

Kate shares about time and processing her grief especially during COVID

Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Death By Overdose / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Sibling / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

Jim – Significant incidents

June 13, 2023

Jim discusses being involved in a significant incident and how it’s normal to feel overwhelmed and ruminate over it. You may even start to drink or use drugs to cope. But it’s important to remember that you’re not alone. Many police officers have been through similar experiences. And there are resources available to help you get through this.One of the best things you can do is talk to a trusted friend or colleague. They can offer support and understanding. You can also seek professional help from a therapist or counselor. They can help you to process your experience and develop healthy coping mechanisms. It’s also important to remember that you can’t change the past. But you can learn from it. And you can move on. Don’t let one incident define you. You are a strong and capable person. And you will get through this.

First Responders / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

John Martin – Recognize What Your Loss Means For You Now And In The Future

March 13, 2022

John discusses what comes next after initial shock

Grief and Trauma / Supporting Others / Video

Community Grief Toolkit [Downloadable!]

December 23, 2023

This toolkit also reflects on how we support grief in the community. The tools to come together and honour our collective experiences and how to build the resources for further support.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Supporting Others / Toolkits

Left Out: Enfranchising Children’s Grief and Loss

August 13, 2025

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.…

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Grief and Trauma / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Supporting Others

A Million Other Things: Grieving a Drug Poisoning Death

April 12, 2023

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.

Bereavement Professionals' Insights / Blog Post / Collective/Community Grief / Death By Overdose / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / I Am A Professional / I Am A Supporter / Supporting Others

Jim – Helping by listening

June 13, 2023

Jim – ” I talk about how to be a good listener to someone who is grieving. I believe that one of the most important things you can do for someone who is grieving is to simply listen. Don’t try to fix their problems or offer advice. Just listen and be there for them. It can be as simple as meeting for coffee or taking a walk together. You’re doing more help than you realize when you simply listen to someone.

First Responders / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video

Kate – Trust and listening

March 11, 2023

Kate – explains how having someone you trust is super important so that you can have a space space to go to

Death and Grief During a Pandemic / Death By Overdose / Death of A Loved One / Death of a Sibling / Drug Poisoning and the Pandemic / I Am A Griever / Supporting Others / Video