Supporting Others

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.…

John – Being helpful to someone in grief

John shares his thoughts on how to help someone in grief

Kate – Advice to my younger self

Kate explains things being authentic and honest to herself has been very valuable

John Martin – Loss and Grief – Be Careful What You Say to Someone Who Hurts

John discusses how what you say to a griever is very important

Cara – Intellectual disabilities and advance planning

Cara explains that people living with intellectual disabilities are growing to older ages, much like the rest of the population. And as folks are aging what we’re seeing is the need for families more so than ever, to do some advanced planning for who will take over any caregiving decision making or where that person may live, what sort of support they may need and what that’s going to look like after the parents or the guardians die so that this doesn’t become a crisis situation.

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Jacqueline – Advice to Younger Self

Jacqueline talks about seeking help and being kind to yourself

Caileigh – Wanting to fix a grieving child

Caileigh gives advice about the desire to fix, especially to parents who are grieving themselves as well as supporting children who are grieving.

Laura- What Might Help in Grief

Kim – Checking in is very important

Kim explains why it is so important to check in and keep in touch with people who have lost

Adrianna – Pandemic, funerals and celebration of life

Adrianna talks about the death of her friend during pandemic

Community Grief Toolkit [Downloadable!]

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.