Coping During the Pandemic

Coping During the Pandemic Playlists

View video playlists related to specific topics, including both participants and grief professionals. Use the controls at the top-left to navigate videos within each playlist or use the larger arrows to view additional playlists.

Grief Stories features short videos, podcast interviews, and blog posts offering ideas for coping with grief. The tools and activities on this website are intended to be used as a resource for people who are grieving, those who are supporting grievers and healthcare professionals. The information provided is NOT meant to be a substitute for professional therapy.

All content, including our videos, is vetted by health care experts.

Grief Involves Powerful Emotions.

Experiencing loss during the pandemic includes all the usual challenges of grief. It also involves navigating on-going changes and uncertainty that impact how we honour and remember someone who has died.

From isolation during illness to restrictions on gatherings for funerals and memorials, all aspects of loss are affected. At the same time, we're coping with anxiety and struggles in our day-to-day lives brought on by the realities of the pandemic. At Grief Stories, we're grateful for the support of Northumberland United Way in creating supportive content for those experiencing loss during the pandemic.

Content Funded By

Northumberland United Way logo

Northumberland United Way

We are thankful for the Northumberland United Way Grant Funding that was distributed to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in our community.

Pandemic-Related Blog

Thinking About Death and Dying

Posted in

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Though everyone eventually dies, it can be difficult to think about death and dying and many…

Practical Possibilities for Mourning in a Pandemic

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Practical Possibilities for Mourning in a Pandemic When someone we care about dies, we have a…

Lake in a forest

When You Can’t Be There As a Loved One Dies

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW There are times when we have some warning that a loved one is dying. We can…

Anticipatory Grief During a Pandemic

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Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW It is 2020 and the world is gripped by a relentless pandemic. The news is filled…

All Pandemic-Related Videos

Coping during the pandemic
  • Coping during the pandemic

Jean – My Story

Jean – My Story

Jean talks about isolation and grieving during a pandemic

Adrianna – Pandemic, funerals and celebration of life

Adrianna – Pandemic, funerals and celebration of life

Adrianna talks about the death of her friend during pandemic

Maureen – Compounded grief during a pandemic

Maureen – Compounded grief during a pandemic

Maureen discusses how grief can be compounded during a pandemic

Karyn and Aidan – Coping with the COVID restrictions

Karyn and Aidan – Coping with the COVID restrictions

Karyn and Aidan talk about how they dealt with not being able to visit John in hospital

Jane – Connection, place, and grief

Jane – Connection, place, and grief

Jane talks about the difference between living alone in Toronto while grieving during the pandemic compared to her experience once she moved closer to her family in Northumberland.

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean – Be good to yourself

Jean shares about support and not being hard on yourself

Lynda – “Helping a griever during the pandemic”

Lynda – “Helping a griever during the pandemic”

Lynda shares tips on helping someone in grief

Karyn and Aidan – Supporting each other

Karyn and Aidan – Supporting each other

Karyn and Aidan talk about how they supported each other and how they coped with John being hospitalized

Nicole – Stigma Surrounding Drug Use

Nicole – Stigma Surrounding Drug Use

Nicole discusses how the stigma around drug use has an impact on how people feel able to grieve when those in their community are lost.

Michele – Covid and virtual support

Michele – Covid and virtual support

MIchele discuss support and how COVID has affected our grief in so many ways