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

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…

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…

Thinking About Death and Dying

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

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…

All Pandemic-Related Videos

Coping during the pandemic
  • Coping during the pandemic

Maureen – End stages during a pandemic

Maureen – End stages during a pandemic

Maureen talks about the end stages of her father-in-law during the pandemic.

Karyn and Aidan – Support.

Karyn and Aidan – Support.

Karyn and Aidan discuss how much the support they received helped

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.

Maureen – Palliative during the pandemic

Maureen – Palliative during the pandemic

Maureen lost her father in law during the pandemic

Karyn and Aidan – Going forward

Karyn and Aidan – Going forward

Karyn and Aidan talk about Aidan's wedding after John died and how they continue to cope

Lynda – “The importance of getting professional help”

Lynda – “The importance of getting professional help”

Lynda discusses the many ways professionals can help.

Jane – What processing grief during the pandemic may look like

Jane – What processing grief during the pandemic may look like

Jane talks about how the pandemic has postponed a lot of "firsts" without her grandparents that have impacted her experience of moving through grief.

Andrea – Couples versus being single

Andrea – Couples versus being single

Andrea talks about becoming single when her husband died

Jane – My Story

Jane – My Story

Jane shares her story about losing two of her grandparents just before the pandemic and the ways the pandemic has impacted her ability to process grief.

Andrea – My Story

Andrea – My Story

Andrea shares her story of losing her husband during a pandemic