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

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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…

Ways to Mourn During the Pandemic

Posted in

Post by Maureen Pollard, MSW, RSW Ways to Mourn During the Pandemic The restrictions related to the global pandemic are intended to…

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…

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

Marija – Types of Loss in a Pandemic

Marija – Types of Loss in a Pandemic

Marija explains how all of the losses we experience during a pandemic are compounded

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.

Karyn and Aidan – Our story 2

Karyn and Aidan – Our story 2

Karyn and Aidan - Aidan tells the story leading up to John's death during the pandemic

Karyn and Aidan – Support from others

Karyn and Aidan – Support from others

Karyn and Aidan discuss how family, friends, and people they didn't know in the community supported them.Talking, meals, dog walking are among the things that made a huge difference.

Jean – Helping your children through grief

Jean – Helping your children through grief

Jean discusses how helping her children through grief also helped her

Maureen – “Permission to mourn”

Maureen – “Permission to mourn”

Maureen explains about grief being valid and how important it is to look after yourself.

Andrea – Dealing with personal belongings

Andrea – Dealing with personal belongings

Andrea discusses dealing with her late husbands personal belongings and the need to purge

KIm – Planning a funeral in the pandemic

KIm – Planning a funeral in the pandemic

Kim explains the ups and downs of planning a funeral during the pandemic

Jane – Loneliness while processing grief

Jane – Loneliness while processing grief

Jane talks about grieving without her extended family because of the pandemic and how that's impacted things like scattering ashes and having celebrations of life.

Kim – Some cry some don’t

Kim – Some cry some don’t

Kim discusses how tough COVID made the hospital experience and the support she received