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Emergency Department

National Grief and Bereavement Day: Remember, Reflect and Connect

graphic talking on phone

The third Tuesday in November marks National Grief and Bereavement Day in Canada. Throughout November, culminating on November 19th, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association promotes the resources available to help Canadians on their grief journeys.  National Grief and Bereavement Day is an opportunity for Canadians to remember, reflect and connect around something we all experience – grief.   

Remember

Grief is the natural and normal response to the loss of something or someone important to you.  Although grief is a common experience we all share, we rarely acknowledge it in society.  A recent survey found that 53% of Canadians said their grief was largely unrecognized, and 50% felt inadequately supported in their grief.  It can be difficult to know what to say to someone who is grieving; some helpful ways to start a conversation might be “I’m sorry this happened to you” or “I won’t pretend to know what you’re going through or how you feel, but I’m here for you.”

Reflect

Grieving is the necessary process of acknowledging the loss, coping with the many changes it creates and adapting to life as it moves forward.  It is important to understand that grief differs for everyone, and it is not something a person can “get over” or “fix.”  Take time to reflect on how you can support someone else in grief.  83% of survey respondents identified being asked about their loss as helpful.  Some ways to start a conversation might include “Just letting you know I am thinking of you,” or “Whatever you’re feeling is alright,” or “If you would like to talk about (the loss), I’m here to listen.”

Connect

Finding connection through loss can be a powerful tool for those who are grieving.  Survey respondents identified that the most important sources of support are family and friends, grief counsellors, community grief programs or peer support groups.  Some helpful ways of offering support include: “Would you like some company?”; “We could go for a walk together”; “Would it be okay if I brought you dinner or mowed your lawn?”; “I am going to phone you again in a few days” or “We don’t have to talk, we can just be together.”

The Prairie Mountain Health Regional Palliative Care Program is marking National Grief and Bereavement Day by educating the public about the importance of supporting one another and sharing the grief support available in our health region.  Below is a listing of telephone lines, peer support groups and online resources:

Telephone Support Lines

  • Province-Wide Bereavement Phone Line (Palliative Manitoba): 1-800-539-0295
  • Hope for Wellness Line (Indigenous peoples): 1-855-242-3310
  • Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868
  • Prairie Mountain Health Crisis Services: 1-866-332-3030 (North) and 1-888-379-7699 (South)
  • Winnipeg Humane Society Pet Loss Support Line: 1-204-988-8804

Grief Support Groups and Seminars

  • Brandon and Area Suicide Bereavement Support Group (SPIN): 1-204-761-4083
  • Brockie Donovan Funeral Services Grief Seminars (Brandon): 1-204-727-0697
  • Compassionate Friends of SW Manitoba (Brandon and areas): 1-855-727-1823
  • Dauphin Way United Methodist Church Grief Groups (Dauphin): 1-251-378-7524
  • GriefShare Support Group (Dauphin): 1-204-648-7053
  • GriefShare Support Group (Russell): 1-204-773-6963
  • Healing Hearts Substance Use Bereavement Support Group (Brandon): 1-204-573-0188
  • Memories Chapel Journey Through Grief Support Group (Brandon): 1-204-727-0330
  • Palliative Manitoba Kids and Teens Grieve Too! Support Group (virtual): 1-800-539-0295
  • Paull Funeral Home Grief Recovery Program (Swan River): 1-204-293-9661
  • Peer Connections Manitoba (Dauphin) 1-431-345-0353
  • Prairie Mountain Health Camp Bridges (Children 7-15): 1-204-578-2340
  • Westman Mood Disorders Association of Manitoba Grief Groups (Brandon) 1-204-721-2174

Helpful Websites

If you would like more information about grief support, please reach out to the Palliative Care Volunteer and Bereavement Coordinator, Carla Mitchell, at 204-578-2310 or [email protected].

Submitted by:

Carla Mitchell, MSW/RSW

Regional Palliative Care Program

References:

National Public Consultation on Grief Executive Summary https://www.canadiangriefalliance.ca/media/r25humkl/2024-05-16-cga-grief-survey-executive-summary_fin.pdf

Ideas to Support Someone Who is Grieving https://www.canadiangriefalliance.ca/media/tjcoyzig/supporting-someone-en.pdf

Grief Is…. https://www.canadiangriefalliance.ca/media/q4te13py/finding-the-words-grief-infographic_p2.pdf

CHPCA National Grief and Bereavement Day Toolkit https://www.chpca.ca/awareness/national-grief-and-bereavement-day/

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