Bereavement Day aims to open conversation on loss

Tuesday marks the first annual Bereavement Day in Canada.

In recognition of the day, Hospice Peterborough is reaching out to people to let them know about the group’s services.

The not-for-profit palliative care organization has posted a number of grief-related resources on its website for residents to easily find the support they need.

Staff also posted a list of its programs on its website, as well as a book review of a helpful read on grief.

Bereavement Day was initiated by the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association. Hospice Peterborough has been a member of the association for a number of years.

Linda Sunderland, executive director of Hospice Peter borough, said Hospice is excited the association brought the day forward.

With grief, loss and death often difficult to discuss, Sunderland hopes the day will help those who’re suffering to open up.

“A day like this can just open up the conversation. We think that’s a very important first step,” Sunderland said.

Anne-Marie Peters, Hospice’s grief and wellness co-ordinator, said discussing the pain of a loss is essential to wellness.

“I think it’s critical that we all be able to talk about this. It will definitely improve our health, our wellness, our relationships, and our connections,” Peters said.

Honouring grief helps it from becoming buried, which can later interfere with the ability to engage with life, Peters added.

Peters posted a book review on It’s OK That You’re Not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture That Doesn’ t Understand. The book by Megan Divine talks about why people struggle to grieve and how to support those who are grieving.

Grief programs are also highlighted on Hospice’s website. Programs encourage a process of accepting loss and moving forward with new strategies to cope.

Hospice offers adult grief recovery groups, one-on-one grief support, a bereaved parent support group, a suicide survivors group and children’s grief groups with monthly grief check-ins for kids.

Its programs and services are available to residents of all ages, living in the city and county, at no cost.

Hospice is in the process of building a 10-bed and community programming facility at London and Reid streets to better serve the community. It’s slated to open by the end of 2018.

NOTE: Hospice Peterborough’s website can be found at www.hospicepeterborough.org. JNyznik@postmedia.com