The grief from the anticipated and resulting death of a special person can be almost overwhelming. Palliative Care Services offers a variety of care to help you understand more about anticipated loss, grief and bereavement including bereavement support groups for adults, teens and children, as well as individual counselling and resource materials.

The Adult Bereavement Support Group, offered as five sessions over a five-week period, are conducted by volunteer professionals.

To meet the grieving needs of children and teens, the Childhood/Teen Grief Support Group meets twice a year for six weekly sessions.  Caring Hearts Camp, a weekend retreat for bereaved children, is held each summer.  There is also a support group offered for Young Adults.

Hope for the Holidays is a session held as the festive season begins, aimed to help bereaved people through their difficult first Christmas without their family member.

Feel free to contact the Bereavement Coordinator if you feel you could benefit from one on one support, or if any of the following symptoms are experienced intensely over an extended period of time following your loss:

• the loss is excessive and disabling
• minor events trigger an intense grief reaction
• you are unwilling to move the material possessions belonging to the deceased
• there is an absence of a social support network
• the loss is socially unspeakable
• feelings of sadness, disbelief, confusion, anger, guilt, anxiety, fatigue, shock, yearning and numbness exist
• behaviours of sleep disturbances, appetite disturbances, absent minded behaviour, and social withdrawal exist.

To attend any group or for more information, please contact the Intake Coordinator at 306-523-2781.