Bereavement Groups

Prior to participating in Bereavement Support Groups offered at CMHA-WECB, it is requested that everyone first attend the two Bereavement Education Seminars/Webinars.  The facilitator will provide assistance in accessing the appropriate group.

Available groups include:

Survivors of Suicide Loss Educational Support Group

Participants have the opportunity to share day-to-day challenges and concerns, and offer support and empathy to one another.  At each meeting, those in attendance are provided with resource material for review and discussion. Staff and peer-led, open-ended group offered bi-weekly.

Spousal Loss Educational Support Group

Participants check-in with an update of the positives and challenges they are facing at each session. Topics including the impacts of grief, realistic expectations about grief, healthy coping strategies, self-care, creating a new identity and reality are covered. Close-ended, structured group offered bi-weekly for seven sessions; normally runs 2-3x/year.

Spousal Loss Aftercare Group

After completing the closed-ended structured Spousal Loss Educational Support Group, if in the clinical judgement of the staff facilitator it is deemed a suitable fit, participants have the option to attend this group for further support and sharing. Peer-led, open-ended group offered bi-weekly.

Bereaved Parents of Older Children Group

Participants have the opportunity to share day-to-day challenges and concerns, and offer support and empathy for one another. At each meeting, those in attendance are provided with resource material for review and discussion. Peer-led, open-ended group offered bi-weekly.

Remember Our Children (ROC) Group

For parents, grandparents, as well as siblings 16 years and older. Parents often attend this group after they have attended the Bereaved Parents of Older Children (BPOC) Group for approximately 2 years. Peer-led, open-ended group offered on a monthly basis.

Bereaved Parents of Infants Support Group

This group discusses what perinatal loss feels like, the impacts of grief, healthy coping strategies, going back to work, how mothers and fathers grieve differently, as well as subsequent pregnancies. Close-ended, structured group offered bi-weekly for five sessions.

Adult Grievers Educational Support Group

Participants check-in with an update of the positives and challenges they are facing at each session. Topics including the impacts of grief, realistic expectations about grief, healthy coping strategies, self-care, creating a new identity and reality are covered. Close-ended, structured group offered bi-weekly for five sessions; normally runs 2-3x/year.

GRASP (Grief Recovery after a Substance Passing)

This group was created to help provide sources of help, compassion, and most of all, understanding for families who have had a loved one die through drug use. The local GRASP meetings take place here at CMHA and are facilitated by volunteers. Open-ended group offered on a bi-weekly basis.

Parent Education Seminar

The objective is to provide education and awareness about grief, and how children’s grief differs from adults. Information about common indicators of grief in children, a developmental understanding of grief and loss, as well as helpful strategies for parents and children are offered.
2 Hours. Monthly or bi-monthly.  Time varies to accommodate different schedules.

Children’s Grief Groups

After participating in one-on-one therapy, therapeutic psycho-educational groups are offered to children and teens to gain support from bereaved peers. A variety of creative interventions are used to enhance children’s understanding of death, engage in mourning activities, and build resilience for moving forward through grief.

Close-ended, structured groups are offered to children and teens, based on developmental level. Scheduled on an as-needed basis after children complete 1-1 support.