A Starting Point: List of Resources to Support Grieving Children and Parents in BC and Online
As supportive adults in a child's life, we want desperately to help support children experiencing grief and loss. We are often looking for ways to help ease a child's pain and suffering, but grief is not an easy process, and there is no quick fix. What we can do, is help support the process and provide the tools and resources to help children and teens feel best supported in their feelings.
When looking for appropriate resources, it can be extremely overwhelming to even know where to start! We can feel overwhelmed and have limited time or energy to navigate the process. To try to create some ease around this process, we have compiled a list of wonderful and useful resources to support you.
Local Resources (within British Columbia)
Lumara Grief & Bereavement Care Society
https://lumarasociety.org/home/
Supports children, youth, adults & families impacted by serious illness, grief & loss. Lumara provides a wide range of services and activities such as resources and education, support groups, counselling services and family retreats to individuals, families and groups who are grieving the death of a loved one or coping with a life-threatening illness.
145 East Columbia Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3W2 604-553-4663
BC Bereavement Helpline
The website provides a current listing of all grief and bereavement groups and counselling services in BC, both online and in person. Groups listed are loss-specific, such as loss due to homicide, suicide, drug use, loss of a parent, loss of a child, etc. Children often need to know that they are not alone in what they are going through, and so groups are beneficial in helping children feel that their experiences are normal, and that their feelings have a safe place to be shared.
PO Box 20095 RPO Fairview
Vancouver, BC V5Z 0C1
(604) 738-9950
1 (877) 779-2223
Kelty Mental Health
https://keltymentalhealth.ca/challenges-disorders/tough-situations/grief-and-loss
Helps families across the province navigate the mental health system, connect with peer support, and access resources and tools to support wellbeing.
BC Children's Hospital Healthy Minds Centre, Entrance #85, Room P3-302, 3rd floor, 4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
Provides respite, family support, pain and symptom management, end-of-life care and bereavement services to newborns, children, youth and their families living with progressive life-threatening conditions
1690 Matthews Avenue Vancouver, BC V6J 2T2
T: 604.731.4847
The BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC)
Registered Clinical Counsellors (RCCs) are highly qualified counsellors who belong to the BC Association of Clinical Counsellors (BCACC) and meet stringent, masters-level education and training standards. By using the unique find a counsellor search tool on their website, you can quickly identify RCCs practicing in your specific region to meet your specific needs.
Psychology Today
https://www.psychologytoday.com/ca/therapists/british-columbia
An online search tool to identify in person and online therapists, support groups and treatment centers in your specific region to meet your specific needs.
Additional Online Resources
Lighthouse Peer Support for Grieving Children, Youth and their Families
https://www.grievingchildrenlighthouse.org/index.php
2522 Rebecca Street
Oakville, Ontario L6L 6N8
info@grievingchildrenlighthouse.org 905-337-2333
Kids Grief
Children and Youth Grief Network
https://www.childrenandyouthgriefnetwork.com/
The Children's Grief Foundation of Canada
https://childrensgrieffoundation.org/
1919 King Street East
Hamilton, Ontario L8K 1V9 info@childrensgrieffoundation.org
Andrea Warnick Consulting
PO Box 731 Guelph, Ontario N1H 6L8
1-800-490-9192
The Dougy Center
PO Box 86852
Portland, OR 97286
503.775.5683
SLAP’D Surviving Life after a Parent Dies
National Alliance for Children's Grief
Upopolis
Child Life Grief Notes
https://www.instagram.com/child_life_grief_notes/?hl=en
Sesame Street’s Grief Series
https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/grief/
For Adults/Caregivers
You have likely found yourself here as you are trying to help support the children and teens in your life who are experiencing grief. If the children in your life are experiencing grief, you too are likely dealing with your own feelings of pain and grief and we recognize that it is often simply too difficult to deal with our own emotions while also trying to help support others. Below is a list of resources that you may find helpful in terms of guiding and supporting your own experience with grief and loss.
Canadian Virtual Hospice
https://www.virtualhospice.ca/
What's your Grief
Claire Bidwell Smith | Author and Grief Therapist
https://clairebidwellsmith.com/
The Center for Loss & Life Transition
https://www.centerforloss.com/
3735 Broken Bow Road Fort Collins, CO 80526 (970) 226-6050
BC Bereavement Helpline
PO Box 20095 RPO Fairview
Vancouver, BC V5Z 0C1
(604) 738-9950
1 (877) 779-2223
The Compassionate Friends of Canada
1346 Ravens View Drive Victoria BC V9B 6P7 1 866 823 0141
Be Ceremonial
https://www.seekingceremony.com/
www.seekingceremony.com/social
An organization based in Vancouver and Toronto that helps to connect people through ceremony. Website resources include an app to help you develop your our ritual, trainings and webinars, to free ceremonies the take place regularly in Vancouver BC, that honour whatever you may be going through.
