HOW YOU CAN HELP
Resources
Resources for Grieving for Youth & Community
You aren’t alone. Find the help you need in British Columbia.
Everyone grieves differently. Loss and grief were never meant to be dealt with in isolation. It takes a village to support bereaved youth in our community.
We've curated this collection of resources to help and support you and your loved ones at this difficult time. We’ve grouped this resources by themes to make it easier for you to be supported in the way you prefer. Take the time you need while accessing this resources as this topic can affect you deeply.
We hope you’ll find comfort in knowing you are not alone. There is help as you navigate the journey of living and learning through loss.
Need immediate emergency support?
Youth in BC:
Crisis text line: 24 Crisis Lines. Chat with one of their responders now - 741-741
Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-833-456-4566
Emergencies: 911
Victoria Hospice: Services include virtual support; in-person counselling; a variety of bereavement support groups, including drop-in and journal groups; information and education; and referrals where appropriate.
Bereavement Group for MAiD: When a family member or close friend chooses medical assistance in dying (MAiD), those left behind may experience a wide range of emotions and possibly conflicting feelings about the choice their loved one made. Grief and loss (bereavement) support is available. Provided by Island Health Authority.
Immediate Loss & Grief Support
Youth
ASSISTANCE HELPLINES
Kids Help Phone: Get the help you need right when you need it. Kids Help Phone offers immediate 24-hour support by phone or text in numerous languages.
British Columbia Bereavement Helpline: If all you need is to talk to someone, the Helpline volunteers are there to listen. When you contact the BC Bereavement Helpline, your call or email will be answered by a caring volunteer who can provide compassionate listening. Your call is free, confidential, and anonymous. They will help you find the most appropriate support for your specific type of loss.
YouthSpace.ca: Youthspace.ca is an online crisis and emotional support chat service. They listen without judgement and keep chats confidential and anonymous. Open 6pm-Midnight PST, 365 days a year.
TalkSuicide: You deserve to be heard. TalkSuicide is there to listen. Connect to a crisis responder to get help without judgement at anytime (open 24/7/365).
WEBSITES & ARTICLES
Upopolis: Powered by TELUS, Upopolis is a free, fun, and secure online community that connects youth ages 10 to 18 with others like them who are going through medical experiences, grief and life challenges.
Teenage Grief Sucks: Teenage Grief Sucks (TGS) is a teen-run website that starting conversations about teenage grief. Run by Natalie Adams, who lost her dad when she started high school, TGS shares weekly stories about grief from the perspective of teens.
Loss & Grief Resources for Teens: Find grief support for teens and families who are grieving. Tips for how to navigate teen loss and grief, talking to a grieving friend, dealing with death, suicide or a serious illness are a few of the resources you’ll find at the Dougy Center, The National Center for Grieving Children & Families, a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon.
Have You Lost a Parent? Yes, You Can Still ‘Celebrate’ Mother’s Day & Father’s Day: These holidays can feel particularly hard and non-celebratory in the absence of loved ones, there are meaningful ways to celebrate through grief.
How to Help a Grieving Friend [video]: Watch this Refuge in Grief video from Meghan Devine to learn the one thing that will improve all of your "I'm here for you" intentions and be that supportive friend you want to be.
Parents & Guardians
KidsGrief.ca: A free online resource teaching parents how to support their children when someone in their life is dying or has died. It equips parents on how to talk with kids and teens about serious illness, dying and death.
Victoria Hospice: Providing in-person counselling, bereavement support groups, drop-in and journal groups, and other information and resources to bereaved individuals, families, and children.
Rainbows: Educating, supporting, and guiding youth and children through grief and significant loss in their family including separation, death, and divorce. Register for their weekly program.
Understanding and Supporting Youth through Loss & Grief: This information, from BC Children’s Hospital Kelty Mental Health Centre, offers a deeper understanding of grief, how it impacts the development of children and youth at ages, the appropriate time to seek help for your child(ren) and where you can get help.
After a Loved One Dies: How children grieve and how parents and other adults can support them based [PDF].
How to Support Bereaved Children Over the Holidays: A Tip Sheet for Parents and Caregivers, from New York Life Foundation.
Widowed Parent: Helping grieving parents support their grieving children and themselves.
Educators
No Child Should Grieve Alone: Carly Woythaler-Runestad – TedX Lincoln
A thought-provoking talk for educators on how, as a society, we need to “Re: Think” how children’s grief is addressed and how to create a supportive environment which emphasizes the holistic needs of bereaved families.
Vital People, Learning Through Loss: See our school programs in action. Our Good Grief Workshops are designed to help young adults through experiences of significant loss. By creating an open and supportive environment, program participants are encouraged to share and learn in a positive, fun environment. Find out how to book a workshop for your classroom.
Grief Support for Children with Intellectual and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, from the Coalition to Support Grieving Children
Video Library
No Child Should Grieve Alone: Carly Woythaler-Runestad – TedX Lincoln Carly Woythaler-Runestad gives a thought-provoking talk on how, as a society, we need to “Re:Think” how children’s grief is addressed and how to create a supportive environment which emphasizes the holistic needs of bereaved families.
Vital People, Learning Through Loss: See our school programs in action. Our Good Grief Workshops are designed to help young adults through experiences of significant loss. By creating an open and supportive environment, program participants are encouraged to share and learn in a positive, fun environment. Find out how to book a workshop for your classroom
Teens Talk Grief: You’re not alone. In this powerful and enlightening video, created by Calgary Hospice, grieving teens share their stories and talk about what helped as they journeyed through the grief of losing someone close to them. Watch video
The Grieving Process: Coping with Death: There is no right or wrong way to deal with the loss of a loved one. The grieving process is rough—and it's different for everyone. This short video from WellCast explains that it's not just a matter of coping with a loss but coping with change—and that takes time. Watch Video
Learning Through Loss & Grief: Conversations with Youth [MP4 Video] Video was filmed in 2012
Books
It’s Okay That You’re Not Okay, by Megan Devine
Modern Loss; Candid Conversations About Grief, by Rebecca Soffer & Gabrielle Birkner
A Parent’s Guide to Raising Grieving Children, by Phyllis R. Silverman & Madeleine Kelly
Motherless Daughters, by Hope Edelman
The biggest myth is grief and loss are limited to the death of a family member or friend. Grief & loss can come from many different events
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Parents divorcing, relationship breakup, estrangement
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Relocating to a new home, school, or neighbourhood
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Illness, loss of physical or mental health
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Cultural identity and language loss
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Any event that causes significant and/or abrupt change
Grief & Loss
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Understanding the 8 of Grief [PDF]
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Coping Skills [PDF]
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Please see additional LTL Videos in the Video Library