Friday, February 25, 2011

Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto

I was looking at the stats the other day and realized that Honoring Our Angels has quite a few Canadian visitors.  Hoping to help find them some resources, I came across Bereaved Families of Ontario-Toronto.

Has a member of your family died? You are not alone. Whether you are newly bereaved, or dealing with a loss in your past, we wish you strength as you face the pain. You have already taken the first step by visiting here -- we know how much courage it takes to reach out. We have been there, and we can help the healing begin.
We can help. We provide a place for you to discuss your experiences and learn about grief with others who have been there. We give you a chance to talk, in a confidential setting, about how your loss affects your life. By sharing with others who have been there, you may learn how to cope by gaining insight into your own thoughts and feelings.
Who we serve. Currently we offer mutual support groups that are co-facilitated by bereaved volunteers and supported by professional advisors, for:
  • Parents of an infant child (including miscarriages, babies that are born still and newborn/infant deaths)
  • Parents of a young child or adult child
  • Children ages 5-8 yrs and 9-12 yrs old who have experienced the death of a parent/caregiver or sibling
  • Youth 13-17 years of age who have experienced the death of a parent/caregiver, sibling or close friend
  • Young adults (18-30) who have experienced the death of a parent/cargeiver or sibling
  • Adults (over 30) who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, spouse or partner
Our members have experienced deaths in their families due to prolonged or short-term illnesses like cancer and HIV/AIDS as well as sudden or traumatic deaths from heart attacks, accidents, murder and suicide.




What can I do?
It is normal to feel a great deal of confusion, pain and sadness after a loved one dies. Some people find it helpful to read about the experiences of other bereaved people and/or information about grief and loss. You can do that on our website.
Telephone Support
For others, they need to talk with someone who has "been there". You can call our office at 416-440-0290 Monday to Thursday between 9am and 5pm and speak with one of our volunteers or staff members - all of whom know the pain of losing someone we love.
We are here to listen and provide support without judgement. We won't tell you what to do - there is no "right" way to grieve - but we can tell you what helped get us through.
I feel like I can't go on...
Feeling hopeless and full of despair can lead you to question whether or not you want to go on living. It's okay to talk with us about how bad you are feeling. As bereaved persons ourselves, we know those moments of feeling alone, isolated and terribly sad. When we're not available, here are some other numbers you can call.
Can I see someone in person?
We don’t provide professional counselling but you may wish to sign up for a 1-1 session with a similarly bereaved facilitator.  You can come alone or with your partner or a supportive friend or family member. It's a chance for you to talk about your loss; get some immediate support from someone who understands and find out more about our Support Group programs.  If you would like to explore ongoing professional counseling, you can find ourprofessional referral list on our website.
Call our office at 416-440-0290 to sign up for GROUP SESSIONS.


If you are in the Ontario/Toronto area this group looks like a wonderful resource for support!

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