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Bereaved Families of Nova Scotia

Our Fall Spotlight is Bereaved Families of Nova Scotia, which provides programs and services to help individuals cope with loss and grief as a result of the death of someone they love.

Learn more about Bereaved Families of Nova Scotia, read our Q & A with Kuli Malhotra.

Details:

Tell us about your organization.

Our mission is to provide programs and services to help individuals cope with loss and grief as a result of the death of someone they love.

We envision a society where support is readily available for persons grieving the loss of a loved one.

Bereaved Families was first established in Cape Breton in 1990 as a grassroots organization. The organization stands as one of Nova Scotia ‘s oldest not-for-profit organizations providing bereavement support. The organization has touched the lives of thousands of individuals in Cape Breton and beyond and is now expanding its services across Nova Scotia. Bereaved Families is guided by a dedicated board of directors, a project lead and a passionate team of both employees and volunteers. We have a team of 18 people including facilitators across the province.

Bereaved Families understand that losing a loved one is a very difficult experience. Our goal is to provide individuals with innovative support and resources you need to navigate through grief at no cost to individuals. We offer a wide range of customized programs and services which include facilitated and peer support groups, grief counseling and educational resources so that you can find the healing and peace you need to move forward. We collaborate tirelessly with our system partners across Nova Scotia to bring grieving individuals the latest support resources.

Core Values

Our Programs

Bereaved Families understand that losing a loved one is a very difficult experience. Our goal is to provide individuals with innovative support and resources you need to navigate through grief at no cost to individuals. We offer a wide range of customized programs and services which

include facilitated and peer support groups, grief counseling and educational resources so that you can find the healing and peace you need to move forward. We collaborate tirelessly with our system partners across Nova Scotia to bring grieving individuals the latest support resources.

Our core programs include monthly walk-in Support & Sessions and six-week grief programs that are offered throughout the year to help move individuals through the grief process and for the mental health and well-being of individuals. These programs are open to anyone 18 years of age and older who is experiencing grief as the result of the death of a loved one. The six-week programs are mostly offered in a dual mode (in-person and virtually). In addition, Bereaved Families in partnership with Schools Plus offers programs for youth in middle school and high school. All programs are available throughout the year and they are free-of-charge. The following programs and services are available:

Support & Share: Support and Share is a walk-in service that provides immediate help for grieving individuals. Sessions are held once per month. The sessions last one to one-and-half hours and adult participants of all backgrounds can attend. Attendees may be at different stages in the grief process. Attendees can attend alone or bring a support person. At these sessions, attendees will also receive appropriate guidance on recommended programs that will suit their individual needs. There is no advance registration required for this program.

Living with Grief: This is a 6-week program designed to bring people together who have suffered the loss of a loved one. It is sometimes referred to as the General Grief Program. Any adult experiencing the loss of a loved one (for example, individuals suffering the loss of a relative, a friend) can attend this program. Each week, a grief-related topic is covered to help participants move through the grief process in a systematic way and registration is required.

Loss of a Spouse/Partner: This 6-week program is designed to bring adult individuals together that have suffered a similar loss. The loss of a spouse/partner program provides a safe space for individuals navigating the complex journey of grief after losing a beloved partner. We offer empathetic support, share experiences and tools to help individuals move through grief.

Loss of a Parent: The Loss of a Parent program is a 6-week program that supports adult individuals grappling with the profound loss of a parent. The program provides a safe space to share memories, insights, and ways to heal. Through our peer-led, facilitated approach, you will find comfort in understanding how to navigate the grief process.

Loss of a Child: This 6-week program provides a nurturing and safe space where adult parents who have lost a child can connect, share their experiences, and find solace in a community that understands the depth of their grief. Each week the trained facilitators discuss topics, provide helpful tools with open discussions on how to move through your loss.

Loss of a Pet: Recognizing the deep bond between individuals and their animal companions, the 6-week Loss of a Pet program offers space to navigate the unique grief that comes with pet loss. Through the weekly topics and group discussions led by a trained facilitator, participants find comfort, understanding and healing in the company of fellow pet owners who share similar journeys.

Death Café: The Death Café is open to everyone and designed to engage and encourage people to openly discuss death with the goal to remove the stigma attached to conversations about death. The idea originates with the Swiss sociologist and anthropologist Bernard Crettaz, who organized the first café mortel in 2004 and is expanding quickly around the world. Bereaved Families Death Cafe events are held all over the province of Nova Scotia at various times per year and are free to attend. They are advertised in the local jurisdictions where they are held.

NEW PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES

The following programs and initiatives are undergoing changes and will be offered soon.

Resilience and Wellness: The Resilience and Wellness program can provide individuals with the opportunity to re-discover a path of inner strength and renewal. This program allows everyone to participate in various activities such as guided meditation, therapeutic workshops, healing through music, paint nights, creating writing and cooking classes. all designed to foster emotional well-being and empower individuals to navigate life after loss.There is one type of activity offered every month.

Trauma and Complicated Grief: Bereaved Families Trauma programs are being designed to provide a safe space for individuals grappling with the aftermath of traumatic loss. Supported via our trained facilitators through a combination of trauma-informed counseling, therapeutic interventions, and peer support networks, participants will receive support to help empower them to rebuild their lives and find strength to tackle traumatic grief.

1. How would you describe the ways in which your organization supports the mental health and well-being of the Nova Scotians you serve?

Grief impacts mental health in significant ways and can be detrimental to the general health for individuals, families, and the communities they live in.

“In any given year, one in five people in Canada live with a mental health problem or disorder with estimated costs to the economy of 51 billion dollars annually. Up to seventy percent of problems brought to family physicians are for mental health issues or have a mental health component.”1 ~ Association of Psychologists of Nova Scotia.

Bereaved Families compliments health support services by providing programs and services to support grieving individuals and families. These vital services fill a gap within the public healthcare system. While the lack of mental health support for grieving individuals was already prevalent, COVID-19 has further elevated this need. Bereaved Families has invested significant time and expertise into the development of its programs to support grieving persons.

2. What is one program your organization offers that you wish more people knew about?

It is difficult to choose one program or service as they cater to different needs. One of our most important programs is called Living with Grief:

Living with Grief: This is a 6-week program designed to bring people together who have suffered the loss of a loved one. It is sometimes referred to as the General Grief Program. Any adult experiencing the loss of a loved one (for example, individuals suffering the loss of a relative, a friend) can attend this program. Each week, a grief-related topic is covered to help participants move through the grief process in a systematic way and registration is required. Note that there is no cost to individuals to attend.

3. How and why was your organization first founded?

Bereaved Families was first established in Cape Breton in 1990 as a grassroots organization. The organization stands as one of Nova Scotia ‘s oldest not-for-profit organizations providing bereavement support. The organization has touched the lives of thousands of individuals in Cape Breton and beyond and is now expanding its services across Nova Scotia. The organization was founded by volunteer community members who suffered the lost of loved ones. The founders envisioned supporting the mental health and well-being of individuals that have lost loved ones.

4. What have been the main challenges your organization has faced while trying to meet the needs of the community you serve?

One significant and long-standing challenge has been the stigma attached to mental health. As a result, historically, individuals have been reluctant to admit that they may need help. However, over the last few years, especially since COVID-19, we are noticing a shift in this trend. We are very thankful that our system partners, Province of Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia

Health, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Mental Health Foundations, among others, are actively providing literacy, pushing out resources and tools for communities to improve their mental health. This is encouraging individuals to come forward and seek help. This is evident in the increase in our year-over-year participation numbers. In 2021, bereaved Families held 79 sessions and attendance to our sessions was just over 200. In 2022, Bereaved Families held 139 sessions and had just over 600 attendees. The intake represented 300% increase year-over-year. In 2023, we have already surpassed theses numbers with 767 attendees to-date and we are only 8 months into our fiscal year.

Of course as a not-for-profit, funding has always been a challenge, but we are finding that there are certainly more funding avenues to support the mental health of Nova Scotians than any time in the past.

5. How is your organization looking to grow or expand in the future?

Since 2022, Bereaved Families operations have centered on the four core directions. These directions will continue to drive the organization for the next several years ensuring that we help as many grieving persons as we can.

1. Expansion of programs across Nova Scotia:

While individuals across the province have access to our programs virtually, our goal is to offer our full slate of programs in-person in all communities in Nova Scotia. There are communities that are hurting, and we are expanding quickly to meet their needs. Our current locations include the Cape Breton area, Antigonish area and the south shore.

2. Addition of new programs critical to the mental health of individuals:

o We are adding Trauma and Complicated Grief programs. Bereaved Families Trauma programs are being designed to provide a safe space for individuals grappling with the aftermath of traumatic loss. Supported via our trained facilitators through a combination of trauma-informed counseling, therapeutic interventions, and peer support networks, participants will receive support to help empower them to rebuild their lives and find strength to tackle traumatic grief. To accomplish this, we are excited to announce that through funding from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and working in partnership with Nova Scotia Health, 36 Facilitators across the Province will be trained on offering traumatic loss programs. Our first program will start in January 2024.

o In January 2024, Bereaved Families will also launch a Resilience and Wellbeing program which will provide grieving participants with the opportunity to re-discover a path of inner strength and renewal. This program will allow everyone to participate in various activities such as guided meditation, therapeutic workshops, healing through music, paint nights, creating writing and cooking classes, all designed to foster emotional well-being and empower individuals to navigate life after loss. There will be one type of activity offered every month. Note that all our programs are free to attend.

o Bereaved Families has identified the need to work with businesses and organizations across Nova Scotia to offer grief-related literacy and programming for their employees.

3. Diversity and Inclusion: We will continue to focus on diversity and inclusion to support the 2LGwBTQI+, First Nations and migrant communities. We are actively engaging and working with stakeholders to ensure that everyone has access to our programs and that the programs cater to the specific needs of different groups.

4. Literacy and Advocacy: We continue to work closely with systems partners including Provincial Health Agencies as well as other stakeholders to identify best practices and programs that can be offered in Nova Scotia to support grief-related mental health of individuals. In addition, we are actively engaged in building literacy about death and dying. We have already launched a series of “Death Cafés” across the province and are in the process of building a network hub/platform that will offer extensive resources for grieving individuals as well as be a peer-to-peer hub for grieving individuals to interact and share ways to heal.

6. What are some ways that people interested in your organization can get involved or otherwise support your work?

There are several ways that interested people can get involved.

1. Bringing programs to your community and organization:

If you are in a community that needs help now, please contact the project lead and we will immediately work with you to build the capacity to offer programs in your community. If you represent an organization and would like us to provide grief support and/or literacy programs for your employees, contact the project lead.

2. Facilitators and volunteers: We are always in need of facilitators and volunteers to support our programs. If you have a social work background or other facilitation experience or are simply interested to get involved, reach out to us at our general helpline. [email protected].

3. Donations and Partnerships: If you would like to donate to our cause to support grief-related work, you can visit our website. If you would like to partner with Bereaved Families of Nova Scotia, contact the project lead. We are a registered charity and can provide a tax receipt in return for your generosity.

7. Is there anything else you would like us to know about your organization?

Bereaved Families of Nova Scotia would like to thank the Canadian Mental Health Association for all the work you do in Nova Scotia and for giving us the opportunity to be share our story. We also want to thank our system partners including the Province of Nova Scotia at-large, Nova

Scotia Health, Department of Mental Health and Addictions, the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, United Way, 100 Women Who Care as well as other donors and partners that continue to enable us to support this important work in communities across Nova Scotia.

8. Can you share a story that demonstrates the impact of the work you do at your organization?

A message from one of our participants that attended a program between January and March 2023:

“My name is David Cameron and I turned to the services offered by Bereaved Families when my wife passed away fairly suddenly, after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Struggling to cope with my deep sense of grief and sadness, I knew I had to seek help. My social worker recommended that I contact Bereaved Families.

I was welcomed by a very kind and caring voice and signed up for their grief session for bereaved spouses/partners. The facilitator was friendly and had an obvious knowledge of the grieving process. He approached the sessions from a position of understanding and sympathy for the grief of each participant. Like most people, I was reluctant to discuss my feelings with strangers, but the facilitator soon set me at ease. The group was a mix of people sharing a common issue, and this made for interesting and eye-opening discussions. Knowing how others are trying to deal with their grief and learning ways to cope was most helpful. It was comforting to learn that many of my thoughts about grief and my reactions to it are normal. Does this session solve all your issues surrounding grief? No, but it certainly opens your eyes to a path forward, will help you ease your grief and be at peace with your loss.

You don’t have to grieve alone. Bereaved Families have the people and the programs to guide you through your grief. I recommend their excellent programs.”

About Spotlight:

The mission of the Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division [CMHA NS] is to ensure all Nova Scotians experience good mental health and well-being.

We recognize that our mission is broad, and that we cannot and will not achieve it alone.

To better meet the mental health needs of all Nova Scotians we are connecting with organizations that are reflective and supportive of Nova Scotians’ diverse experiences, identities and histories, and contribute to the overall well-being of our province with the goal of using our digital platforms to highlight the work of these organizations, increase awareness and help more Nova Scotians get the help they need.

Questions?

Contact Lindsay Miller at [email protected]

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