Grief & Healing

GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES AT BROCKIE DONOVAN


In addition to our well-established facilities, we offer bereavement services after the funeral. Through our After Care Program, the following support services are available:

  • A resource library stocked with a variety of books, videos, and pamphlets on the subject of bereavement. Our library is the only such library in Brandon and we welcome visitors.

  • Follow-up care to help families deal with the difficult months following a death.

  • We are proud to offer free regular Grief & Loss seminars with Counsellor Shelley Wray. For more information, please click here.

  • Referrals to private counsellors and community support groups in the Brandon and Westman area.

  • Annual Tree of Memories Candlelight Memorial Service in December.

  • For further resources, please visit our Grief Resources page.

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COMMUNITY COUNSELLING SERVICES

Compassionate Friends of Southwestern Manitoba  Support group for parents who have lost a child and also a sibling support group. Phone (204) 727-1823

Suicide Bereavement Group  Support group for friends or family who have experienced the loss of a loved one through suicide.  Phone (204) 573-7878 or ehmjay1949@gmail.com

Manitoba Mental Health 
Assessments, counselling, treatment, consultation, case management, and linkage to other services and resource education. Phone (204) 578-2400

Hospice & Palliative Care Manitoba - Telephone Bereavement Support 
Bereavement support offered by trained volunteers to any area of the Province.  Phone 1-800-539-0295 ext 232 or ext 226

Please also visit our Grief Support Resources page as well as our Grief Seminars page for further support.
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ONLINE SUPPORT

The emotional upheaval these trying times can cause is sometimes so overwhelming that even the support of friends and family may not help relieve the amount of sadness and grief you feel. It doesn’t matter what time of day, or what day of the week you need support, you can access online counselling services, anytime: 24/7.

Center for Loss & Transition  A leading provider of information and inspiration in the areas of illness and dying, loss and grief, healthy caregiving, life transition, and spirituality. Please click here.

Canadian Virtual Hospice Has a team of palliative care experts who are ready to answer your questions about terminal illness, end-of-life care, loss and bereavement. You will receive a detailed, personal response in three working days. All questions and answers are confidential.  
Please click here.

KidsGrief.ca Is a free online resource to provide guidance to parents on how to support children who are grieving the dying or death of someone in their life. It equips parents with the words and confidence to help their children grieve losses in healthy ways.
Please visit www.kidsgrief.ca

Sesame Street - Support your family, even the littlest ones. Children may not understand the details and specifics, but they can often surprise you with their sensitivity and instinctual way of detecting grief. As the adult, you want to find ways to help them celebrate the life of your loved one and enjoy happy memories and stories.

The most important way to support your family is to simply listen to them and pay close attention to the feelings and needs of younger ones. If you sense any serious change in behaviour, talk to them to try to get to the root of their feelings.

This is a great resource from Sesame Street, which will help your family move forward in a healthy and educated manner. Please click here

My Good Grief Journal for Kids This app is only available on iPads but allows children (with adult supervision if young) to tell the story of their loved person, whether it be a brother or sister or parent/grandparent or pet. It also includes a journaling space for kids who want to reflect on their feelings not just memories. Please click here

PRIVATE COUNSELLING SERVICES

These private counsellors have provided help and support to many grieving family members and friends. 

Dr. Michelle Darichuk, Psychologist  
​Phone (204)725-4174

Dr. Craig Yury, Psychologist  
Phone (204)571-7181

Dr. Greg Gibson, Psychologist 
Phone (204)578-2413

Dr. Breanna Lawrence, Psychologist  
breannalawrence.ca

Roberta J. Graham Counselling Services  
Phone (204)725-8010

Patricia Gibson Counselling Services  
Phone (204)726-0700

Vivian Drake Counselling  
Phone (204)728-1674

Foster Counselling Services 
Phone (204)728-3758

Choice Counselling Associates
Phone (204)725-6940

Independent Counselling Consultants 
Phone (204)729-3420

The Counselling Centre  
Phone (204)726-8706

FPS Forensic Psychological Services 
Phone (204)727-7825

Elan M. Jury, Therapist 
​Phone (204)573-7878

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Coping with Grief & Loss in the Time of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a series of losses, from our sense of safety to our social connections, to our way of life as we know it. While the situation provokes anxiety, stress and sadness, it is also a time of collective sorrow. It is important that we acknowledge that we’re in the middle of this collective grief. We are all losing something now.

Many people are reckoning with individual losses, including illness and death, or loss of employment as a result of this economic upheaval. But even people who haven’t lost anything as difficult as losing a loved one, are affected. “There is a communal grief as we watch our work, health-care, education and economic systems — all of these systems we depend on — destabilize.”

This video presentation with our grief counsellor, Shelley Wray, will hopefully provide you with a better understanding about the ways we’re mourning now — and offer help to those who are grieving.

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Living Again

Below we offer an inspirational grief resource that has helped many to heal after the loss of a loved one. If you are struggling and feel you would benefit from additional help, please contact us at our funeral home. Our staff is very familiar with the grief resources in our community, and can refer you to local support groups.   We are here to help.

Please enter your name and email below to sign up for this daily newsletter.

Living Again - A daily e-newsletter that helps you through your grief journey.

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