Coping With Grief
The BC Bereavement Helpline encourages everyone to seek grief resources that work best with their own preferences.
Whether you are seeking support from a group or individual counseling, or would prefer to learn more about how to cope with grief and loss in the privacy of your own home. Please proceed to the following sections for support:
Suicide Grief Support
The BC Bereavement Helpline offers 8-week suicide grief support groups led by experienced facilitators, including suicide survivors, aimed at providing a safe space for individuals to connect and heal from the unique loss of a loved one to suicide. These groups emphasize fostering companionship, breaking isolation, and offering practical tools and community connections to support survivors through their grief journey, with a focus on honoring the life of the deceased rather than solely dwelling on their death.
Homicide Grief Support
The Homicide Grief 8-Week Support Group offers a compassionate environment for survivors of homicide victims to connect and share their experiences, providing essential tools and support to help them navigate grief. Participants engage in restorative storytelling and receive practical guidance on coping with emotions related to interactions with law enforcement and media, with sessions conducted online to accommodate up to nine members per group, emphasizing consistent attendance for collective support and growth.
Additionally, our Homicide Grief Peer Support Drop-In Group provides a safe, non-judgmental space to share your story and connect with others who have experienced a similar loss. This group meets on the first Wednesday of every month in the Whalley area of Surrey.
Loss Due to Substance Use
The BC Bereavement Helpline is committed to supporting anyone in BC who is grieving the loss of a loved one due to substance use. While we do not have permanent programming for substance loss related deaths at this time, please check our website regularly for updates or call our Helpline for other supports/referrals.
Use the link below to access a grief guidebook written by the BC Centre on Substance Use in collaboration with the
BC Bereavement Helpline and the Affected Persons Liaison with the BC Coroners Service.
Pet Loss Grief Support
To many, a pet is not just a pet. They are family or your best friend. When you lose someone you care about, including a pet, going through the grieving process can be challenging, especially when you feel alone in your loss. BC Bereavement Helpline’s Pet Loss Program is here to help you navigate your loss.
Our Pet Loss Peer Support Group is currently paused. Please visit our Pet Loss page below for updates and resources, including a powerpoint to support you in your grief.
Support Groups and Resources Outside of BCBH
These support groups and events are organized by our community partners, though they do not encompass every grief support option available. If you don’t find what you’re seeking, please contact a Helpline volunteer by phone or email for assistance in identifying grief support resources that could meet your requirements.