This Giving Tuesday, here's how you can help:
While a $120 donation can help fund the cost of one person to attend our 8-week Suicide Grief Support Group, a donation of any amount, can make a significant impact on our ability to provide grief support services.
Consistent, monthly contributions provide stability and help us plan for the long term.
Sharing Grief, Healing Together
For Giving Tuesday, we want to reflect upon the courageous, compassionate, and determined survivors of suicide loss that BC Bereavement Helpline (BCBH) has supported over the years, and we want to raise awareness about the increase in demand (and need) for this support.
Two people we are shining a light on are mother and daughter, Michelle, and Candice. On December 11, 2021, their lives changed forever when they lost a loved one to suicide; Brent, Michelle’s son, and Candice’s brother.
Candice joined BCBH’s Suicide Grief Support Group first, and says, “Joining the BCBH family was a lifeline for me during the darkest time of my life. Losing my little brother, Brent, shook my world and caused me to feel empty inside. As much as the people close to me provided support, most people couldn’t understand the feeling of losing a family member to suicide.”
Last year we had over 3,400 contacts come through our Helpline and our most requested service is for suicide grief support. Approximately 30% of all calls/inquiries that came through our Helpline last year were suicide loss-related. While loss and grief are a universal experience, loss by suicide can be particularly challenging and complex. The stigma attached to this type of loss can be isolating and the societal stigma can make it difficult to express your grief and the circumstances around loss.
Candice and Brent
Michelle and Brent
BCBH’s 8-Week Suicide Grief Support Group provides a safe and welcoming space for individuals to share their experiences, connect with others who understand, and learn essential grief and mourning tools to help survivors in their daily lives. “The group provided a safe space where I could openly share my struggles and connect with others who truly understood the pain I was feeling,” said Candice. “The facilitator’s understanding and compassion helped me, offering guidance and comfort when I needed it most.”
It was through Candice’s involvement that her mom, Michelle, was inspired to participate in the group, saying, “My daughter Candice took the course before me, and I saw such a change in her that I decided to take the course as well. One of the best decisions I’ve made in this journey. BC is so lucky to have this group of people available to help loved ones through their grief. ”
Unfortunately, year after year we continue to see the need for suicide grief support increase. This has resulted in a waitlist for people to attend our groups. In January of 2022 we had 50 people on our waitlist whereas in January of 2023, we had 87 people on the waitlist. Of course, this is disheartening for us, so we have been doing everything in our power to get this number down.
While our long-term goal is to eliminate having a waitlist, our first goal is to decrease our waitlist by 50% by 2025. For Giving Tuesday, we have a goal of raising $5,000 and thanks to our matching partner, Kearney Funeral Services, they have offered to match up to $2,500. Can you help us reach our $5,000 goal?
Grief is an emotion that touches us all at some point in our lives. It is a universal experience, yet it is also intensely personal and can be isolating. Whether it’s the loss of a loved one, a beloved pet, or a significant life change, the pain of grief can be overwhelming. For those who find themselves in this lonely place, having a supportive community and resources to turn to can make all the difference.
We are committed to making that difference, but we cannot do this important work without your support.
By contributing to BCBH, you become a lifeline for those who are suffering in silence. Your donation will help us extend our reach, touch more lives, and provide the vital resources that grieving individuals need to rebuild their lives, like with Michelle and Candice.
Please join us in providing grief support. Your contribution can be a beacon of light in their darkest hours. Together, we can offer solace and healing to those who need it most.
Thank you to Kearney Funeral Services for their continued support of BCBH.
Other ways you can support BCBH:
Share our mission with your friends and family, and encourage them to support our cause and use our services.