Resources
Grief and Bereavement Resources
What are some options?
Many people process grief with the support of loved ones and other strategies for self-care. But some people may need extra support from a mental health professional. Grief counselling helps people through the unique difficulties of grief. Peer support groups and family therapy may also be helpful.
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto
250 Merton St., Toronto, ON
416 440-0290
Services offered: Eight-week bereavement support groups for parents, spouses, young adults and adults: open groups are held throughout the year, and closed groups run at least three times a year
Eligibility: Bereaved family and friends; you must complete an intake before your first group Referral: Self-referral
Bereaved Families of Ontario
12 locations across Ontario, see website for details
Services offered: Six-week closed groups for adults, seven-week groups for children four to 13, one-day teen workshops for ages 13 to 19, one-on-one support, lending library, reading material package on various topics can be mailed out; programs facilitated by trained volunteers who are grieving themselves
Eligibility: Ages four and older
Referral: Call the affiliate in your area: phone numbers and e-mails of each area office available on the website
Catholic Family Services Toronto
See website for locations
416 921-1163 ext. 2227
Services offered: Parish-based peer support and counselling for bereavement, separation and divorce (New Beginnings)
Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP)
St. Bonaventure Church, 1300 Leslie St., North York, ON
647 274-3224
Services offered: A community of help, compassion and understanding for families or individuals who have had a loved one die as a result of substance misuse or addiction; groups held Wednesdays from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Referral: Pre-registration is required for new attendees
Note: This is a non-denominational group; although it is in a church, it is not church-based
Jewish Family and Child
4600 Bathurst St., Toronto, ON
416 638-7800 ext. 6234 (intake)
Services offered: Six-week bereavement groups: one for widows and widowers over the age of 65, another for widows and widowers under the age of 65 and a third for people who lost a parent as an adult
Eligibility: All are welcome
Fee: $100 per person, but available on a sliding scale
Hospital-Based Counselling
Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
100 Stokes St., room 5274, Toronto, ON
416 535-8501 ext. 32175
Services offered: One-on-one grief counselling for clients and families
Referral: People who are not currently CAMH clients can be referred by their psychiatrist or GP if services are required for more than two or three sessions
Eligibility: Current CAMH clients or family members who have experienced a loss
Scarborough and Rouge Hospital
3050 Lawrence Ave. E., Scarborough, ON
416 438-2911 ext. 5334
Services offered: One-on-one support counselling during the grief and bereavement process, which is offered by a spiritual care practitioner who is also a psychotherapist
Eligibility: People who have experienced the death of a parent, partner, child or friend
Referral: Self-referral or referral through a doctor
Support Services
The HOPE Program
www.cafconnection.ca/National/Programs-Services/For-Families-of-the-Fallen/Shoulder-to-Shoulder.aspx
1 800 883-6094
Services offered: Program that provides confidential support to military families who have lost a loved one
Eligibility: Military family members
Referral: Self-referral
Soaring Spirits International
2828 Cochran St. #194, Simi Valley, CA
877 671-4071
Services offered: A widowed community offering widowed men and women understanding, friendship, inspiration and encouragement after the loss of a partner; provides information, resources, a widowed forum with 24/7 chat and forums, Camp Widow and a pen pal program
Eligibility: Contact them by phone or e-mail above
Turner & Porter: Community of People Extending Support (COPE)
2357 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON (and other locations in Mississauga and Etobicoke)
www.turnerporter.ca/resources/49-help-beyond-the-funeral.html
416 767-6793
Services offered: A six-week support group for people who have experienced the death of someone near to them, and then monthly group meetings for additional support
Eligibility: People over the age of 18
Referral: Call or go online to register
Fee: None
WoodGreen Community Services
815 Danforth Ave.,main floor, Toronto, ON
416 645-6000 ext. 5260
Services offered: Individual and group bereavement support (includes service referral, service navigation and co ordination when required) to individuals and families
Referral: Call to register
Fee: None
Suicide and Bereavement
CMHA Middlesex Suicide Bereavement Support
See website for locations in Middlesex
cmhamiddlesex.ca/programs-services/bereavement-support
519 434-9191 ext. 244
Services offered: Support by telephone or in-person (in Middlesex), including one-on-one counselling, support groups, workshops and education
Eligibility: People affected by death by suicide
Toronto Distress Centres, Survivor Support Program
10 Trinity Sq., Toronto, ON
www.torontodistresscentre.com/survivor-support
416 595-1716
alex@torontodistresscentre.com
Services offered: One-on-one counselling and support for individuals or families provided by trained and supervised volunteer teams, follow-up group meetings, telephone support, consultation and debriefing for professionals and community members affected by suicide or homicide
Eligibility: Adult family members and friends who have experienced a death by suicide or homicide
Referral: Self-referral
Note: Support sessions held at various locations, including in-home
Children and Youth
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto/What’s Up Walk-In
1200 Markham Rd., suite 200, Toronto, ON
416 440-0290
Services offered: Services for those who are grieving a homicide, suicide or death due to natural causes; groups are held Mondays from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Eligibility: Youth between the ages of 13 and 19
Referral: Drop-in
Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Centre
250 Davisville Ave., suite 405, Toronto, ON
416 360-1111
Services offered: Grief counselling to dying children and to children whose parent or sibling is dying; bereavement program services also include family events, therapeutic groups and Camp Erin, a weekend bereavement camp for children and youth age six to 17; counselling is provided in the home while the family member is palliative, and at their centre once the person has died
Eligibility: Families with children under 21; for children age 4 or younger, support is offered mainly to parents and/or caregivers (all parents and caregivers are eligible for parenting support)
Referral: Referrals are accepted from any source, including self-referrals; download the referral form from their website
Regesh Family and Child Services
149 Willowdale Ave., lower level, Toronto, ON
416 495-8832
Services offered: Play therapy program for children coping with grief and loss, serious illness of a family member, adoption or foster care, bullying, abuse, violence and/or poor self-esteem
Eligibility: Children ages four to 12
Referral: Call for an appointment
Fee: Sliding scale based on income
Hospice and Palliative Care
Canadian Virtual Hospice
Services offered: A Canada-wide website that provides information about palliative care associations, drug/benefit programs, home care programs, residential hospices and other programs and services
The Dorothy Ley Hospice
220 Sherway Dr., Etobicoke, ON
416 626-0116
Services offered: Bereavement care; one-on-one or group support for caregivers, families and friends anticipating a loss or dealing with the aftermath of a death; referrals to other community services as needed
Hospice Palliative Care Ontario
2 Carlton St., suite 808, Toronto, ON
416 979-9779 ext. 28
Services offered: Information and links to Ontario-based palliative care services and bereavement support groups
The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care
60 Murray St., 4th floor, Toronto, ON
416 586-4800 ext. 7884
Services offered: Physical, emotional and spiritual support to adults who are dying at home
Eligibility: People in certain areas of the GTA; see their website for a map outlining their service area
Referral: No referral required for a patient already being seen at the centre; if new to the centre, they need a referral from a doctor or CCAC for palliative care.