Winter Lunch & Learn Series

Complexities of Grief in our Communities

Please join the BCHPCA Lunch & Learn Series to learn about the complexities of grief in our community.

Day 1 – Monday, March 14th, 2022 (12-1pm)

“Grief Due to Overdose”

Speaker: Trevor Josephson,MA, RCC  Manager of Clinical Services, Peace Arch Hospice Society will present on “Grief Due to Overdose.

Trevor will draw from his work supporting clients experiencing the many complicated aspects of this type of loss: the big ‘why?’ question, the stigma, the anger/regret/guilt, the suddenness of it and the new roles one is forced to take on. He will provide insights drawn directly from a range of such experiences. Considering Trevor supports the White Rock / South Surrey area, many of the people dying from accidental overdose in this municipality were owners of businesses, parents of children, adult children of parents and hard working members of our community who had plans for their future.

Day 2 – Tuesday, March 15th, 2022 (12-1pm)

“Prolonged Grief Disorder”

Speaker: Marney Thompson, MA, RCC – Director Psychosocial Services at Victoria Hospice will present on Prolonged Grief Disorder

Marney will be presenting current information on Prolonged Grief Disorder, a stress-related disorder that was introduced to the latest Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health Disorders (DSM-5-TR) in September 2021. The presentation will include general information about PGD criteria, prevalence, treatment approaches, and resources.

Day 3 – Wednesday, March 16th, 2022 (12-1pm)

“Walking With Complicated Grief”

Speaker: Eugene Dufour – Psychosocial Spiritual Care Specialist, Huron Perth Palliative Care Outreach Team, will present on Walking With Complicated Grief

The pandemic has robbed our communities of helpful and healing ways of grieving. As a result, more and more people are suffering from complicated grief. Hospice palliative care caregivers are also experiencing a deep level of complicated grief. This presentation will focus on practical and concrete ways of helping people work through complicated grief. Participants will learn how to create sacred space and use the tools of compassionate listening to get to the core of the person’s complicated grief. The presentation will also give participants healing self-care practices that will allow them to continue to provide this type of intensive work.

Day 4 – Thursday, March 17th, 2022 (12-1pm)

“Living and Dying on the Streets: Palliative Care for Structurally Vulnerable Populations”

Speaker: Trevor Morey MD, CCFP (PC) – Palliative Care Physician – PEACH Inner City Health Associates will present on Living and Dying on the Streets: Palliative Care for Structurally Vulnerable Populations.

Trevor will speak about the PEACH (Palliative Education and Care for the Homeless) program and how they help to support people experiencing structural vulnerability in their community with harm reduction, trauma informed care and an anti-racism approach.