Mourning Breaks

09/09/2025

World Su***de Prevention Day is tomorrow, September 10th. Join Su***de Prevention Middlesex-London and other community members who have experienced the devastation of su***de loss. It can help to feel a little less alone, in the company of those who understand.💛

Join us for the annual Lifting the Silence Walk in honor of World Su***de Prevention Day 🌎

If you’d like us to read the name of a loved one during the walk, send us a DM.

Please bring a chair to sit on.

See you all there 🎗️

09/08/2025

Julie has a lovely rural property and a unique practice supporting children and youth just west of the city. Take a look! 💛

Today is the first day of intakes for child and youth counselling, which will continue until the end of next week. Space is limited. Sessions include talk therapy, play therapy, animal-assisted therapy, therapeutic art, and nature-based therapy. Sessions are covered by most insurance companies under social work and counselling services. Services are also covered under the OAP and NIHB programs. If interested, please reach out if you would like a free 20-minute telephone consultation and/or fill out the referral form that can be found on the "Contacts" page on my website www.nourishinghearts.ca. Ages 5 and up. Located in Rodney, ON.

09/08/2025

Sigh…love the afternoon hours in this space.
This is YOUR view from the couch.
So cozy and peaceful.
See you soon! 😊💛☀️🌳

***depreventionmonth

09/08/2025

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We’ve updated our women and su***de prevention toolkit.
Many of the factors that contribute to su***de risk in women are related to societal influences - gender roles, gender relations, gendered access to care - and thus require social change to remedy. However, there are actions we can all take to decrease this risk and promote mental wellbeing.
Learn more: https://www.su***deinfo.ca/local_resource/women-and-su***de/
***dePreventionDay2025

09/05/2025

Mourning Reflection...

I want to share something with you as we reach the end of this first week of back-to-school routines. After having experienced the sudden death of our son, as well as his lifelong friend, both to su***de, this continues to be a challenging week and month for us, too.

Earlier this week, a client described coming across something while walking through their neighbourhood that they found uplifting and encouraging, and as they described it, I very quickly realized that she was talking about something we’d done over the Labour Day weekend, unbeknownst to her. It’s something we’ve been doing for many years now but it’s not something we publicize, and in fact it has become a little bit of an adventure for some to see if they can catch us in the act (and a joy for us when they do!)

Talking with my client prompted me to share this with all of you here, too. It’s relevant to this page, and to you, because it is one example of how our family continues to nurture our bond with our son…remember Continuing Bonds conversations? 😉

It has evolved into a commitment to our community, a legacy in honour of Colin and his friend Brad, both of whom attended this same public school many years ago.

Each year, we spend hours chalking messages of support and encouragement on all of the pathways and entrances to the school to create a warm and inviting environment for children as they begin a new school year.

The larger purpose, for us, is to acknowledge the weight of the world, the many struggles young people face, and to offer some community love and care to these tender hearts.

One woman whose children have since moved on to high school shared that her kids carry fond memories of these encouraging messages when they walked to school every September. We hadn’t considered how we’re creating warm lasting childhood memories for other families over these years. What a heartwarming legacy in the midst of the ongoing sorrow we carry.🥹

May this small glimpse into our lives provide some hope and encouragement. We know - REALLY know - how impossible it can feel some days.

Be gentle with yourselves as you learn to navigate this life without your loves. Trust that you’ll find your way.💛

***depreventionmonth

Last two slides image credit to IG accounts:
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🖤

09/05/2025

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09/04/2025

Just a little check-in to see how you’re all doing out there. It’s an emotionally challenging week for so many, especially for those who are sending grieving children back to school.

This can be a time of uncertainty, of sorrow, of shifting routines, emotions and vulnerability. It’s crucial that children feel well-supported in the ways they want/need to be supported and that they are seen and heard within their grief. Patience, kindness, and understanding—from parents, caregivers, friends, and teachers—will make all the difference.

It’s also important to recognize that no matter how much time has passed, children (youth and young adults included) can experience the resurfacing of grief throughout the years, often during times of transition.

Try to be sensitive to this and discover ways (see resources below) to validate, normalize and support these experiences. Often children are hesitant to talk about these moments as time passes…maybe no one mentions their person any longer, maybe they may feel that they “should be over it by now” because everyone else seems to be (often a direct reflection of broader inaccurate, unrealistic, societal expectations about grief).

The resources below are useful to both caregivers and educators. Please take the time to consider how challenging this transition is for the children in your midst who may be grieving the death of someone integral to their world.

Collectively we have a responsibility to ease the suffering of the children around us when we can. I hope this helps you to feel more empowered to do so.💛

Tip sheets to help support children and youth through their grief journey: https://lighthousegriefsupport.org/resources/tip-sheets/

KidsGrief: (support for families and educators)
https://www.kidsgrief.ca/

When Grief Goes to School:
https://www.todayskids.ca/good-advice/when-grief-goes-to-school/

Grief and Death Education Toolkit:
https://www.childrenandyouthgriefnetwork.com/grief-and-death-education-toolkit/ (an initiative to help educators feel more comfortable addressing concepts of death and grief within the school setting)

Back to School with Grief - Dougy Center:
https://www.dougy.org/assets/uploads/Back_to_School_with_Grief.pdf

How to Support your Child Returning to School after a Bereavement:
https://winstonswish.org/how-to-support-your-child-returning-to-school-after-a-bereavement/

*while the focus here is on grief primarily associated with the death of a loved one, these resources are helpful to support grief connected to many types of loss.

09/03/2025

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09/03/2025

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Our ‘About su***de prevention’ toolkit introduces the topic of su***de, including warning signs, risk and protective factors, statistics, and myths and facts. It also has a guide for how to have a conversation with someone you’re worried about. https://www.su***deinfo.ca/local_resource/about-su***de-prevention/
***dePreventionDay2025

09/03/2025

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09/02/2025

As September begins and Childcan gears up for a busy Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Todd and Lorraine have a very important message re: changing protocols at LHSC Children’s Hospital. They want to ensure that everyone knows about this change so you can continue to access all of the emotional, financial, and practical supports offered to families across Ontario.

DID YOU KNOW?

Childhood Cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of Canadian children.

The incidence rate of childhood cancer in Ontario is increasing by approximately 1% per year (1986-2018).

Childcan serves 25% of all children diagnosed with childhood cancer across Ontario.

There are so many reasons why Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is important:

It is a time to acknowledge the thousands of children and their families who are dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

It is a time to take notice and raise awareness about the reality of childhood cancer, and to emphasize the importance of research.

If someone you know might benefit from this update, please share within your circles. Thank you! 💛🥰

09/02/2025

Well, unbelievably, here we are on the cusp of autumn and I’m not entirely sure where August went. I hope you (and your heart) find gentle ways to move into this month, slowly, with compassion.

In the chaos of changing family routines (or the memory of routines you once had and yearn for now) the weight of all you’re carrying can intensify, and you might feel even more alone in your grief.

If you’re considering reaching out for support as you navigate the tender landscape of your life after loss, or as you’re learning how to live with a significant pending loss or disruption that is bringing grief and uncertainty to your days, I invite you to connect to schedule a free 30-minute, no-obligation conversation (telephone or online) to explore whether Mourning Breaks might just be the soft landing place you need right now.

Currently accepting new clients to begin in September and October.

IN-PERSON counselling sessions are available Tuesdays and Thursdays, and alternating Saturdays each month.

ONLINE, TELEPHONE (Ontario-wide) and local WALK & TALK sessions are also available throughout the week at various times.

Limited evening appointments also available.

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Mourning Breaks Grief Counselling & Support “Where are the rules of grief written, and who do we offend when we write our own?”~Sally Britton

Mourning Breaks is a place for you to feel—and express all that you feel—without judgement or expectation. A place to feel supported, heard; to safely explore the impact of significant disruptive change and loss, and to find ways to integrate these losses into your world, gently, at your own pace.

I know this isn’t easy.

You don’t have to do it alone.

See link to website in bio for more information and to schedule your initial consultation.