Grief is a difficult storm to navigate even under normal circumstances. When you grieve someone no one else knew, such as a baby, it can feel very isolating and lonely. It’s a phenomenon people don’t understand until they live it. Joining a support group can have many benefits. In my case it helped me:
- Feel more confident sharing my son’s story
- Get ideas on how to avoid or deal with triggers
- Find a soundboard for difficult/hurtful situations that occurred
- Feel completely normal for how I’m feeling
Here’s a list of Montréal support groups. I truly hope you can find one that makes you feel at home:
- L’Association Parents Orphelins offers monthly meetings in Montréal in French (parentsorphelins.org)
- The West Island Women’s Centre offers monthly meetings in Pointe-Claire in English (wiwc.ca)
- Les Relevailles de Montréal offers virtual monthly meetings in French (relevailles.com)
- Coach Jessie Legent offers virtual monthly meetings in French (jessielegent.com)
- The CLSC Vaudreuil-Dorion (Paroles aux anges) offers virtual meetings that are bilingual (santemonteregie.qc.ca or 450-455-6171 ext. 70345)
It’s also handy to know:
- Corrie Sirota hosts a virtual support group for men called WAM (We Also Mourn).
- Myra’s Kids Foundation hosts a summer camp to help kids 6 to 17 cope with grief.
With love,
From Michael