Grief and Mental Health: Why Loss Doesn’t Follow a Timeline

Grief is not a single emotion or a predictable process—it is an ongoing experience that can shape how someone thinks, feels, relates to others, and moves through the world. While it is often framed as something to “work through” or “move on” from, the reality is that grief can come in waves—showing up as sadness, anger, numbness, guilt, or even moments of disconnection that are difficult to explain.

Grief can impact mental health in ways that are often misunderstood, especially when it lingers, changes over time, or doesn’t look the way others expect. Many individuals find themselves navigating not only their loss, but also the pressure to appear okay, to return to normal, or to grieve in ways that feel acceptable to others.

This session creates space to better understand grief as a deeply human experience rather than a problem to solve. It explores how loss impacts mental health over time, how grief can show up in everyday life, and how we can support ourselves and others in ways that feel steady, respectful, and real—without rushing, fixing, or minimizing what’s there.

This is a complimentary workshop made possible thanks to funding from the Government of Canada.