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About

A Way Through is a collaboration between the Canadian Mental Health Association and McMaster University.

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With no end in sight to COVID-19, Canadians are experiencing loss like never before. As people struggle to cope with what they’ve already lost, the death toll continues to rise, lockdowns continue to be enforced and then lifted, and new losses appear on the horizon. People are experiencing loss in a variety of forms including the loss of loved ones, lifestyle, financial security, passions, connections, and others. Unable to gather, or at times, even leave their homes, Canadians have been left to cope with these losses alone.

A Way Through seeks to support people and healthcare providers in managing grief, loss, and bereavement during COVID-19 by making resources more accessible and fostering community support.

This resource is the result of and analysis and review of existing research and literature on grief, bereavement, and loss through COVID-19, that included peer-reviewed literature from academic journals, newspaper and magazine articles, personal and community narratives, video and podcast interviews, and more.

Resources on this website are not “endorsed” by us, we have simply organized, categorized, and described them in ways that we hope will support people in finding different resources, in a variety of formats, that are meaningful to them, depending on their needs.

How to Use

A Way Through has two portals to help you find the resources you’re looking for. They are: supporting myself and supporting someone else. If you are looking for resources for yourself, select “supporting myself” and follow the prompts.

If you are looking for resources to support someone else, select “supporting someone else and follow the prompts.

By healthcare providers we mean anyone who is currently working in a healthcare or healthcare related field. This includes nurses, therapists, social workers, personal support workers, doctors, occupational therapists, and any related professional.

We understand that you are also experiencing loss right now as well as unique professional challenges. On A Way Through we have two ways that you can navigate the site depending on your purpose. If you are seeking support for yourself, you can select the “supporting myself” option and follow the prompts. We offer healthcare provider-specific resources as well as resources for anyone experiencing grief and loss.

If you are looking for support in adapting professionally to address COVID-19, you can select the “supporting someone else” option and follow the prompts. Here you can find a list of resources addressing the professional challenges of supporting people experiencing grief due to and/or during the pandemic.