Why Canada Needs a Government‑Backed Grief‑Literacy Push

Every third Tuesday in November, Canadians pause to recognize a feeling that unites us all—grief. Whether it’s the quiet ache after a neighbour’s passing, the sudden shock of a workplace loss, or the collective sorrow of generations of Indigenous families, grief silently shapes our communities. Yet, on a day meant for remembrance and awareness, many still feel alone, unprepared, or even judged for simply being human.

National Grief and Bereavement Day was created to help change that. Established in 2017, this national awareness day is promoted by health organizations, community groups, and provincial partners to raise awareness, share resources, and encourage a national dialogue about grief and bereavement.  This day reminds us that grief is not a defect to be fixed, but a universal experience that calls for greater understanding, compassion and public support.

On this day, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) encourages Canadians to engage government and all sectors of Canadian society in an open dialogue to increase support for access to the necessary resources for those living with grief and bereavement.  Though the theme of Grief and Bereavement Day changes from year to year, the goals remain the same:

• Raise public awareness of grief as a normal, yet sometimes debilitating, response to loss.
• Reduce stigma around talking about death, dying and mourning.
• Encourage institutions (schools, workplaces, health services) to adopt basic grief‑support practices.
• Encourage governments to fund and promote grief literacy programs.

 

What is Grief?

Grief is a multidimensional response to loss, encompassing emotional, cognitive, physical, social and spiritual reactions. It is not a single, linear process – it ebbs and flows, often resurfacing when reminders appear. Grief is our natural response to loss, whether that loss is a person or pet who has died, the end of a relationship or career, a life-limiting illness diagnosis, or even the close of a familiar phase of life. Everyone experiences grief differently, and for many, it can begin even before death occurs. Grief can include:

• Emotional reactions: sadness, anger, guilt, relief, worry, bitterness or even numbness. These feelings can swing quickly from one to another.
• Cognitive reactions: difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, racing thoughts, intrusive memories, and “what‑if”
• Physical reactions: trouble sleeping, fatigue, aches or pains, or loss of appetite or eating more than usual.
• Social reactions: withdrawal, need for connection, or changes in role expectations.

Grief is personal:

• Two people who lose the same loved one may react completely differently.
• What comforts you today might feel useless tomorrow, and what helps a friend may not help you.

Clinical research distinguishes between “normal grief,” which usually diminishes over months, and “complicated grief” or prolonged grief disorder, a condition that persists beyond six months with impairments comparable to major depressive disorder. Early identification and support can prevent complicated grief, which is linked to higher rates of depression, substance misuse and even mortality. (Source)

Whatever grief looks like, it is real and it is valid. Everyone deserves to experience it in the way that is true for them.

 

Canada’s Grief‑Literacy Gap

Grief literacy refers to the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to recognize, respond to, and support people who are grieving, as well as those supporting them. It is rooted in the belief that bereaved people do not require intervention, professional interference or uninformed and unsubstantiated advice and opinions. What they need, both for themselves, and from those who are supporting them, is competence and knowledge in what they are experiencing. That competence and knowledge should include current, evidence-based grief theory, a comprehensive understanding of grief responses, diversity in coping strategies, the dismantling of our most commonly held myths and misconceptions, as well as accurate definitions of grief-related concepts such as acts of mourning, anticipatory grief, disenfranchised grief, and the difference between intuitive and instrumental grief styles. (Source)

Many people find it awkward to talk about death, loss, or grief. In our grief denying society, it is often positioned as problematic. It is frequently misunderstood – by those experiencing it and by those trying to help.

In a 2023 survey conducted by the National Grief Alliance, 50% of people didn’t feel adequately supported in their grief, and 53% felt their grief wasn’t adequately recognized.

A 2019 WebMD study found that 53% of respondents said they had encountered people whose sympathy seemed to have an expiry date. Even well-meaning friends and family often struggle to provide comfort or guidance in the most helpful ways. Many grieving people feel alone, misunderstood, and unsupported when they need personal connection the most.

Everyone will face loss at some point, but few of us are prepared for how long it can last, how deep it can feel, or how it changes our lives and the lives of the people we love.

 

Evolution of our Understanding of Grief

In recent decades we’ve learned a lot about grief and loss, moving away from the old idea that it’s just an individual, one‑size‑fits‑all experience. Even though Kübler‑Ross’s “five stages of grief” still pop up in movies and health talks, few realize her research was based on conversations with dying people. Research has shown stage models don’t really hold up. Today, scholars favour richer ideas like Stroebe and Schüt’s dual‑process model—which sees people swinging between dealing with the loss and trying to keep life going—and S.S Rubin’s two‑track model, which looks at both how we adjust to life without the person and how we keep the relationship alive in our memories.

These newer perspectives shift the focus from “getting over” someone to recognizing grief as a normal, long‑lasting part of life that can also bring positive growth. Instead of treating grief as a problem that needs to be fixed by cutting ties with the deceased, the goal is now to help people build a continuing bond—a new kind of relationship with the loved one that fits into their present life.

In short, modern research says grief isn’t a checklist of stages or something that has to be “resolved” by a certain deadline. Losing someone important reshapes who we are, and that change isn’t inherently bad—it can open the door to new strengths and connections.

What Support Do People Want?

A recent survey conducted by the Canadian Grief Alliance found that 83% of respondents stated that having others ask about their loss was helpful, while 93% reported that being asked how others could support them was beneficial. When asked what type of support they would like:

• 54% said more access to one-on-one grief counselling
• 52% said educating the public on how to support each other better
• 45% said increase access to supports tailored to specific types of loss

“There was also substantial support for making private grief services more financially accessible, holding community events that encourage talking and learning about grief and loss together, and more access to peer and group support.” Canadian Grief Alliance Survey

According to these findings, as well as others in this survey, we must improve public knowledge of loss and grief so that healthcare providers and the public feel better equipped and more comfortable providing support. The survey suggests the need for expanding access to a wide range of services, including death-related and non-death-related services, as well as examining the grief experiences and needs of people with racial or marginalized identities, nonbinary identities, or who are under 40.

 

Why Government Funding and Promotion Matter

We know how much grief hurts public health. People who lose loved ones are more likely to develop prolonged grief, mood or anxiety problems, feel existential distress, see their work performance drop, adopt unhealthy habits, skip medical care, and even face higher risks of cancer, heart disease, suicide and early death. Recent spikes in excess mortality—and crises like wars and conflicts around the world—are pushing us to act faster with national bereavement plans and targeted interventions. Now, more than ever, we need coordinated public‑health actions and multi‑level funding to lessen the harmful effects of personal loss.

Government funding and promotion of grief‑and‑bereavement services are essential because they protect the emotional, mental, and social health of people and communities. Grief is a normal response to loss, yet it can undermine mental well‑being, productivity, relationships, and overall community stability. By investing in accessible grief‑support programs, governments help individuals heal, which in turn strengthens societal health. Recognizing grief as a public‑health issue also drives collective action to ensure that everyone can obtain the resources they need during difficult times.

 

How you can get involved

• Help raise awareness of Canada’s grief literacy gap, and foster connections in your community. Download our campaign kit
• Download the Canadian Grief Alliances’ Next Step Action Plan. If calls for national leadership, collaboration, and concrete actions to bring Canada in line with other countries that make grief a priority.
• Ask your local elected officials to fund and promote grief literacy programs in Canada. Find your local representative, use this template to send them a heartfelt message, then share your email or a screenshot of your call on social media with the hashtag #GriefLiteracyand tag your representative and encourage your friends and neighbours to do the same.

 

Grief Resources

What’s Your Grief? Web resources to create a community that provides hope, creative expression, support, and education to anyone wishing to understand the complicated experience of life after loss.

Canada Virtual Hospice – My Grief – a resource to support you and help you through grief.

Canadian Grief Alliance – Working to help Canada become more grief literate – excellent handouts and resources.

More grief resources, including provincial resources, can be found on our Grief and Bereavement page: https://www.chpca.ca/awareness/national-grief-and-bereavement-day/

National Grief and Bereavement Day highlights a fundamental truth: loss touches everyone, yet many remain unsupported because of a nationwide grief‑literacy gap. Evidence shows that targeted education, culturally safe programs and federal investment not only alleviate personal suffering but also produce measurable economic and health‑system savings. By funding and promoting grief‑literacy initiatives, the Canadian government can turn a day of awareness into a catalyst for a more compassionate, resilient nation.