Ottawa, ON – On November 21st in honour of National Grief and Bereavement Day 2023, the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) will convene a meeting of Parliamentarians to explore the merits of a country-wide approach to supporting those experiencing grief or bereavement.
“The impacts of the loss of a loved-one can be enormous,” says Laurel Gillespie, Chief Executive Officer of CHPCA. “Not only does it take a huge toll from a human and social standpoint, but it can also have enormous economic consequences. Better supports for Canadians facing grief and bereavement can help reduce those consequences, all while bridging the gap between isolation and healing.”
On National Grief and Bereavement Day, CHPCA encourages Canadians to engage government and all sectors of Canadian society in a national dialogue to identify and support access to the necessary resources for those living with grief and bereavement.
“Each and every day, Canadians across the country continue to struggle with their mental health, particularly when they lose a loved one,” says Ya’ara Saks, Minister of Mental Health & Addictions and Associate Minister of Health. “Our government is committed to supporting the mental health and well-being of Canadians through a Budget 2023 investment of $2.5 billion annually over 10 years, spread across four healthcare spending priorities, including mental health care. We will work with provinces and territories to ensure Canadians have the mental health support they need, when they need it.”
“Resources like the extra days of bereavement leave afforded for employees of federally regulated employers by my private members’ bill C-220 make a huge difference in the lives of those dealing with the loss of a loved one, and help them more successfully return to work,” says Matt Jeneroux, Member of Parliament for Edmonton Riverbend.
National Grief and Bereavement Day 2023 calls upon all of us to reach out and to walk alongside those around us on their grief journey. It’s a day to take action, to learn, to be present for someone who needs your support, even when words fail.
“When someone we care about is grieving, we are often unsure of how to support them,” says Ms. Gillespie. “But each of us has the power to provide connection and support when people need it most, using tools like the resource repository CHPCA is proud to offer.”
Together, let’s break the silence surrounding grief. Let’s walk alongside those around us on a journey with grief. To find out more about National Grief and Bereavement Day go to www.chpca.ca/bereavementday or contact [email protected].
Updated: November 21, 2023, 1:55pm EST
About the Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association –
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is the national voice for hospice palliative care in Canada. CHPCA is dedicated to the pursuit of excellence in hospice palliative care and provides leadership on advocacy, education, research, and knowledge translation to ensure that everyone in Canada has access to high-quality hospice palliative care. CHPCA operates in close partnership with provincial hospice palliative care organizations and other national organizations to strengthen the accessibility and quality of palliative care provided across Canada. Visit www.chpca.ca to find out more.
Contact:
Katrielle Ethier
Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association
(343) 804-4414