CARRYING OUR GRIEF:
2024 End-of-Life Virtual Conference Series
Over the last three years, thousands of people have participated in our monthly virtual education offerings.
This year we invite you to join us in creating a community that is comfortable talking about grief and loss by attending sessions focused on teaching new skills to increase our support of those who are bereaved.
All sessions are free of charge. Join us now!
Thank you to our Sponsors:
What is Good Support According to the Real Experts, Grievers! Thursday, January 25th, 2024 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
We know from empirical literature as well as common sense that good support during bereavement experiences is important. It’s particularly crucial where trauma and grief intersect. While the literature demonstrates the importance of good support in grief, few studies have explored the actions and actors of effective care for those mourning. This presentation will first examine the definitions of grief and where it intersects with trauma, illuminating varying dimensions on the effects of such loss. Then, we will explore the actions and actors of social support and discuss specific ways in which we, as a collective society, can provide the type of care that grievers, as the experts themselves, report as helpful.
Presenter: Dr. Joanne Cacciatore
Speaking Grief: A Documentary Film Screening and Discussion Thursday, February 15th, 2024 | 6-7:30pm (MST)
Speaking Grief explores the transformative experience of losing a family member in a death and grief-avoidant society. The documentary features diverse representations of grief through candid interviews with seven families from across the country whose losses range from stillbirth to suicide. Moving away from the idea that grief is a problem that needs to be “fixed,” the documentary validates grief as a normal, healthy part of the human experience. Speaking Grief also addresses the role support from friends and family plays in a person’s grief experience, introducing ideas for how we can get better at showing up for people in their darkest moments.
Produced by WPSU Penn State with philanthropic support and outreach collaboration from The New York Life Foundation. https://speakinggrief.org
Grief: The Mind/Body Connection Thursday, March 21st, 2024 | 5:00-6:00 pm (MST)
In this presentation, we will explore the ways that grief physically affects bereaved individuals and then review the influence of grief on morbidity and mortality. During the session, we will look at the newest research on brain science reviewing the ways a loss impacts brain processes. In the conclusion of the program, consideration is given to the ways that bereaved individuals can be assisted in achieving resilience.
Presenter: Dr. Kenneth J. Doka
Ways to Give
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Family Stories
Read the stories of families who have been supported by Roots & Roads Community Hospice Foundation.