Coping with the death of a loved one is a personal experience. Grief is a normal response to loss, and everyone processes it differently. You will find information and resources on this webpage to help you cope with your loss and feelings of grief.
You will also find information and resources at The Ottawa Hospital, including a journey through the end of life (PDF) and guide outlining what you may need when a loved one dies (PDF).
Bereavement groups in Ottawa
- Bereaved Families of Ontario
Phone: 613-567-4278
Bereaved Families of Ontario is an organization of people who have each experienced their own grief. - Canadian Mental Health Association
Phone: 613-737-7791
The Canadian Mental Health Association is a national charity that helps maintain and improve mental health for all Canadians. - Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program (grief and bereavement support)
Phone: 613-683-3779
The Champlain Hospice Palliative Care Program offers bereavement support, information and services that help people manage the emotions associated with grief. Support can often include services, treatments and care that assist people with physical, emotional, and spiritual changes that are related to a death or loss. - Champlainhealthline.ca (bereavement support resources)
Phone: 310-2222 (no area code required)
Additional phone numbers are available on the webpage for individual support groups.
Bereavement programs provide emotional support, problem-solving assistance, information, and guidance for people who have recently lost a loved one. Included are counselling programs and mutual support groups for widows and widowers, children who have lost a parent, parents who have lost a child, and other people who are grieving.
- EMentalHealth.ca
Phone: Many are listed on the webpage. - Funeral Co-Operative of Ottawa
Phone: 613-288-2689
The Funeral Co-Operative of Ottawa helps families in the Ottawa area commemorate the passing of their loved ones with dignity and in the manner of their choosing. They also have a list of books on grieving. - Hospice Care Ottawa
Phone: 613-680-0306
Staff of Hospice Care Ottawa and trained volunteers are available to listen and provide support. Programs are available to those experiencing a death through a life-limiting illness who live in the city of Ottawa. Find bereavement groups in English and French, partner/spousal support groups, adult loss of parent groups, bereavement retreats, and counselling. - The Distress Centre
Phone: Main phone: 613-238-1089; Distress Line (Ottawa): 613-238-3311; Crisis Line (within Ottawa): 613-722-6914; Crisis Line (outside Ottawa): 1-866-996-0991
The Distress Centre of Ottawa is your local connection to mental health support and resources, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. - The Ottawa Hospital
This article is for information only. Suggested services include:
24/7 Distress Line: 613-238-3311
Mental Health Crisis Line: within Ottawa 613-722-6914, or surrounding areas 1-866-966-0991
Ontario Mental Health Hotline: 1-866-531-2600
Walk-in counselling clinics
ConnexOntario or 1-866-531-2600
Community-based counselling services
- Child, Adolescent and Family Centre of Ottawa
320 Osgoode Street, Ottawa
Phone: 613-567-0777
Unfortunately, due to high demand, our wait list is currently closed and we are not accepting new clients at this time.
Most insurance plans accepted. - Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre
211 Bronson, Suite 209, Ottawa
Phone: 613-235-2516
The Ottawa Pastoral Counselling Centre offers counselling and psychotherapy services to individuals, couples, and families, including children and teens. - Men & Healing
PO Box 4755, Station E, Ottawa
Phone: 613-482-9363
Fee-based services for men. Most insurance plans accepted. - Walk-In Counselling Clinic
Phone: 613-755-2277
Family Services Ottawa: 613- 725-3601
Counselling and Family Services Ottawa: 613-233-8478
Free counselling services, support for life’s challenges, and counselling to individuals, couples, and families. - West Ottawa Community Resource Centre
2 MacNeil Ct, Kanata
Phone: 613-591-3686
Additional community resources
- Canadian Virtual Hospice
Provides support and personalized information about advanced illness, palliative care, loss and grief, to people living with illness, family members, people working in healthcare, educators, and researchers - Champlainhealthline.ca (power of attorney and public guardianship resources)
Phone: 310-2222 (no area code required)
A Power of Attorney is a legal document naming a specific person to act on your behalf (sometimes called a substitute decision-maker) in case you become incapable of making your own decisions. There are three kinds of power of attorney: personal care (health care and housing); continuing property (financial affairs); and non-continuing property (short-term management of financial affairs).
Public guardianship programs are operated by the province, which is responsible for investigating the need to appoint a guardian for people who are mentally incapable. The government may serve as a guardian in cases where no one else is available or willing. - Jewish Family Services
Phone: 613-722-2225
Jewish Family Services of Ottawa is a full service, non-sectarian agency serving residents of the greater Ottawa area – located at 2255 Carling Avenue, Suite 300. More than 65 programs and services are available to children, youth, adults, and seniors, be they individuals, couples, families, or groups. - Ottawa Baffin Program
Phone: 613-248-3552
Monday-Friday, 8-5 p.m. for Inuit patients looking for resources. - The Compassionate Friends
Phone: 613-769-1818 (Doug)
The mission of The Compassionate Friends is to aid in the positive reconciliation of grief and foster the physical and emotional health of bereaved parents and their surviving children and to help others to be supportive. The Compassionate Friends has no religious affiliation. - Your employee assistance program
You may find support from an employee assistant program (EAP) through your work. An EAP is a work-based intervention program designed to assist employees handle stressors related to work, family, financial woes, bereavement and more.