Our Support Services
Sharing our stories, actively listening to others, and exploring the thoughts and feelings that surface with the death of a loved one. These are an integral part of the healing process.
BFO-Toronto’s FREE one-to-one sessions and peer support groups are based on a Peer Support Model where people with similar grief experiences can come together to share, reflect, grow, support and inspire. There is something powerful about being with people who just “get it.”
Please fill out this form to join the waitlist for one of our groups and schedule a one-to-one session: Online Intake Form. For any other questions about our support services please email us at info@bfotoronto.ca and a member of our staff will be in touch.
One-to-One Session
Meeting with a peer volunteer in a one-to-one session is mandatory before joining a group. This is an opportunity for you to ask questions, meet with another bereaved person with a similar loss, and determine whether peer support is what you are looking for.
After this session is complete, staff will be in touch about whether you will be added to our waitlist for the appropriate peer support group if you are still interested in joining a group.
Please complete our Online Intake Form in order to schedule your first one-to-one call with a volunteer from Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto. All personal information provided is used to help serve our community better by identifying areas of need and support. Only Bereaved Families of Ontario – Toronto will have access to this information and it will not be used in any way to discriminate against those seeking further information. Your responses are kept private and secure. If you have any other questions, please reach out to us at info@bfotoronto.ca.
Peer Support Groups
BFO-Toronto runs peer support groups seasonally, in the fall, winter, and spring. Each group will have two volunteer facilitators, who are trained to create and maintain a safe space for the group by managing the flow of conversation and maintaining group structure with flexibility. Facilitators bring their unique grief experiences and facilitation rituals to the group making each group experience unique.
Peer support groups are small, closed-membership groups of 8-12 people who have experienced similar losses and want to explore their grief in a confidential, supportive setting.
Groups that are offered are:
- Young Adult Groups (18-29 years old)
- Spousal Loss Groups (over 55 years old & under 55 years old)
- Family and Friend Loss Groups (over 30 years old)
- Child Loss Groups (for parents/caregivers who’ve lost children of any age)
- Mother’s Day and Father’s Day Drop-ins
- Coping with the Holidays (end of the year)
Groups that can be offered are:
- 2LGBTQIA+
- Direct Support Staff
- Adults with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
- Homicide, Suicide & Overdose
- Parent & Children (6-12 years old)
Steps Involved with Receiving BFO-Toronto Support Services:
Step 1: Fill out our Online Intake Form
To begin the process of receiving grief support please fill and submit this online form. If you are unable to access the online form please give us a call at: 416-440-0290.
Step 2: Our Team Will Contact You
A member of our team will contact you to answer any questions you have about our peer support model and discuss the next steps, which could include booking a one-to-one session or offering additional community support.
It can take us anywhere upto 4 weeks to connect with you. Please note, we aren’t able to deal with crisis calls. We are a small team and appreciate your patience.
Step 3: One-to-One Session
Step 4: Wait for your Peer Support Group to Begin
Our groups take place three times a year. Depending on when you reach out the wait may vary from weeks to months for a group to begin. Our team will inform you of the approximate timeline, and contact you when the group is scheduled to confirm your spot. Please check your spam emails for our emails to not miss out on communications. We rely on your responses to fill our groups in a timely manner.
If you are not available when a group is taking place you will be waitlisted for the next available session.
Step 5: Peer Support Group
Once you reserve your spot in a peer support group you can expect:
- Weekly sessions (online or in-person);
- Two trained peer support facilitators; and
- A closed-membership group of 8-12 people who have experienced a similar loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a support group offer?
A safe space for you to explore your grief in whatever way makes sense for you.
A space to connect, share, and listen with others in their grief journey.
Develop skills, knowledge, and coping strategies to assist you in learning how to live with your grief.
Am I ready to join a group?
Some things you may want to think about before joining a mutual support group:
- Am I ready to share my story with others?
- Am I ready to hear the stories of other bereaved people?
- Will my schedule allow me to regularly attend the group?
- Is this the right time for me to benefit from a peer support group?
How do I join a group?
Please fill out our Online Intake Form or call the office at 416-440-0290 to have your name added to the next available session.
Please note that there is sometimes a wait to join a support group, as we run our groups when we have the optimal amount of participants.
Are groups in-person or online?
We offer both in-person and online peer support groups. While it is our goal is to offer many in-person groups, since the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been running most groups online.
When we have facilitators and participants interested in running groups in-person we try our best to provide this experience – there can be a wait for in-person groups.
Crisis Resources
If you or someone you know is in immediate crisis or has suicide-related concerns please consider connecting with one of the following confidential services:
9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call or text 9-8-8 for a safe space to talk, 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Gerstein Crisis Centre: Call 416-929-5200 for telephone support, an in-person mobile crisis team, community support referrals, substance use crisis management, follow-up and access to short-term crisis beds.
Kids Help Phone: People ages 5 to 29 can call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868 to connect with a trained crisis responder.