A Richmond-based grassroots organization is lending a helping hand to help people who’ve lost their loved ones to COVID-19.
Richmond’s Community Mental Wellness Association of Canada (CMWAC), a local not-for-profit that promotes mental health and personal well-being, is hosting a free online group discussion on April 28 to support those coping with grief and loss amid the pandemic.
Ahlay Chin, founder CMWAC, said the sudden loss of loved ones is a tragedy in life and can be hard to handle alone.
“The ongoing pandemic has made the grieving even more difficult since some people didn’t have a chance to give a goodbye kiss to their beloved ones,” said Chin.
Professional psychiatrists will be listening and speaking with attendees who wish to share their concerns and emotional pain, according to Chin.
“You don’t need to swallow the pain by yourself and keep moving on. I want people who’ve experienced or are currently going through severe trauma to know our team of professionals are here to listen and to support.”
Chin stressed that there is no shame in feeling depressed after traumatic experiences and also mentioned her personal experience of having suffered post-traumatic stress disorder from losing her friend to suicide 20 years ago.
The tragedy led her to establish CMWAC and motivated her to become a counsellor.
“I learned twenty years ago that life is completely unpredictable and we sometimes have to accept what it is and have faith in what will be,” she said.
“But it’s important to know that there are always people out there to listen. Even if you don’t want to talk right now, it’s fine. You can come to us anytime.”
The discussion will be held on April 28 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. People can send an email at [email protected] or call 604-319-9879 for more information.
