Grief and grief support needs in Canada: A mixed methods protocol.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Grief Studies
• Sociology

Background:

• Societal events like the COVID-19 pandemic, opioid crisis, and residential school discoveries highlight the universal experience of grief.
• Grief literacy is crucial for societal understanding and support of bereavement.
• The Public Health Model of Bereavement Support, previously tested in Australia, categorizes risk for prolonged grief disorder.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advance public health understanding of grief and bereavement support.
• To empirically test the Public Health Model of Bereavement Support within the Canadian context.
• To develop a grounded theory of grief support, centering underrepresented voices.

Main Methods:

• A sequential mixed methods design was employed.
• Phase one involved a Canada-wide survey in English and French to test the Public Health Model of Bereavement Support.
• Phase two focused on building a grounded theory of grief support by incorporating diverse and often unheard perspectives.

Main Results:

• This research is the first to test the Public Health Model of Bereavement Support internationally in a post-pandemic setting.
• The study considers unique Canadian contexts, including medical assistance in dying and an ongoing opioid crisis.
• The mixed methods approach provides a comprehensive understanding of grief and support in Canada.

Conclusions:

• Findings will enhance the understanding of grief and current grieving realities in Canada.
• The study has the potential to improve the well-being of millions of grieving Canadians.
• This research contributes novel insights into grief support within a complex, contemporary societal landscape.