When Hannah was 14, she accessed grief counselling through the Children’s Grief Centre. Hannah’s dad had died suddenly in 2021. After accessing non-grief specific counselling supports in the community, the family was referred to the Children’s Grief Centre because of their complex grief needs.
Hannah reports: “I’m so glad we found this place. When I came here, it felt safe and welcoming, and I found it was unlike other counselling. My counsellor knew how to ask me the right questions about my grief so that I could begin to heal and move forward with my life. My counsellor helped me become aware of the many ways the loss of my dad was impacting me, including having a sense of belonging and feeling connected with friends. She helped me find ways to share about my grief with others in ways that felt meaningful to me. This year, I found the courage to write a poem about my grief and share it with my entire grade in a spoken word poem. While I was so nervous to put my grief out there, afraid of how other students and friends would respond, I am so glad I did. I feel more able to be myself and sharing my story has helped me feel known and connected to my friends and school community. I think the next part of my grief will be speaking out and helping others by sharing my story so other teenagers can feel less alone.”
Hannah wants to share her story with you through her art.
Spoken Word Poem: “This is my story!”
Hannah.P – April 2025
Thoughts that try to hide get stuck in my brain when I think about what this poem is about. Crying is something everyone has to do to get over things and I constantly think about what people will think of me when I tell me story.
Nervous Nervous Nervous is all I feel
Sometimes I drift myself away from telling people, because I have no clue how they will react to what I say, or how exactly they will take the information I reveal.
Stare Stare Stare is all I see
People have no clue who I was before that say and sometimes it can be hard to tell people who I am today because me life changed to fast and drastically like currents in a river.
Questions Questions Questions is all they ask
Part of me doesn’t want to tell, but I fell like that would be a lie, but no one can prepare you to lose your father.
Sorry Sorry Sorry is all I get when I tell my story
When I step outside, I think that everyone would know if it’s only been a week, but what if it’s been a few weeks, a few years, or even a decade. If I tell you today, will you remember tomorrow?
Silence Silence Silence is all I hear
I have to brace myself for the response people will give back to me because others have different reactions to what I share
Sad Sad Sad is all others feel. But they don’t have to be.
I’m tired of feeling nervous
I’m tired of the stares
I’m tired of the questions
I’m tired of the sorry’s
I’m tired of the silence
And I’m tired of the sadness
I’m ok, I’m ok, I’m ok!