Casualties in the occurrence of natural disasters can be very dreadful and traumatic, especially for loved ones and those who have witnessed the event. When the earthquake struck in Haiti in 2010, four UN volunteers passed away, and their co-workers gave their sentiments regarding the event — click here for the article. Tips on coping with the death of a colleague: Acknowledge that you are affected. Find ways to express your condolences to the family. Ask for a leave if you feel that you need it.

Advance funeral preparations can save your loved ones from extreme pressure and expenses when you depart from this world. Here are things that you should remember as you plan your own funeral early on: By planning ahead, your family’s choices are not restricted by time constraints; you have enough time to compare and choose a funeral service that suits your budget. When mourning individuals prepare for a loved one’s funeral, they often make careless decisions about the constitution of the ceremony, which can lead to unexpected expenses. Recognize the services and materials that you will need to avail for your funeral: professional services, grave site or cremation, monument or marker, and miscellaneous costs. To know more, click here.

Bonnie Carroll, who was inspired to found the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) after her husband died in a military plane crash, offers some tips on coping with the death of a loved one: Don’t consider your feelings of physical and emotional grief as weaknesses; these reactions are natural to a traumatic loss. Keep in mind that you have loved ones who can help you cope and make all the preparations. Try not to work yourself up; lay down and sleep. To know more about how you can cope with the death of someone very dear to you, click here.

No loss is every easy. However, some losses are enormously more difficult than others. The passing of a child can be immensely painful, especially for the parents of the young one. For those parents, families and loved ones who are going through the loss of a child, here are some things that you should know to fully understand that the pain you are going through is part of the process: No parent is prepared for a child’s death, even if you have anticipated it during your child’s illness. People have different reactions and feelings after the death of a child and may grieve the loss in different ways. Grief may come and go in waves throughout your life. Although it seems impossible, you can eventually let the loss become part of who you are and go on to find happiness

There are so many reasons why people run and one of them is to cope with stress and sorrow. For Arianne Brown, a time on her feet allows her to cope with the tragedy that her family experienced in 2006. Talking about her sister’s death was very difficult and time wasn’t helping the pain to go away. One year after her sister’s death, Arianne started training for a marathon. As her runs began to get longer and more difficult, her body was able to let go of all the negative emotions bottled up inside. For more of this story, click here.

Mourning over the death of a loved one can look different for each individual. This can be even more difficult to children who may not know how to express those emotions bottled up inside. Good thing those people at Heartland Hospice recognize the need to support these young children through their mourning stages. They are offering a day-long camp for those children who have suffered the death of a loved one. The Caring Hearts Camp aims to provide group activities that will include games, music, child-centered sharing and crafts. Each child will be paired with one adult buddy who will provide the former with a sense of stability during the camp. For more of this, click here.