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Canadian
families grateful for help and support from Threads of Life
LONDON Ontario - October 20, 2008 – More than
90% of surveyed families impacted by a workplace tragedy
confirm that the Association for Workplace Tragedy Family
Support (Threads of Life) helps and supports them along
their journey of grief.
Threads of Life is a national charitable organization that
is dedicated to supporting families along their journey of
healing who have suffered from a workplace fatality,
life-altering illness or occupational disease. Created in
2003 to fill a major gap in Canada’s health and safety
and social systems, its mandate was to provide the kind of
emotional support and caring often needed to make it
through the aftermath of a sudden workplace fatality or a
traumatic injury or illness.
Threads of Life offers families opportunities to: receive
personal and sustained interaction with a trained peer
support provider who has also experienced a workplace
tragedy; meet with other families to create communities of
support at regional Family Forums; support through the
complicated legal investigations and court processes
following a fatality; and find links to communities
resources to help each family member after a critical
incident.
In the spring of 2008, Threads of Life conducted a
national survey of its family members who had been
impacted by a workplace tragedy. They were asked to rate
the organization’s programs and services and offer
suggestions on how to further support victims of workplace
tragedy. The results showed clear confirmation that
Threads of Life’s mandate to support families with
relevant programs and services are being met.
When asked what they liked most about the organization,
families typically responded with:
• “The one-on-one peer support and understanding.”
• “ Not feeling alone and having support through the
court and inquest process.”
• “ Helping other families heal and progress on their
journey.”
Other key findings included:
• 76% of families have lost a loved one to a workplace
fatality; 18% had loved ones
suffering from a life-altering injury; and 9% have loved
ones dealing with an
occupational disease/illness
• 45% were parents of the victim; 39% were spouses; 9%
were siblings and 6%
were children
• 91% receive the Threads newsletter and expressed
appreciation for the family stories
of others who have experienced a workplace
tragedy and knowing that they are not
alone; the positive outlook in the face of
difficulty
• 70 per cent plan to participate in the annual Steps
for Life – Walking for Victims of
Workplace Tragedy event on May 3, 2009 as
part of promoting injury prevention
“Our families are made up of unique individuals who have
complex needs after a workplace tragedy has occurred. No
grief journey is alike - our only similarity is that we
have been touched by a workplace tragedy that we believe
could have been prevented,” said Shirley Hickman,
Executive Hickman, Threads of Life. “We are a small
organization dependent on grant funding for our programs
and services and these findings showcase the need for
continued support for families who find themselves in
these tragic circumstances.”
The survey also asked members for any suggestions on how
to improve existing programs and services. A common theme
emerged requesting the organization to facilitate a
private on-line monitored chat room for families who want
to communicate via the Internet with each other on a
regular basis. As a result of this need, Threads of Life
launched its first on-line chat room during the
4th Annual Ontario Family Forum at the Nottawasaga Resort
in Alliston on October 4th 2008. Families from across
Canada are now able to go on-line and post messages and
contribute to discussion threads pertaining to their
unique experiences after a workplace tragedy in a
community of support.
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Contact:
Siân Gibson
Program Manager, Partnerships & Communications
Threads of Life Tel: 1-888-567-9490
email: sgibson@threadsoflife.ca
www.threadsoflife.ca
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