Humboldt tragedy: why we feel profound sadness

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – It’s been just more than one week since more than a dozen people were killed in a crash involving the Humboldt Broncos’ team bus and a semi truck.

With each funeral and development out of Saskatchewan, the grief continues to ripple across Canada and the world.

As many wonder why we feel connected to a tragedy that’s so far away, a mental health counselor says neuroscience is beginning to bring some answers.

“The idea that one baby in a nursery will start crying and the rest of them start crying, in some ways human emotion actually is a little bit contagious,” explains Jason Lehman, a registered clinical counselor with Lehman Counselling Services.

He says feeling that pain so deeply and so personally is perfectly normal, and likely has a biological root for us as a species.

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“In some way when we see that emotion being portrayed when we see images of people suffering through grief and loss, we feel they’re suffering and perhaps it has its biological roots in this notion of keeping us together as a tribe.”

With the near-daily updates, tributes and funerals for the Humboldt Broncos, he adds it’s important to keep your own mental health in mind.

“I think that it’s important to certainly connect with others, and really talk transparently with one or two chosen confidants.”

He also says part of the key to dealing with your feelings is to be honest about them.

If you’re feeling like you just need someone to talk to, you can also call the BC Crisis Centre.

More crash victims laid to rest

More tears are being shed today as three of the victims in last week’s deadly crash near Nipawin are laid to rest.

A funeral will be held at the Humboldt Broncos hockey arena for Head Coach Darcy Haugan. “He was my big little brother, he was my hero,” says Deborah Carpenter, Haugan’s sister. “He was four years younger than me, and yet was that protective big brother in my life.”

Family and friends will also gather at a local church to pay their respects to 18-year-old team statistician Brody Hinz.

Meantime, in Lethbridge, 21-year-old defenceman Logan Boulet will be remembered fondly.

Boulet was kept alive after the crash so his organs could be donated to other people. His organs were used to help six patients in need, and his story has inspired many others to sign up to become organ donors.

Victims remembered at Vancouver Vaisakhi parade

Those killed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash will also be honoured at an annual community event in Vancouver today.

Volunteer Pall Beesla says Vaisakhi celebrations have evolved into an occasion where people of all backgrounds come together as a community. With that in mind, he says those affected by the tragedy in Saskatchewan will be part of this year’s event.

“We’ll definitely be having a moment of observation at the temple itself on the stage, and we’ll have banners on one of our society’s floats remembering those lives lost,” he tells NEWS 1130. “Helping and commemorating and remembering the lives lost of the Humboldt Broncos accident that happened.”

He says everyone is welcome at the Vancouver Vaisakhi celebrations, which are marked by the parade and plenty of free food and chai.

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