“Grief is an emotional and physical reaction to loss,” Dr. Gail Saltz, an associate professor of psychiatry at the NY Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornell School of Medicine and the host of the Personology podcast, tells Parade.com. “Emotionally, it can cause one to experience intense bursts of sadness, longing and crying. However, one might also feel anger, shock, or disbelief. Physical symptoms are also common. For example, grief may feel like total body pain or more like chest pain, back pain, stomach pain, or a headache … fatigue, low energy, loss of appetite, and nausea can also occur.” That said, there is help and hope, and you are not alone. With many COVID-19 restrictions in place— preventing a funeral or large-sized wake with multiple support systems attending—it’s important to reach out and find support if you need to. Here are 20 online support groups to help you process your loss.
Online Grief Support Groups
Grief Anonymous
Like Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, and Gamblers Anonymous, Grief Anonymous is a virtual and in-person support organization dedicated to assisting those grieving the loss of a loved one. The program follows the ten tenets of healing and grief. Each faction is comprised not of grief counselors but of individuals who have experienced death and loss, and their Facebook group—Grief Anonymous Family Group—connects thousands of individuals to immediate, 24/7 support.
Grieving.com
Founded in 1997, Grieving.com is one of the oldest online grief support networks. The site offers a variety of grief forums, ranging from generic loss discussions to more specific issues. It has grief circles, or threads where members can dive deeper into their pain, struggles, and loss, and with more than a quarter million users, Grieving.com helps members across the world heal.
Grief In Common
The purpose of Grief in Common is simple: Grief in Common aims to connect people who have experienced loss with individuals who have experienced similar losses. Or, to put it another way, Grief in Common gives its members a chance to bond over shared trauma and grief. Chat room conversations are open to anyone who becomes a member, and they costs .99 cents a month. Users can obtain a 15-minute phone call for free, or sign up for paid coaching services, and Grief in Common has a thorough list of resources, including links to other loss support groups and suggested reading materials.
What’s Your Grief
What’s Your Grief, has an important message: You don’t have to grieve alone. From online to in-person support, there is help and hope. What’s Your Grief has a “share your grief” section, where users can upload their photos and stories. The website has a long list of resources available and offers online courses, for those wishing to explore, learn, and connect around topics related to grief, and What’s Your Grief has a shop where members can buy motivational products, booklets, and cards.
Hope Again
Specifically created for young people dealing with loss, Hope Again isn’t an online support group per se, but it is a way for people to read others’ stories and share their own. Hope Again is “a safe place where you can learn from other young people, how to cope with grief, and feel less alone.”
Actively Moving Forward
Actively Moving Forward is a grief network which aims to support teens, college students, and young adults grieving the illness or death of a loved one. The AMF offer forums and resources and their app is full of stories, virtual memorials, and community support.
GriefNet
For a suggested donation of $10 per month, GriefNet gives users access to a plethora of support groups, including those for widows, children, groups for those who have lost a spouse or partner, and for those who are living with extended grief.
Online Grief Support
Described as a “social community,” Online Grief Support offers resources, counseling, and online groups and forums for those mourning losses of all kinds, including losses felt, caused, or exacerbated by COVID-19.
GriefShare
Per GriefShare’s website, GriefShare is “a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences,” and they will do so with community support and a combination of virtual and in-person meetings.
HealGrief
Providing community, support, and connections, HealGrief is a social network which aims to empower those struggling with loss. Their website has a plethora of programs and resources, for those struggling with the loss of a parent, child, sibling, friend, partner, or spouse. HealGrief offers virtual support, hosts local meetings, and developed an app specifically for teens and young adults.
The MISS Foundation
Created specifically for grieving parents and caregivers, The MISS Foundation offers bereavement care, counseling, and services to families experiencing the death of a child.
Compassionate Friends
All loss is tragic, but the death of a child is something no one should experience, and the Compassionate Friends network understands this. From groups and resources to online communities and a crisis hotline, CF ensures no parent (or family) feels lost or alone.
Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support
While the Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support network is specifically designed to support those dealing with the loss of a pregnancy or infant loss, their services are not limited to parents. Share offers support to anyone affected by infant loss, including parents, grandparents, siblings, and others in the family unit, as well as the professionals who care for grieving families.
A Little Hope
The national foundation for grieving children, teens, and their families, A Little Hope provides bereavement support services to those who have experienced the loss of a parent, sibling, or a loved one, regardless of the circumstances.
The Alcove
Founded in February 2001, The Alcove offers grief support services to children and young adults who have been affected by loss. Their bereavement support groups are currently available via Zoom, as are their teletherapy programs, and they are currently offering specialized services and support to healthcare workers affected by COVID-19.
Daily Strength
Are you grieving the loss of a loved one? Whether you lost someone recently or it’s been years, Daily Strength can help. With thousands of members and tens of thousands of online conversations and posts, there is support for everyone and anyone.
Gold Star Family
If you’ve lost your loved one in combat, Gold Star Family may be right for you. With specialized support groups, counseling services, books, and resources, Gold Star can help you navigate this trying time.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
If you’ve lost someone to mental illness or suicide, know this: You are not alone. Suicide affects millions each year. But there is help. The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention offers various resources to help you heal.
My Grief Angels
With forums, support groups, an app, articles, and daily affirmations, My Grief Angels will help you navigate life after loss. Next up, here are five tips for plowing through grief.
