Bereavement Support and Grief Counseling Organizations

If one of your loved ones has died, a grief support group can help you adjust to life after your loss. There are many bereavement support and grief groups in the United States that provide counseling, therapy, social events and other advice and resources whenever you need it, even if it’s months or years after the death of your loved one. This guide to bereavement support and grief counseling groups across the United States can help you find one to cope with the death of your loved one. You can find the contact details for each organization beneath the descriptions.

Telephone numbers not specified as helplines provide advice on the service, but do not necessarily offer bereavement support or grief counseling. The opening hours for organizations that do have helplines are available on their websites. If you are very distressed and need to speak to someone at any hour of the day you can call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline on 1-800-273-8255 or Samaritans USA on 1 (800) 273-TALK for free, confidential and non-judgemental listening and support from trained volunteers on any issue, including bereavement, that is causing you distress.

General

Children

Loss of a partner

Loss of a child

Miscarriage stillbirth or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Military families

Suicide

Death by alcohol or drugs

LGBT+people

People with intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities

Other helpful organizations

General

Hospice Foundation of America

National organization that promotes education and research in end-of-life issues and hospice care, and also offers extensive advice on bereavement support for people after someone has died. Resources include online information on coping with grief and finding support groups.

Website: www.hospicefoundation.org

Phone: Toll-free: 1-800-854-3402 (EST)

Email: Contact form

Griefnet

National network of email support groups for different types of bereavement and grief, including the loss of a spouse or partner, child, parent, sibling, friend, and causes such as traumatic deaths or substance abuse.

Website: www.griefnet.org

Phone: N/A

Children

National Alliance for Grieving Children

Network of bereavement support resources for bereaved children and teenagers, with online information about national and state programs, advice, videos and grants.

Website: www.childrengrieve.org

Phone: (866) 432-1542

The Dougy Center

A national center for grieving children, teens and families. Resources include support groups in English and Spanish and online advice.

Website: www.dougy.org

Phone: 503-775-5683/ Toll-free: (866) 0775-5683

Email: help@dougy.org

Loss of a partner

Soaring Spirits International

Network for widowed people in the USA that provides extensive bereavement support. Resources include an online forum, pen-pal service, weekend camps, social events and advice.

Website: www.soaringspirits.org

Phone: 877-671-4071

Email: contact@sslf.org

National Widowers’ Organization

An association that provides support and resources for men who have lost a spouse, or other loved one, including information on local support groups. Resources include a virtual widower-to-widower contact program.

Website: www.nationalwidowers.org

Email: info@nationalwidowers.org

Phone:1-800-309-3658

Loss of a child

The Compassionate Friends

A national network of grief groups for parents and siblings of children who have died, with 650 local chapters across all 50 states. Online resources include information on coping with grief after the death of a child, guidance for families and co-workers of grieving parents and Facebook support groups. The Compassionate Friends website is also available in Spanish.

Website: www.compassionatefriends.org

Phone: (630) 990-0010/ or toll-free (877) 969-0010

Bereaved Parents of the USA (BPUSA)

National network of grief group chapters for parents, siblings and grandparents after the death of a child. Resources include online help and advice and an Annual Gathering Conference.

Website: www.bereavedparentsusa.org

Phone: BPUSA chapter directory.

Cope Foundation

National bereavement support and grief counseling organization for families after the death of a child. Resources include a help-line, support groups for parents and siblings, peer-support, and art and music therapy.

Website: www.copefoundation.org

Help-line: (516) 364-COPE (2673)

Email: info@copefoundation.org

Miscarriage, stillbirth or Sudden Infant Death Syndrome

Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support

Bereavement support for parents, grandparents, siblings and other family members of a baby who died died during pregnancy, stillbirth or as an infant. Resources include face-to-face and online support groups in the United States and Canada and online information about coping with grief after baby-loss in English and Spanish.

Website: www.copefoundation.org

Phone: N/A

First Candle

Bereavement support for parents whose children have died because of stillbirth, SIDS or other sleep-related deaths. Resources include online support groups and advice on coping with grief, and information on finding a therapist.

Website: www.firstcandle.org

Helpline: Toll-free: 1-800-221-7437

Military families

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)

National organization providing grief counseling, online and community peer-support, social events and retreats for anyone bereaved by the death of someone serving in the military, including by suicide.

Website: www.taps.org

Phone: 202-588-TAPS (8277)/ Toll-free: 800-959-TAPS (8277)

Email: info@taps.org

Suicide

Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE)

Suicide prevention organization that also provides grief support for people bereaved by suicide. Resources include support groups and ‘grief packets,’ and advice on coping with grief.

Website: www.save.org

Phone: 952-946-7998

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

Suicide prevention organization that also provides support for people bereaved by suicide. Resources include grief groups and advice on coping with grief, with specialist support for children and teenagers, schools, colleges and workplaces.

Website: www.afsp.org

Phone: 1-888-333-AFSP (2377)

American Association of Suicidology

National organization that provides support for people who have lost a loved one because of suicide, and survivors of suicide attempts. Resources for suicide-loss survivors include handbooks in English and Spanish and details on local support groups.

Website: www.suicidology.org

Phone: N/A

Death by alcohol or drugs

Grief Recovery After Substance Passing (GRASP)

National network of grief groups for people who have lost a loved one because of substance use. Online resources include information on coping with grief, book recommendations and information on grief meditation.

Website: www.grasphelp.org

Phone: N/A

LGBT people

LGBT+ people who have lost a loved one can have additional needs, especially if their own or the family of a partner who has died does not accept their relationship. Several larger organizations, such as the American Association of Suicidology, provide dedicated bereavement support for LGBTQ+ people.

Griefnet has a dedicated email support group for LGBTQ+ people who are widowed.

You can also find dedicated local LGBTQ support groups in your own state.

People with intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties

Unfortunately, at this time there are no dedicated bereavement support groups for people with intellectual disabilities and learning difficulties who have lost a loved one in the United States, but advice and resources, including story books, are available. Many organizations that support people with specific conditions, such as autism and Downs’ Syndrome, have produced guides explaining death and grief to them.