Hospice Services and Grief Support Groups

This chapter provides a template for conducting school-based grief support groups for elementary and secondary students. The template supplies school-based mental health professionals with an easy-to-replicate structure for hosting psychoeducational strengths-based grief support group sessions. Guidance is provided on how to ensure a smooth-running group in the school setting and how to handle sensitive issues such as student confidentiality. Special considerations for different age groups are offered. School-based bereavement groups educate students about grief, normalize the grief process, teach healthy coping skills for managing grief reactions, and facilitate connections with other students who are experiencing similar losses.

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Online Grief Support Groups: Facilitators' Attitudes

Death Studies ◽

10.1080/07481187.2013.873840 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 517-521 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Margaret Lubas ◽

Gianluca De Leo

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Grief Support

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Improving a Grief and Loss Program: Caring for Patients, Families, and Staff

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/om.67.1-2.z3 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 67 (1-2) ◽

pp. 233-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Susan A. Wintermeyer-Pingel ◽

Donna Murphy ◽

Karen J. Hammelef

Keyword(s):

Program Evaluation ◽

Support Groups ◽

Comprehensive Cancer Center ◽

Cancer Center ◽

Grief And Loss ◽

Staff Support ◽

Care Services ◽

Grief Support ◽

Phone Calls ◽

The University

The University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center (UMCCC) Grief and Loss Program provides supportive care services during bereavement which is considered part of the care continuum. This program received 50 death notifications per month upon project initiation and currently receives approximately 125 per month. Initial program evaluation was conducted via a pilot survey of bereaved parents as well as verbal and written evaluations from the transdisciplinary staff of Patient and Family Support Services. Grief support prior to evaluation included mailings, phone calls as indicated, poorly attended bereavement support groups, and limited staff support. Based on program evaluation, grief support continues through the use of mail/e-mail and phone calls to those at risk for complicated grief. Three to four gatherings per year are offered rather than monthly support groups, and connections to community resources are provided. The Comfort And Resources at End of Life (C-A-R-E) program was implemented to support and educate staff. Next steps include further program evaluation and potential research to examine best practices for the bereaved.

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Internet Support Groups for Suicide Survivors: A New Mode for Gaining Bereavement Assistance

OMEGA - Journal of Death and Dying ◽

10.2190/om.57.3.a ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 57 (3) ◽

pp. 217-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 62

Author(s):

William Feigelman ◽

Bernard S. Gorman ◽

Karyl Chastain Beal ◽

John R. Jordan

Keyword(s):

Support Groups ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Suicide Survivors ◽

Face To Face ◽

Grief Support ◽

Internet Users ◽

Internet Support ◽

Internet Support Groups ◽

Support Resource ◽

Group Experience

Taken among parents who sustained the loss of a child to suicide this study explores the participation of parents in Internet support groups, comparing their demographic and loss-related characteristics ( N = 104) to other parent survivors participating in face-to-face support groups ( N = 297). Contrary to expectations that Internet affiliates would be concentrated in under-served rural areas, we found similar levels of urban, suburban, small city and rural residents in both Internet and face-to-face subsamples. Bivariate and multivariate analyses suggested several important factors contributing to interest in Internet grief support including: 24/7 availability and opportunities to invest more time into this type of support group experience. Compared to their face-to-face group counterparts, Internet affiliates experienced greater suicide stigmatization from their families and other associates. Unable to find ready comfort and support from their personal communities, Internet users—and especially highly depressed survivors—sought and obtained valuable help from the Internet support resource.

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