Support groups help bereaved people by:
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Countering the sense of isolation that many experience.
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Providing emotional, physical and spiritual support in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.
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Allowing you to explore your many thoughts and feelings about grief in a way that helps you be more compassionate with yourself.
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Encouraging members to not only receive support and understanding for themselves, but also to provide the same to others.
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Support groups offer opportunities to learn new ways of approaching problems in addressing the needs of family members and others affected by the loss of a loved one.
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Help you trust your fellow human beings again in what for many in grief feels like an unsafe, uncaring world. Providing a supportive environment that can reawaken your love for life.
There is a growing realization among those who care for bereaved that support groups are an appropriate and effective way to help bereaved people heal. They offer a safe place for people to do the work of mourning. Support groups encourage members to reconcile their losses and go on to find continued meaning in life and living.
Attending a support group, facilitated by a skilled leader, often brings comfort and understanding beyond many people's expectation.
