Grief Support Resources
Compassionate, professional support for your journey through loss
Finding Support Near You
If you are facing the loss of a loved one and cannot afford to pay for counselling, contact your local Family Service Association to request service. There are also various self-help bereavement programs (typically, 'Bereaved Families of [your location]').
You should also contact your doctor or the doctor who attended your deceased loved one to ask for a referral to a hospital or community service agency.
Regarding Pet Loss: You may wish to contact your local Humane Society to see if they offer any bereavement counselling.
— Michaele-Sue Goldblatt, MA, Registered Social Worker
🆘 Immediate Crisis Support
If you're in crisis right now
Free, confidential support available 24/7/365
United States
988
Call, Text, or Chat
Canada
9-8-8
Call, Text, or Chat
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline
For anyone experiencing emotional distress, mental health crisis, or thoughts of suicide
Spanish speakers: Press 2 | Veterans: Press 1 | Online Chat Available
🐾 Pet Loss Support
Your grief for your animal companion is real, valid, and deserving of support
📞 Pet Loss Hotlines
Cornell University
607-218-7457
Mon-Fri 6pm-9pm EST, Sat-Sun 12pm-9pm EST
Tufts University
508-839-7966
Massachusetts
University of Illinois C.A.R.E.
217-244-CARE (2273)
Toll-free support
Winnipeg Humane Society (Canada)
204-988-8804
Leave message, returned same day
💻 Online Pet Loss Support
Association for Pet Loss & Bereavement
Free online chat rooms, video support groups, and memorial pages
aplb.orgRainbow Bridge
Online grief counseling, memorials, and Monday night candle ceremony
rainbowsbridge.com🏥 Your Local Humane Society
Many humane societies and animal shelters offer free pet loss support groups and grief counseling. Search online for:
- "[Your city] Humane Society pet loss support"
- "[Your city] animal shelter grief counseling"
- "[Your city] pet bereavement group"
💜 Grief Support Organizations
Free or low-cost bereavement support across the United States and Canada
United States
The Compassionate Friends
Support for families after the death of a child. 500+ chapters nationwide.
compassionatefriends.orgCamp Erin (Ages 6-17)
Free bereavement camps for children and teens. Available in every MLB city.
elunanetwork.orgModern Loss
Online community and resources for navigating life after loss (20s-40s focus)
modernloss.comCanada
Bereaved Families of Ontario
Free peer support groups and one-on-one support across Ontario
bereavedfamilies.caCanadian Virtual Hospice
Online grief support and resources for advanced illness, loss, and bereavement
virtualhospice.caBereavement Ontario Network
Provincial network connecting bereaved individuals with local support services
bereavementontarionetwork.caSpecialized Grief Support
👶 Pregnancy & Infant Loss
PAIL Network (Ontario)
Support for pregnancy and infant loss across Canada
🎖️ Military & Veterans
Call 988, Press 1
Veterans Crisis Line available 24/7 for veterans, service members, and families
💔 Suicide Loss Survivors
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Support groups and resources for those who've lost someone to suicide
🏳️🌈 LGBTQ+ Support
The Trevor Project
1-866-488-7386 | 24/7 crisis support for LGBTQ+ youth
Finding Local Support
Search online for grief support in your area:
"[Your city] Family Services"
"Bereaved Families of [Your location]"
"[Your city] grief support center"
💡 Pro Tip: Contact your doctor or your loved one's doctor for referrals to hospital-based bereavement programs in your area
📚 Recommended Reading
Books on Grief
- "The Year of Magical Thinking" by Joan Didion
- "When Breath Becomes Air" by Paul Kalanithi
- "It's OK That You're Not OK" by Megan Devine
- "The Wild Edge of Sorrow" by Francis Weller
- "Bearing the Unbearable" by Joanne Cacciatore
Pet Loss Specific
- "The Loss of a Pet" by Wallace Sife, PhD
- "Goodbye, Friend" by Gary Kowalski
- "Coping with Sorrow on the Loss of Your Pet" by Moira Anderson Allen
💙 A Note About Professional Support
While peer support groups are invaluable, please remember that professional grief counseling may be appropriate for complex grief, trauma, or when grief significantly impacts your daily functioning. If you're unsure whether you need professional help, contact your doctor or use the resources above to get connected with a licensed therapist who specializes in bereavement.