Although there are no right or wrong ways to Grieve, there are right and wrong ways to deal with Grief.

Regardless if you're handling loss well, or overwhelmed with Grief, managing your mental and emotional well-being with additional support is both healthy and encouraged.

If Grief becomes begins to negatively affect your life, seeking mental health services professionally, or from your community, can be incredibly helpful.

Types of supportive groups and services professionals include but are not limited to:

Personal Networks

• Connecting further with family, friends and the community as a larger support system can help strengthen emotional bonds, helping to fill the void of loss


• Talk to others about your pain; it won't make it disappear, but it may allow you to confront and examine these feelings more easily, which over time, may make them more bearable


• Feel comfortable being direct with others about what you need from them; some people may want to help but might say or do the wrong thing but it's important that you help them help you


• Ultimately, no matter with whom you speak, a supportive network can help create a safe place to openly emote; this will instill confidence that the difficulty will pass in time

Support Groups

• Joining an organized support group will allow you to meet and talk with others who have experienced similar feelings and difficulty


• Speaking with this type of community may help provide insight on how to Cope with your own Grief; sharing your own experiences in a non-judgmental environment with knowledgeable and empathetic people can be very cathartic


• There are many different types of support groups for a variety of topics and circumstances; seek out those which are most relevant and helpful


• Support groups often meet at spiritual or community centers, hospitals and healthcare clinics, funeral homes, gymnasiums, or any other gathering spaces


• View the links below to find support groups in your area

Mental Health Professionals

• While all types of support services can be helpful, it may be more effective to speak with a licensed service professional who has been educated and trained specifically in mental health management


• No matter their background or technique, these counselors, social workers, therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and nurses or physician assistants with mental health training, are equipped to help with Grief and its emotional aftermath; they create a safe space to speak honestly with an objective listener, something that may be more difficult with family, friends, or the community


• Most importantly, mental health professionals help identify and articulate the emotions connected to loss, provide researched, constructive and healthy ways to live through and overcome Grief and any associated challenges


• Ask questions to ensure a good match with service providers; mutual trust and respect are vital to establish a good relationship and getting the most out of your conversations

Crisis Hotline

• If there is an immediate need to speak with a mental health professional, contact a crisis hotline for on-demand support, available 24/7


• These services are available as phone or text conversations, are kept confidential, and are available from a local or national health department for free


• However, if the situation is life-threatening, dial 911 for immediate emergency assistance

See the links below to find local community support and mental health professionals for hire in your area.