Article by Gwen Jones, Department of Family Services
(Posted 2024 August)
August 30 is National Grief Awareness Day; an annual recognition highlighting the wide-ranging experience and impacts of grief. Symptoms of grief may be physical, emotional, and behavioral. While each of us experience grief differently, you don’t have to go through it alone. If you have experienced a loss and are struggling to cope with your grief, there are resources available to help, including one-on-one counseling and grief support groups.
AARP Grief & Loss Forum
Participants can find support and share advice with others who are grieving on the AARP Grief & Loss online public forum. You must register to participate. Visit the forum at community.aarp.org/t5/Grief-Loss/bd-p/GriefLoss
Capital Caring Health Grief Support
Capital Caring Health Grief Support services are offered at no charge to anyone in the community who has experienced the death of a loved one. Capital Caring Health offers a variety of grief support options, including individual short-term grief support, community-based grief support groups, workshops, services of remembrance and more. Support is available over the phone or via Zoom. To learn more, visit capitalcaring.org/grief-support-in-virginia or call 844-447-4383 (4-GRIEVE) to access their grief counseling services.
GMU Center for Community Mental Health – Emotional Support Line
Access free, anonymous and confidential support from the comfort of your home. Trained providers are available 7 days/week to offer help, teach evidence-based skills and to listen. Call 703-215-1898 from 8:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Low-cost therapy sessions are also available upon request. Learn more at ccmh.gmu.edu/services.
GriefShare
GriefShare is a grief support group program offered through area churches. Sessions run for 13 weeks with weekly meetings held virtually or in-person. The cost ranges from free to $25. Sessions are led by counselors or pastors and consist of viewing a 30-minute video on a grief-related topic, followed by a group discussion. GriefShare is nondenominational but biblically based so it may not be appropriate for people who practice other religions or are atheists or agnostics. To learn more or find a GriefShare support group near you, visit griefshare.org.
Haven of Northern Virginia
4606 Ravensworth Road, Annandale
Founded in September 1976, Haven is a nonprofit, nonsectarian community organization of trained volunteers offering emotional support to the bereaved, the seriously ill, the dying, and their families and friends. Haven offers one-on-one support as well as grief support groups. Individuals can drop in without an appointment Monday-Friday, 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m., to speak with a volunteer one-on-one. Their grief support groups include loss of spouse and loss of loved one by suicide. They also offer a parent loss support workshop. All services are free, but registration is required for support groups and workshops. To learn more, visit havenofnova.org, call 703-941-7000 or email havenofnova@verizon.net.
InSight Memory Care Center Bereavement Support Group
InSight Memory Care Center has partnered with Capital Caring Health to offer this group. The group is specifically for people who have lost a family member to dementia but anyone looking for bereavement support is welcome. The group is free and meets virtually on the first Tuesday of the month from 2-3:30 p.m. To sign up, visit insightmcc.org/programs/alzheimers-dementia-support-programs/support-groups.html.
Additional Resources:
- Grief resources from the American Psychological Association: apa.org/topics/grief
- American Foundation for Suicide Prevention – suicide bereavement support group finder: afsp.org/find-a-support-group
- Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors – resources, including support groups: allianceofhope.org
Reading List:
A wide variety of books on the topic of grief are available from Fairfax County Public Library.
Here are a few recent titles:
- "Moving on Doesn't Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss" by Gina Moffa, LCSW; Call number: 155.937 Moffa 2023
- “The Grieving Brain: the Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss” by Mary-Frances O'Connor; Call number: 155.937 OConnor 2022
- “So Sorry for Your Loss: How I Learned to Live with Grief, and Other Grave Concerns” by Dina Gachman; Call number: 155.937 Gachman 2022
- “How to Live When a Loved One Dies: Healing Meditations for Grief and Loss” by Thich Nhat Hanh; Call number: 294.34 NhatHan 2021
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).