Support for the newly bereaved

Grief groups and organizations:

1. Song for Charlie, which does so much good work laser-focused on educating young adults about the harms of fentanyl, has a parent support page led by my friends Laura Didier (Zach, forever 17) and Jon and Jennifer Epstein (Cal, forever 18). https://www.songforcharlie.org/note-to-bereaved-family-members with lots of good resources.

2. There are four “Hope After Loss” Nar-Anon Family Group meetings online weekly; nearly all attendees have lost their “qualifier” to the disease of addiction, but the only qualification for membership is the addiction problem in a loved one. NarAnonHopeAfterLoss.org We now have over 450 members on our roster, representing many countries, relationships, stories, and causes of death – but all related to addiction. I am happy to talk with anyone about our unique NarAnon meetings. michelle@wearenotalone.community A lot of AlAnon members find us after their loved one died, as AlAnon doesn’t have such grief meetings.

   1. We meet four times weekly, 7am Eastern Monday, 2pm Eastern/11am Pacific Wednesdays, 8:30pm Eastern/5:30pm Pacific Thursdays, and 2pm Eastern/11am Pacific Saturdays Eastern. Please check a time zone converter to make sure you log on to Zoom when we're meeting.

   2. Additionally, we have a Newcomers' Meeting the first Saturday of each month, 30 minutes before our regular meeting (although you're welcome to attend / reach out at any time to any of our members with questions and support).

   3. Our Zoom link has not changed since our first meeting in April 2020: Visit TinyURL.com/HopeAfterLoss for our Zoom link. The zoom access remains the same across all four meetings

3. Facebook has countless fentanyl death support pages and activism pages started by angel parents – but I’d say instead of telling you what to look at or avoid, it’s best to search and join what resonates with you, not knowing details. I have had to “unsubscribe/unfriend” some that did not work for me.

4. THC/Cannabis related deaths should reach out to Laura Stack of Johnny's Ambassadors to be part of their group Parents whose Children have Died from THC-Related Outcomes.

5. There are Compassionate Friends' meetings throughout the country; and meetings are for parents who lost their children. https://www.compassionatefriends.org/find-support/chapters/chapter-locator/

In Marin, The Compassionate Friends of Marin meets once a month http://www.tcfmarin.org/

San Francisco meets monthly as well; email sfcompassion@gmail.com

6. Hospice of Marin has excellent grief support but as of 12/22 what a shame the voicemail isn’t working. Here are some of their offerings: https://bythebayhealth.org/support-group-calendar/

Not in Marin? Take a look at what your local Hospice organization offers.