Is there a grief support hotline I can call?

Yes. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988) is available 24/7 for anyone in emotional distress, including grief. The SAMHSA National Helpline (1-800-662-4357) is free and confidential. Many hospice organizations also offer free bereavement support lines — check with any hospice that was involved in your loved one's care. The Crisis Text Line (text HOME to 741741) provides 24/7 text-based support.

How long does grief last?

There is no standard timeline. Most people begin to find functional equilibrium — not "getting over it," but adapting to life with the loss — within 6–18 months. Grief often intensifies around anniversaries, holidays, and milestones. Complicated grief (also called prolonged grief disorder) is a clinical condition where grief remains severely debilitating beyond 12 months in adults; it is treatable with therapy. If grief is significantly interfering with your ability to function, reaching out to a grief therapist or counselor is advisable.

What is the difference between grief counseling and grief therapy?

Grief counseling typically focuses on support, adjustment, and coping strategies — often provided by counselors, social workers, or support group facilitators. Grief therapy is clinical treatment for complicated, traumatic, or otherwise unresolved grief — provided by licensed therapists using evidence-based approaches like EMDR, CBT, or Complicated Grief Treatment (CGT). Most people benefit from counseling; those with complicated grief or trauma often need therapy.

Are there online grief support groups?

Yes. Modern Loss (modernloss.com), Grief Share (griefshare.org), and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) all offer online communities and virtual support groups. Reddit's r/grief community has hundreds of thousands of members and is active around the clock. Many hospice organizations run free virtual grief groups open to anyone in the community, not just former patients' families.

How can I help a friend who is grieving?

Show up consistently, not just immediately after the loss. The days and weeks after the initial rush of support are often the loneliest. Text without expecting a response. Bring food without asking if they want it. Mention the deceased by name — many grieving people fear that people will stop talking about their loved one. Be specific with offers: "I'm dropping off dinner Thursday" is more actionable than "let me know what you need." Don't set a timeline for their grief.

Grief Support Resources: Hotlines, Organizations, and Where to Find Help

Grief is one of the most isolating experiences a person can face — and one of the most universal. If you are struggling after a loss, or if you want to help someone who is, this guide lists the organizations, hotlines, and resources that provide real support.

Immediate Crisis Support

If you or someone you know is in crisis — whether from grief, depression, or thoughts of self-harm — these resources are available 24/7:

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988. Available 24/7. For anyone in emotional distress, including grief-related crisis.
Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741. Free, confidential, 24/7 text-based support.
SAMHSA National Helpline — 1-800-662-4357. Free, confidential, 24/7. Mental health and substance use crises.

National Grief Organizations

General grief support

Grief Share (griefshare.org) — a network of grief support groups meeting across the US and Canada, plus online groups. Evidence-based program with a video curriculum.
The Dinner Party (thedinnerparty.org) — peer-to-peer grief support for people in their 20s–40s, organized around shared meals and conversations. Particularly good for young adults who feel isolated in their grief.
Modern Loss (modernloss.com) — essays, resources, and community for people navigating loss in the modern world. Honest and practical.
What's Your Grief (whatsyourgrief.com) — education-focused grief resource with extensive articles, a podcast, and an online learning community.

For specific types of loss

Loss of a spouse or partner

Soaring Spirits International (soaringspirits.org) — widowed person peer support, both in-person and virtual. Camp Widow conferences and regional groups.
American Widower Organization (americanwidower.org) — specifically for men who have lost a spouse or partner.

Loss of a child

The Compassionate Friends (compassionatefriends.org) — the largest organization supporting families after the death of a child. Chapters nationwide and online support groups.
SHARE Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support (nationalshare.org) — for families experiencing miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death.
SIDS Alliance — for families who have lost a child to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.

Loss to suicide

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (afsp.org) — survivor support groups (for those who have lost someone to suicide), advocacy, and healing retreats. International Survivors of Suicide Loss Day every November.
Alliance of Hope for Suicide Loss Survivors (allianceofhope.org) — online forum specifically for suicide loss survivors, active around the clock.

Loss to addiction or overdose

Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing (GRASP) — support groups and resources for families who have lost someone to substance use.
Learn to Cope (learn2cope.org) — peer support network for families affected by addiction, including bereavement.

Pet loss

Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (aplb.org) — chat rooms, support groups, and counseling resources for pet bereavement.
Pet Loss Support Page — online community and resources.

Finding a Grief Counselor or Therapist

If you're ready to work with a professional:

Psychology Today therapist finder (psychologytoday.com/us/therapists) — filter by "grief" and your location. Most listings include insurance information.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) — 1-800-950-6264, or text "NAMI" to 741741. Help finding local mental health resources.
Open Path Collective (openpathcollective.org) — reduced-cost therapy ($30–$80/session) for those without insurance or with financial limitations.
Your hospice provider's bereavement program — if your loved one died in hospice care, hospice organizations are required to provide bereavement support to families for at least 13 months. This is often free and underutilized.

Online Communities

r/grief (reddit.com/r/grief) — active community, 24/7, for anyone in grief. Honest, non-judgmental, and diverse.
r/widows and r/widowers — specific communities for those who have lost a spouse or partner.
Grief Anonymous Facebook groups — search Facebook for "grief support" to find active groups organized by type of loss.

Books on Grief

A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis — raw, honest, short. Written after the death of his wife.
The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion — memoir on grief after sudden loss.
Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant — practical focus on resilience after loss.
It's OK That You're Not OK by Megan Devine — compassionate; challenges the idea that grief needs to be "fixed."
On Grief and Grieving by Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler — the original stages of grief framework, written by the creators.

Understanding Your Grief

Our guide on the stages of grief walks through what to expect — the non-linear reality of grief, complicated grief, and how to support someone who is grieving.

Preparing Your Family

One of the most lasting gifts you can give your family is reducing the burden they carry after your death. FinalKeepSake's legacy planning tools help you organize documents, record your wishes, and prepare everything your family needs — so they can focus on grieving and healing, rather than logistics.