How To Find A Grief Support Group

Grief seems to heal best when you share it with others. There are many support groups available, both online and in person.

• Call your telephone operator and ask for the numbers for your local mental health association and your local suicide prevention center. Both types of agency have good grief referral lists. You need not be suicidal to get a grief referral from a suicide prevention center.
• Use the Yellow Pages and call hospitals and hospices near you. Ask to speak with the Bereavement Coordinator, Social Worker, or Chaplain's Office to get a local grief referral. Many hospitals and hospices provide grief support to clients for up to one year following a death and offer groups to the general public.
• Contact your church to see what programs they have available or our funeral home to get specifics on many of the support groups we offer.

Agencies that can help in our community

H.U.G.S. Children’s Support Group

A United Way Agency
Partnering with Freeman Mortuary, Dulle-Trimble, and the Community Health Center

Three sessions are offered during the 2009-2010 school year.
            Fall session: September 15th through October 20th
            Winter session: December 1st through January 19th (no meeting over the holidays)
            Spring session: March 23rd through April 27th 

To learn more about this group, or enroll a child, please call your school counselor or any of the following:

Ryan Freeman with Freeman Mortuary
Kyle Trimble with Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home

This is a free support group for children who have lost anyone special in their lives.  It is a six week session that is facilitated by a licensed professional to help these children deal with such a difficult time.  There are three different sessions offered throughout the year so please feel free to contact our funeral home for more information.

Grief Group – “To Live Again”

Partnering with AARP Chapter 4401, Freeman Mortuary, and the First Baptist Church

Three sessions are offered during the 2009 year:
            First Session: January 6th – February 24th
            Second Session: June 6th – August 1st (Saturdays from 10:00 am until noon)
            Third Session: October 6th – November 24th (Tuesdays from 2:00 until 4:00 pm)

To register for any of these sessions or learn about the group please contact any of the following people:

Ryan Freeman with Freeman Mortuary
Lorie with the First Baptist Church

It is an eight week session which is a free program specifically designed for those suffering grief and loss of a loved one through death or divorce.  Our funeral home helps sponsor this group, so please feel free to call for more specifics on the group.  It is open to any who needs help getting through an emotional loss in their lives.

Missouri River Hospice Grief Support Group
1440 Aaron Court
Jefferson City, Mo.
573-635-5643

Two six-week sessions are offered during the year (dates to be announced later for 2010):

            First Session: Spring
            Second Session: Late Summer/Early Fall

To register for any of these sessions or learn about the group please contact:

Marla Perryman with Missouri River Hospice
           
This is a six week session which is a free program specifically designed for those suffering grief and loss of a loved one.  This group is open to the public for all ages so please don’t feel that your loved one had to be under Hospice care in order to attend the meetings.  The groups are lead by professional facilitators; Suzanne Hemmann, MSW, LCSW, and Lacey Prater, MSW.

Compassionate Friends
 P. O. Box 3696
 Oak Brook, IL  60522-3696
 Toll-free: 877-969-0010
 PH: 630-990-0010
 FAX: 630-990-0246
www.compassionatefriends.org

This organization is available for any parents or grandparents who have lost a child.  There is a local Compassionate Friends Chapter in the Jefferson City area however, it is based on volunteers. For local contact information, please call the toll free number above.

Pathways Community Behavioral Healthcare
1905 Stadium Blvd
Jefferson City, Mo.
573-634-3000
www.pathwaysonline.org

Pathways is a not-for-profit community mental health center providing a full continuum of care and access to services across Missouri including their office in Jefferson City.

Center for Mental Wellness
Capital Region Medical Center
573-636-5000 ext. 5493
www.crmc.org/services/psychology/default.aspx

The Social Work Department at Capital Region Medical Center is available to help you locate a group that responds to your specific needs.

Share Support Group
St. Mary’s Health Center
St. Mary’s Share Team 573-761-7000

Meetings take place the first Monday of each month from 7:00pm-9:00pm at St Mary’s building 1001 Southwest Blvd.  Please call before you attend a meeting.