HOPE has a book available to anyone interested in forming a support a group in their community. It costs just $10 and is available by calling HOPE at 315-475-9675. The information below is an excerpt of the book.
How to Start a Support Group For Grieving People
Often bereaved people do not know anyone very well who has experienced the death of someone close. They want to talk to people who have lived through such a death. Many bereaved people need more understanding, more hope, more knowledge or more comfort than the people around them are able to provide. It is important to promote healing through understanding and education, and to help people work through their grief and readjust to life by mutual support and encouragement. Talking is a helpful part of the grieving process. People who attend a meeting find other people who have gone through many of the same experiences and can, therefore, listen and understand in a special way.
This like-to-like help is invaluable to the bereaved (widowed helping widowed, bereaved parent helping bereaved parent, or grieving people helping grieving people). The commitment and concern that comes from their lived experience establishes an atmosphere of understanding and friendship. Life will never be the same, but grief can be survived and hope restored. People who offer their help to grieving people find that they, too, are helped.
This book includes information on Breaking Ground, Steering Committee, How to Contact Newly Bereaved,and Publicity.
