Healing Strides for Young Adults

When he was 18 years old, Patrick lost his close friend to suicide. 

He looked for a way to connect with other young adults who had experienced a similar loss, ideally something with a flexible schedule and low-pressure environment. He had benefited from traditional support groups, but he was now looking for something different. 

In 2025, as he was preparing for the annual Samaritans 5K, Patrick reached out to explore creating a Healing Strides walking group specifically for young adults in Greater Boston. “It was a great idea, and we agreed there was a need for it,” says Samaritans manager of suicide grief support services Brenna Sullivan. “We immediately began working with Patrick to create the program.” 

With the group now a reality, Patrick felt like he had helped Samaritans create what he was looking for. “It felt right to me.”

Every Sunday afternoon since October 2025, Patrick has served as a trained facilitator for Healing Strides, a walking group offering a safe space for young adults in Boston to connect and honor loved ones lost to suicide. It began as a pilot program set to run through Thanksgiving 2025, but the feedback from participants was so positive that the group continued to walk in the winter and has been meeting ever since.

To complement the support systems Samaritans was already offering loss survivors, including SafePlace meetings and Survivor to Survivor visits, Brenna wanted to create a group that gathered outdoors. “Any type of community and connection is helpful, but we wanted to provide people an opportunity to heal in nature. Walking is such a great outlet.” 

Every Sunday, the walking group meets at the Charles River Esplanade in Boston. After small talk and introductions, Patrick or his co-facilitator, Gary, shares ground rules that emphasize confidentiality, compassion, and respect. 

During the walks, which typically last an hour, conversations can be about anything from local events or Boston sports team developments to stories about loved ones lost to suicide and reflections on grief experiences. While there is no requirement to talk about loss or grief, Patrick has been surprised by the level of disclosure and engagement. Especially around holidays or anniversaries, participants have opened up about their loss and asked each other questions about their life experiences. 

Patrick has seen that most participants respond well to the outdoor format.

Being outside, walking side by side, creates a sense of ease. People can open up at their own pace while enjoying the outdoors.

Because he is a loss survivor himself, Patrick is empathetic to those who join him on the walks. He wants them to feel comfortable. “Some people just need a gentle first step. You can try it, and if it isn’t for you, there’s no pressure to keep going.” 

For many of the walkers, Healing Strides is their first exposure to a support group of any kind. Some have used the experience as a stepping stone to attend a SafePlace meeting. 

Patrick has appreciated having a space to connect with other loss survivors who are close to his age. “There was a real need for this kind of community. Navigating early adulthood is hard enough on its own. It can be even harder and more isolating after a suicide loss in ways that other young adult loss survivors can understand and relate to. Unfortunately, many young adults who have experienced loss aren’t connected with peers who share similar experiences in ways that work for them.” 

Feedback from Healing Strides participants has been overwhelmingly positive, a sign of how strongly the group resonates with young adults. “It’s been very meaningful to help create an experience and a community that I could have used when I was younger,” Patrick says. 

“I think the different parts of the experience—walking, being outside, listening, sharing grief reflections, light socializing, connecting with peers, and moments of quiet reflection—feed into each other,” Patrick adds. “Together, they create a sense of feeling less alone, foster healing, and offer personal space, all at once.” 

Patrick stresses that Healing Strides participants can share as little or as much as they’d like. Simply being around peers and being in nature can be beneficial. “Whenever you experienced your loss, and whatever type of loss you’ve been through, we’re here to support you.”