Help Other Suicide Loss Survivors
Losing a loved one to suicide is a painful and difficult experience. Samaritans’ Grief Support Services offer free support to suicide loss survivors – people who have lost loved ones to suicide. These services are facilitated by Grief Support Services volunteers. Our volunteers have been personally impacted by a loss to suicide and are at a place in their own healing which allows them to help others as they travel a similar path after a tragic loss. If you have been deeply touched by a loss to suicide and would like to help other loss survivors, please read on to learn more about the requirements for our Grief Support Services volunteers.
Questions about becoming a Grief Support Services volunteer?
Contact our Grief Support Services team.
Volunteer Opportunities & Requirements
Options for Volunteering
- Facilitate peer support groups (SafePlace meetings) in Greater Boston, MetroWest, and Central Massachusetts
- Participate in home visits to individuals and families looking for one-on-one support in Greater Boston and Central Massachusetts (Survivor to Survivor Visits)
During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Grief Support Services are being offered virtually by Zoom only. Volunteer applicants should have access to a computer and reliable internet service to support survivors virtually.
Time Commitment
- Prospective volunteers attend at least four SafePlace meetings and participate in approximately 15 hours of training in grief support and facilitation.
- When training is completed, our volunteers dedicate a minimum of four hours per month to our program.
- SafePlace schedules are developed annually, with meetings held during weeknight evenings.
- Survivor to Survivor Visits are scheduled on a case-by-case basis, but often take place during weeknight evenings and weekends.
- Participation in monthly team meetings for program updates and continuing education.
Qualifications
- Must be a suicide loss survivor and feel that this loss was transformational to your life
- Empathetic and compassionate
- Punctual and reliable
- Responds to requests in a timely manner
- Ages 21+
- People of all personal and professional backgrounds encouraged to apply
Training
- Prospective volunteers attend at least four SafePlace meetings before beginning their training.
- Approximately 15 hours of training in grief support and facilitation is required to become a GSS volunteer.
Lost someone to suicide and ready to help others?
Samaritans’ Grief Support Services volunteers have been personally affected by a loss to suicide. Our volunteers are at a place of healing, and want to help others navigate the journey after a tragic loss.
Interested in becoming a Grief Support Services volunteer? Please complete the Volunteer Interest Form, and we will contact you shortly.
“The volunteers were so kind and I ended up going to a group meeting for the first time. It felt really safe and a much better experience than I had when I went to one through another organization. I will definitely join again. Again, I really appreciate all of your help and resources; it would have been easy to give up after the other experience I had and it’s really nice to know that I have a safe place that I can go to and talk about my loss.”
Suicide Loss Survivor
Virtual grief support services participant
