SafePlace Meetings: Offering Care to Suicide Loss Survivors
Samaritans SafePlace meetings are caring suicide grief support groups facilitated by trained volunteers who have also lost a loved one to suicide. SafePlace is not a professional therapy group but a forum for sharing resources with fellow survivors, for exploring feelings often not understood by others, and for finding and giving support through the long process of grieving. Meetings are free, ongoing, and available on a drop-in basis.
Are you ready for a SafePlace meeting?
Everyone is welcome to join Samaritans suicide grief support groups at any time in their bereavement journey. For some, that may be a few weeks or months following a loss. For others, it may be many years. Before joining, we suggest you reflect on the following:
- Are you ready to talk about your loss?
- Will you be able to share airtime with others?
- Will you be comfortable listening to others talk about their losses?
If the answer is no, or you aren’t sure, we suggest you start with a Survivor to Survivor visit, where a trained suicide loss survivor will meet with you privately.
Is a virtual SafePlace meeting right for you?
Our suicide grief support services have both in person and virtual programs. Participants have joined virtual meetings from all over the country to connect with their peers for comfort and shared understanding.
You may be unsure about discussing your loss in a virtual grief support group. Our Virtual SafePlace FAQs address many of the understandable questions that suicide loss survivors have about their privacy and the dynamics of a virtual group.
Find a Suicide Grief Support Group Near You
All Survivors
Open to all who have lost someone to suicide.
Virtual
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, 7-8:30 pm ET
1st Saturday of every month, 10am ET
In-Person
Last Tuesday of every month, 7–8:30 pm ET, United Parish of Upton (1 Church Street, Upton, MA 01568)
First Wednesday of every month, 7–8:30 pm ET; 6 Chestnut St, Boston MA 01208
Parents & Guardians
Facilitated by fellow parent survivors, addressing the unique pain of losing a child to suicide.
Virtual
1st Thursday of the month; 7-8:30pm ET; After you register, we will follow up with Zoom meeting details.
In-Person
3rd Saturday of the month, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm ET; Ben Speaks Office, 360 Woodland St, 2nd Floor, Holliston, MA 01746
Partners
For anyone who has lost a partner to suicide; all genders and relationship types welcome.
Virtual
3rd Wednesday of the month, 7–8:30 pm ET
LGBTQ+
A safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ suicide loss survivors and those who have lost someone who identified as LGBTQ+.
Virtual
2nd Tuesday of the month, 7–8:30 pm ET
Connect with People who Understand
See our calendar of upcoming SafePlace support group meetings and other events for suicide loss survivors.
More Suicide Loss Support Groups
In addition to SafePlace meetings, Samaritans hosts additional specialized groups for suicide loss survivors. Subscribe to our newsletter for updates and event sign-up information.
Healing Strides
A walking group offering a gentle space to move through suicide grief together, one step at a time.
Mondays, 6:30-7:30pm
Acton Arboretum, 2 Taylor Rd. Acton, MA
Weather dependent. To inquire, contact gss@samaritanshope.org
Healing Strides for Young Adults
Walking group for young adults (ages 20-35) who know what it’s like to carry the grief that follows a suicide loss.
Sundays, 3:30-4:30pm
Hatch Memorial Shell, Charles River Esplanade, Boston, MA
Weather dependent
Grief Recovery Method for Suicide Loss
A structured 10-week program designed to help loss survivors move through the grief journey.
Virtual, closed, small-group sessions
To inquire, contact gss@samaritanshope.org
Join SafePlace
To join a SafePlace grief support meeting, the first step is to fill out a confidential form requesting support.
“Going to SafePlace is my life support. We have a common denominator—we can be there for each other.”
SafePlace participant who lost a son to suicide
