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 loss support groups 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 an online setting. 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. When you’re ready, our online suicide support groups for loss survivors offer a welcoming space to connect with others who understand.
Find a Suicide Grief Support Group Near You
Support Groups for All Suicide Loss Survivors
These suicide loss support groups are open to anyone who has lost someone to suicide. Meetings are facilitated by trained volunteers who are loss survivors themselves, and they are free, ongoing, and drop-in. Join a virtual meeting from anywhere in the world or attend an in-person SafePlace meeting in the Greater Boston area.
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
Third Thursday of every month, 7–8:30 pm ET, 92 Pleasant St. Canton, MA 02021
Support Groups for Parents & Guardians
Losing a child to suicide carries a grief unlike any other. These suicide support groups for parents and guardians are facilitated by fellow parent survivors who understand that pain firsthand.
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
Support Groups for Partners & Spouses
This suicide grief support group is for anyone who has lost a partner or spouse to suicide. All genders and relationship types are welcome, married or unmarried. Virtual meetings are held every month, so loss survivors can join from anywhere.
Virtual
3rd Wednesday of the month, 7–8:30 pm ET
Support Groups for the LGBTQ+ Community
This suicide grief support group offers a safe and inclusive space for LGBTQ+ loss survivors and for anyone who has lost someone who identified as LGBTQ+. Virtual meetings are held every month.
Virtual
2nd Tuesday of the month, 7–8:30 pm ET
Support Groups for Suicide Attempt Survivors
Samaritans also offers support for those who have survived a suicide attempt themselves. The Survivors of Suicide Attempts (SOSA) Support Group is a safe, judgment-free space to process your experience alongside peers who understand.
Virtual
8-week program
Free, confidential, nonjudgmental
Connect with People Who Understand
See our calendar of upcoming SafePlace suicide grief support 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 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 8-week program designed to help loss survivors move through the grief journey.
Virtual, closed, small-group sessions
To inquire, contact gss@samaritanshope.org
Join a SafePlace Meeting
To join a SafePlace suicide 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
FAQs About Our Suicide Loss Support Groups
Nothing. All SafePlace meetings are free, ongoing, and available on a drop-in basis.
Everyone is welcome to join a SafePlace meeting at any point in their suicide bereavement journey. For some people it is a few weeks or months after a loss, and for others it may be many years. There is no right or wrong timeline.
No. You are welcome to simply listen until you feel ready to share. Many loss survivors attend several meetings before speaking about their own loss.
Consider starting with a Survivor to Survivor Visit, where a trained suicide loss survivor volunteer meets with you privately, in person or virtually.
Yes. Meetings are held over Zoom, and details are shared only after you register. Our Virtual SafePlace FAQs cover privacy and group dynamics in more detail. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 anytime.
