Bereavement and Grief Resources
At some point each of us will be touched by the death of someone we care about. Whether they are very close to us, or just a casual acquaintance; whether they die suddenly and unexpectedly, or gradually from a lengthy illness, the emotional storm that follows can sometimes be difficult to face.
The Pastoral Care staff of MUSC realizes that people deal with death in a variety of ways. While there are certain commonalities that are shared, each one’s grief is an individual experience. There is no set formula for either how, or how long one grieves. And sometimes, when we feel we are making great progress in the healing process, we can suddenly find ourselves seemingly at square one, as if it has all just occurred.
We have compiled the following list of resources to help those who have lost a loved one, or perhaps are facing potential loss. You may find help and the answers to your questions just simply by reading from the collected materials, or you may wish to get involved in a support group. We encourage you to explore these websites and resources at your leisure.
Your pain is real, but there is hope.
It is not length of life, but depth of life. Ralph Waldo Emerson
Grief Support Groups and Programs
For Adults
Hope & Healing– every Thurs 10:30-11:30 a.m. & 6 week open grief support program. Hospice of Charleston, 3870 Leeds Ave, North Charleston - 843-529-3100.
A Source of Comfort – 5 week support program –periodic groups in Mt. Pleasant & Summerville. Lutheran Hospice, 900 J. Dodds Blvd, Mt. Pleasant -Martha Vadney 843-856-4735/216-2217.
Survivors of Homicide Support Group
2nd & 4th Thursday, 6:30 - 8 p.m. & 1st & 3rd Thursday 1 p.m. in West Ashley, North Charleston and downtown Charleston. Call for location: Charleston County Sheriff’s Office - Easter LaRoche 843-745-2250; MUSC-National Crime Victims Center – Alyssa Rheingold 792-8209.
http://www.scsolicitor9.org/survivor.htm
Families of Highway Fatalities - peer support, website and periodic programs.
Sherri Iacobelli 803-896-7920 www.schp.org/inmemoryof
Sponsored by SC Dept of Public Safety
For Parents
Compassionate Friends - Support for families after the death of a child
Last Tuesday 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. at Church of the Good Shepherd, 1393 Miles Dr, Charleston, SC 29407 (across from Charlestown Landing in West Ashley)
Susan Koester 843-763-6362 h, Kathy Finch 843-884-5149 w
Bereaved Parents USA, Charleston Chapter - Support & education for families after the death of a child at any age or from any cause.
2nd Monday at 7 p.m. at Hospice of Charleston, 3870 Leeds Ave, North Charleston. Ann Wooten 843-797 1765 h /Herbie Hill 843-478-2956 h
Angel Wings Perinatal Support Program – St Luke’s Lutheran Church in Summerville 873-2652.
Tender Memories Perinatal Loss Support Group - The Tender Memories Perinatal Loss Support Group helps men and women deal with grief and depression they feel after losing a pregnancy. This free group, led by obstetric nurses trained in pregnancy bereavement issues meets the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the Prenatal Wellness Center, 135 Cannon Street, Suite 202 (Cannon Place), in Charleston, SC. Please call 843-792-6395 for more information.
http://www.missinggrace.org/ - pre-natal & neo-natal loss
For Children & Adolescents
Shannon’s Hope – weekend camp for ages 6 to 15 in Tri-County area.
March & October at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island.
Call Hospice of Charleston for information 843-529-3100
Camp Happy Days – special events for children living with cancer and survivors (siblings and parents).
Week long annual camp at Camp Bob Cooper in Manning, SC. Call 843-571-4336
Brett’s Rainbow – weekend camp for children ages 6-16 held once a year at White Oak Conference Center (outside Columbia).
Call Palmetto Health Hospice for information 843-821-4011.
» MUSC Children’s Hospital support groups
Suicide Prevention & Suicide Resources
Help Lines
1-800-273-TALK (8255) – National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433)
Suicide Survivors
1st & 3rd Wednesdays at 7 -8:30 p.m. at Heartland Nursing Center, 1139 Sam Rittenberg Blvd. in West Ashley.
Charlotte Anderson, 211 Hotline 843-747-3007. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org/
http://www.road2healing.com/index.html - Help for survivors of suicide
Other Links
http://www.gonetoosoon.org - memorials for various types of deaths
http://lastchapters.org/ - therapeutic writing website for the chronically ill and bereaved.
http://www.livingwithheart.com/ - adversity support
Responsible Discussions on Current Ethical Issues
The Association for Clinical Pastoral Education
The National Association of Catholic Chaplains
The Association of Professional Chaplains
The Wayne Oates Institute Online