Online Grief Support Groups: How to Find One That Fits

An online grief support group is a regular meeting, forum or chat where bereaved people talk with each other over video, text or audio instead of in a room. Many are run by nonprofits, hospices or trained volunteers, some at no cost, and you can join from home at any hour that suits you. The best one for you depends mostly on who you lost, whether you want faith-based content, and whether you want a trained facilitator or a peer-led space.

What is an online grief support group?

It is a gathering of people who have also lost someone, meant to reduce isolation and let you say things you might hold back with friends. Formats vary:

• Live video groups that meet weekly at a set time.
• Chat rooms and forums you can use at 3 a.m. without a camera.
• Social media groups, such as private Facebook communities.
• Short courses that combine videos with group discussion.

A support group is not therapy. A peer group offers company and shared understanding, while therapy treats symptoms. Our guide to grief counseling versus therapy explains the difference and types of grief counseling covers the options.

Free online grief support by type of loss

Start with a group built around your specific loss. Shared experience is what makes groups work, and a spouse, a child, a parent and a sibling each leave a different kind of gap.

Faith-based programs also exist. GriefShare, for example, is a Christian program run through local churches, and some churches offer it online. The format and cost depend on the host, so ask before you sign up. Many hospices, hospitals and funeral homes also run groups, and some are open to people whose loved one did not use their service.

For loss by suicide, see our guide to funerals after a suicide death. For a death you saw coming, the guide to anticipatory grief covers the grief that starts before the death.

How do I choose a group?

Ask these questions before you commit:

1. Who leads it? A trained facilitator or clinician can set ground rules and step in if someone is in crisis. A peer host can give warmth but is not trained to manage a crisis.
2. Is it specific to your loss? A group for widowed people, bereaved parents or young adults tends to click faster than a general group.
3. Is it open or closed? Open groups let you drop in. Closed groups run as a set course, and everyone starts together.
4. What are the rules on privacy? Find out whether sessions are recorded, whether cameras are required, and what stays in the group.
5. Is it still running? Groups come and go. The Dinner Party, a peer network for young people who had lost someone, announced on its website that it closed in May 2026.
6. What does it cost? Many nonprofit and hospice groups are free, but ask. Be cautious if a service asks for a large upfront payment.

Try two or three sessions before you decide. The first one is often awkward, and you can leave any group that leaves you feeling worse.

When is the right time to join?

There is no correct waiting period. In the first days you may be busy with arrangements, and a group can feel like one more thing to do. Many people join a few weeks or months later, when the visitors stop and the house goes quiet. Others find a group helpful right away.

If talking in a group feels like too much, listening is fine. Most groups do not require you to speak.

Red flags in an online grief group

• Members compare losses or rank whose grief is worse.
• Anyone pressures you to "move on", "be strong" or finish grieving by a certain date.
• There are no ground rules, or no one moderates.
• The host pushes you toward an expensive paid program as part of the support.
• You leave every session feeling worse for days.

Open social media groups can be a good source of comfort, but they are not private and are seldom moderated by a trained person. Think about what you are comfortable posting where strangers, or people you know, can see it.

When you need more than a group

Sadness, poor sleep, trouble concentrating and waves of longing are normal after a death, and most people find they ease with time and support. Seek help from a doctor or licensed counselor if, many months after the loss, you still feel intense longing or preoccupation most days and cannot work, care for yourself or connect with people. Our guide to complicated grief explains the signs of prolonged grief disorder and the treatments that work.

Some people want private sessions with a licensed therapist online. Telehealth makes that easier if you live far from a provider or cannot leave home.

Whichever service you pick, check the therapist's license in your state and ask whether they have experience with grief. Between sessions, some people use an app; see our roundup of grief support apps.

Supporting a grieving child or teen

Children and teens grieve differently from adults, and adult groups are rarely right for them. The Dougy Center offers support for children, teens and families, and a worldwide directory of similar programs. Our guide to grief at different ages explains what to expect at each stage.

What to do next

1. Pick the loss-specific option from the table that fits you best, and read how it works before you join.
2. Attend two or three sessions before you decide.
3. Ask the hospice or funeral home involved in your loved one's care about local and online groups.
4. If grief is stopping you from functioning, book an appointment with your doctor or a licensed counselor alongside any group.