Grief Support Groups
People who have lost loved ones to suicide are often called "survivors". It is important to us that they receive the support and resources they need to grieve and heal without being stigmatized.
Some groups are led by a mental health professional and others by fellow survivors. We cannot endorse a particular group or guarantee that it will help you or fit your situation. However, it may be a good place to start your healing and learn what to expect along the way. Here is our list of Michigan cities with support groups for survivors of suicide loss.
Ann Arbor
Survivors of Suicide
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University of Michigan Turner Senior Resource Center (TSRC) * 2401 Plymouth Road * Ann Arbor, MI
Kim Ballard * 734.936.4855
2 Mtgs./Month: 2nd & 4th Thursday * 7:00-8:30 pm
Must be 18+ and pre-registration required
Suicide Loss
Ele's Place * 1582 Eisenhower Place * Ann Arbor, MI 48108 * elesplace.org * facebook
Peggy Galimberti * 734.929.6640 * annarborinfo@elesplace.org
Facilitator Type: Professional
4-5 Mtgs./Month: Monday evenings * Pre-registration required
This adult group is part of a weekly program for the parents of grieving children ages 3-18. The separate children's group addresses grief in general; it is not suicide-specific. A child must be enrolled before a parent can join the adult group.
This site also has a group for young adults ages 18-25.
Big Rapids
Survivors of Suicide
400 Perry Street * Big Rapids, MI 49307
Facilitator: Tangela Zielinski, LMSW * 231.796.7371 or 800.837.3630 * tzielins@hom.org
Facilitator Type: Professional
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Monday * 5:30-7:00 pm
No charge
Boyne City
Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOS)
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Sponsored by: The Suicide Prevention Workgroup from the Charlevoix-Emmet Human Services Coordinating Body (HSBC)
Meets at: Boyne Area Senior Center * 231.487.4825 * 411 E. Division St. * Boyne City, MI 49712
Facilitator Type: Professional & Peer
1 Mtg./Month: 1st Wednesday * 6:30-8:00 pm
No charge
Ages 17 and older * Call about services available to children under 17.
Clinton Township
Survivors of Suicide (SOS)
Macomb County Crisis Center * 43740 Groesbeck * Clinton Township, MI 48036
(moved from Chesterfield Township and Sterling Heights)
Jean Larch * 586.307.9100 * jean.larch@mccmh.net
Facilitator Type: Professional
2 Mtgs./Month: 1st Wednesday and 3rd Tuesday * 7:00-9:00 pm
No charge
Call before attending first meeting. Bi-annual closed educational workshops also available.
Coldwater
Growing through Grief #1
Community Health Center of Branch County * 274 East Chicago Street, Conference Room A * Coldwater, MI 49036
Jennifer Nagel * 517.677.7032 * jennageluc@gmail.com
Facilitator Type: Peer
2-3 Mtgs./Month: Every other Thursday * 7:30-9:00 pm
No charge
Call for exact dates.
Growing through Grief #2
Community Health Center of Branch County * Conference Room A * 274 East Chicago Street * Coldwater, MI 49036
Jennifer Nagel * 517.677.7032 * jennageluc@gmail.com
Facilitator Type: Peer
2-3 Mtgs./Month: Every other Friday * 9:30-11:00 am
No charge
Call for exact dates.
East Lansing
Understanding Your Suicide Grief
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1720 E. Grand River * East Lansing, MI 48823
Gwen Kapcia, LBSW * 517.482.1692 ext. 242 * Gwen.Kapcia@dignitymemorial.com
1 Mtg./Month: Last Thursday * 6:30-8:00 pm
Escanaba
Suicide Survivors
Central United Methodist Church * Conference Room * 322 South Lincoln Road * Escanaba, MI 49829
Rosemary Hakes * 906.789.3483 * counselingescanaba@charter.net
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Tuesday * 5:00-6:30 pm
No charge
Suicide Loss
Bay College * J. Heirman Center, Room 961 * off Danforth Road * Escanaba, MI 49829
Rosemary Hakes * counselingescanaba@charter.net
1 Mtg./Month: 4th Thursday (not last) * 5:00-6:30 pm
Older adolescents and young adults
Farmington Hills
Survivors of Suicide (SOS)
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Sponsored by: Lynch & Sons and Schrader-Howell Funeral Homes Michigan School of Professional Psychology (next to the Orchard Ridge Campus of OCC) * 26811 Orchard Lake Road * Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Brigid G. Lynch, MA, LPC, Grief Counselor * 248.330.2474 * bglynch13@aol.com
Facilitator Type: Professional
2 Mtgs./Month: 2nd and 4th Tuesday * 6:30-8:00 pm
Flint
Survivors of Suicide (SOS)
Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties * 901 Chippewa Street * Flint, MI 48503
David Knapp * 810.232.9950 * givehope@ccsgc.org
Facilitator Type: Professional
Call for meeting schedule
Grand Rapids
West Michigan Survivors of Suicide
2548 Newberry S.E. * Kentwood, MI 49508
Meets at: Park Congregational Church * 10 Park Pl., N.E. (Ransom St. entrance) * Grand Rapids, MI 49508
Facilitator: Jim Sailors * 616.957.3466 or 616.204.9671
Facilitator Type: Peer
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Thursday * 7:00-8:30 pm
No charge
Greenville
Survivors of Suicide Loss
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Greenville Community Church * 6595 South Vining Road * Greenville, MI 48838
Connie Wright * 616.824.5130 * gregorsgirl@yahoo.com
Greg Wright * 616.894.0840 * gawright1981@gmail.com
Facilitator Type: Peer
1 Mtg./Week: Thursday * 7:00-8:00 pm
Howell
Surviving After Suicide
Sponsored by: Livingston Community Hospice
Meets at: St. Joseph Mercy Livingston Hospital * Community Room 1-3 * 620 Byron Road * Howell, MI 48843
Diane Heinlein * 517.540.9037 * dehinlein@cmhliv.org
1 Mtg./Month: 1st Tuesday * 7:00-9:00 pm
No charge
Ironwood
Survivors of Suicide
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308 E. Tamarack * Ironwood, MI 49009
Meets at: Zion Lutheran Church-Basement * Ironwood
Pat Gallinagh * 906.932.5718 * dpat@chartermi.net
1 Mtg. Every Other Month
Call for exact dates.
Jackson
Allegiance Hospice
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Immanuel Lutheran Church * 1505 W. Michigan Ave. (at Brown) * Jackson, MI 49202
Contact: Patrice Cox * 517.841.6971 * patrice.marner@allegiancehealth.org
4-5 Mtg./Month: Every Tuesday * 6:30-8:00 pm
Kalamazoo
Survivors of Suicide
Gryphon Place * 3245 South 8th Street * Kalamazoo, MI 49009
Marshall Burns * 269.381.1510 extension 222* mburns@gryphon.org
Facilitator Type: Peer and Professional
1 Mtg./Month: Last Thursday * 7:00-9:00 pm
No charge
Pre-registration is requested. Please call and speak with Marshall before attending your first meeting.
Lapeer
Grief after Suicide
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Harmony Hall * 219 S. Saginaw Street * Lapeer, MI 48446
Sue Clement * Lapeer County Community Mental Health * 810.667.0500 * sclement@lapeercmh.org
Facilitator Type: Professional and Peer
2 Mtgs./Month: 1st and 3rd Tuesdays * 6:00 pm
No charge
Monroe
Gabby's Ladder, Inc.
Gabby's Ladder * 431 East Elm Avenue * Monroe, MI 48162 * gabbysladder.org * facebook
Contact: Kaye Lani Wilson, Director * 734.242.8773 * gabbys2001@sbcglobal.net
Facilitator: Jayne Davison, Counselor
Facilitator Type: Professional
1 Mtg./Month: 3rd Tuesday * 6:30-8:00 pm
Muskegon
West Michigan Survivors of Suicide
Calvary Church * Room C-102 * 5873 Kendra Road * Fruitport, MI * 231.724.6639
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Tuesday * 6:30-8:00 pm
Petoskey
Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOS)
Sponsored by: The Suicide Prevention Workgroup from the Charlevoix-Emmet Human Services Coordinating Body (HSCB)
Meets at: Vital Care Hospice of Little Traverse Bay * Highland Cottage * 1 Highland Drive * Petosky, MI 49770 * 231.487.4825
Greg Billiard * 231.590.0587 * gbilliard@racc2000.com
Wendy Kuebler * 231.881.7248 * wendyfkuebler@yahoo.com
Facilitator Type: Professional and Peer
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Tuesday * 6:00-7:30 pm
Ages 17 and older * Call about services available to children under 17.
Note: If you need to place an emergency call, please dial 911 or 800.442.7315 for 3rd Level Crisis in Traverse City. Greg and Wendy may not always be able to return your call immediately, but you can expect a response within 24 hours.
Pontiac
Survivors of Suicide Loss
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Common Ground Resource & Crisis Center * 1200 N. Telegraph, Building 32E * Pontiac, MI 48341 * commongroundhelps.org * facebook
(moved from Bloomfield Hills)
Crisis Line: 800.231.1127
Amelia Lehto * 248.451.2613 * ALehto@commongrouphelps.org
Facilitator Type: Professional and Peer
2 Mtg./Month: 1st & 3rd Monday * 7:00-9:00 pm
No charge
Open group, quarterly newsletter.
Port Huron
Survivors of Suicide
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3111 Electric Avenue * Port Huron, MI 48060 * 810.985.8900
Amy Smith * asmith@scccmh.org
1 Mtg./Month: 2nd Tuesday * 7:00-9:00 pm
Adults and teens
Saginaw
Barb Smith Suicide Resource & Response Network
Peer and professional run * Barb Smith
Website srrn.net * Phone 989-781-5260
First and Third Tuesdays 7:00pm -8:30pm
Appropriate for 15 yrs and older
No Fee * Call for details on location
Sandusky
Healing & Hope: A Survivors of Suicide Support Group
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McKenzie Health System * 120 N. Delaware * Sandusky, MI 48471
Facilitator: Laura Johnson * 810.583.0403 * ljohnson@sanilaccmh.org
Facilitator Type: Professional and Peer
1 Mtg./Month: 4th Tuesday * 7:00-8:30 pm
Please park on the building's north side by the large white "Saginaw Bay District" sign. No charge
St. Joseph
Suicide Loss Support
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Lory's Place * 445 Upton Drive * St. Joseph, MI 49085 * lorysplace.org * facebook
Facilitator: Jim Wilson, Family Services Coordinator * 269.983.2707 or 800.717.3812 * Jwilson@lorysplace.org
Facilitator Type: Professional
2-3 Mtgs./Month: every other week, 10 months per year with other activities during the summer. Call for meeting schedule and before attending a meeting.
No charge
Adults only
Taylor
Grief After Suicide
Ford Senior Activity Center * 6750 Troy * Taylor, MI 48180
(moved from Dearborn)
Contact: Elaine Lamparski, Coordinator * 313.561.1500 * info@howe-peterson.com
Facilitator: Vanessa Lewis, LMSW
Facilitator Type: Professional
2 Mtgs./Month: 2nd & 4th Monday * 6:30-8:30 pm
No charge
Traverse City
Survivors of Suicide
Michael's Place * 1212 Veterans Drive * Traverse City, MI 49684 * mymichaelsplace.net* facebook
Pam Jones * 231.947.6453 * goodgrief@mymichaelsplace.net
4-5 Mtgs/Month: Every Monday * 6:00-8:00 pm
No charge (dinner provided)
Separate groups are available for children, teens and adults.
Please contact Nancy before attending first meeting.