There are many support groups across New Hampshire for those who have lost a family member, friend or relative to suicide. While some groups are peer-facilitated and others are led by professional counselors, all are comprised of fellow survivors who can offer great comfort through conversation and discussion of issues unique to bereavement of suicide. There are also general grief support groups for both adults and children that are not specific to suicide but address issues of grief and loss. Internet support groups offer another option for people who live in rural areas or prefer tapping into support from home or at different hours.
Please note that the groups listed below may not always be actively meeting. Regional Hospitals, local Community Health and Hospice, VNA’s and Mental Health centers may also be a resource for support groups in your area.
If you do not reach a group, call NAMI NH for up-to-date contact information: (800) 242-6264 or (603) 225-5359 or info@naminh.org.
Contact information listed below is intended for families and individuals so that they may connect with Support Group leaders regarding the group. Contact information is not intended for solicitation of any kind.
Groups for Adults
CLAREMONT
Greater Sullivan County Survivors of Suicide Loss
Contact: Connie, (603) 558-0961, cjkincaidbrown@comcast.net; or Pam, (603) 477-8822, pam.lain@gmail.com – If this will be your first time attending, or if you would like more information, please contact Connie or Pam.
Location: Valley Regional Hospital, 243 Elm Street, Claremont, NH 03743 (Use the Emergency Room entrance then ask receptionist for directions to The Chapel Room.)
Day/Time: 3rd Wednesday each month, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
CONCORD
Greater Concord Area Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group
Contact: Janyce Demers, (603) 625-9459, didorun@comcast.net or Debbie Baird, (603) 717-5408, dbaird@naminh.org
Location: NAMI NH, 85 North State Street, Concord, NH
Day/Time: 2nd Wednesday each month, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
DURHAM
Survivors of Suicide Loss Group
Contact: Sean and Amy – sosldurhamnh@gmail.com
Location: Waysmeet Center – 15 Mill Road, Durham, NH
Day/Time: 3rd Wednesday each month, 6:15 – 7:15 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
HAMPSTEAD
Coping with a Loved One’s Suicide
Contact: Dan Wells (603) 553-0119 or dwells5@sau81.org
Location: Hampstead Public Library, 9 Mary E. Clark Drive, Hampstead, NH
Day/Time: Every Friday, 4-5 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
KEENE AREA
A Safe Place Support Group
The Samaritans – Monadnock Region
25 Roxbury Street, Suite 113
Keene, NH 03431
Contact: Carmen/Penny King, (603) 357-5510, pc@samaritansnh.org; www.samaritansnh.org
Location: Call for information
Day/Time: Mondays 6:30-7:30 pm
Facilitated by: Peer – All meetings are confidential and open only to survivors.
LACONIA
Winnipesaukee Survivors of Suicide Loss Group – This group is currently on hiatus. Contact Deb Baird for more information.
LANCASTER
North Country Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group
Contact: If you are considering attending, please contact Richard Cotter, 603-219-8912 or Sara Cotter, 603-631-5629.
Location: Weeks Medical Center (Hospital), 173 Middle Street, Lancaster, NH
Day/Time: 1st Thursday of the month, 6:30 – 8:00pm
Facilitators: Peer Facilitated
MANCHESTER
Manchester Survivors of Suicide Support Group
Contact: Marsha Chapple at Primary number: (603) 232-7606, Alternate: (603) 663-6412 or mahshah@comcast.net
Location: Brookside Congregational Church (Manning House), 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH
Day/Time: 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Directions
Manchester VNA Suicide Bereavement Support Group
Contact: Chuck Johnson at (603) 663-4005 or cjohnson@elliot-hs.org – Participation in this support group is open to adults and although registration for this group is not required, it is requested that interested person call prior to attending.
Location: Elliot at River’s Edge, in the River Room (2nd Floor), 185 Queen City Ave., Manchester
Day/Time: Thursdays, 6:00 ~ 7:30 pm This group will meet on an ongoing basis and will follow a 10 week cyclical agenda which provides the flexibility for participants to discuss current topics/issues of concern.
Community & Active Military/ Veteran’s Loss Survivor Support Group – Group currently not meeting
Contact: Loren Haberski (603) 624-4366 Ext 2150, loren.haberski@va.gov or Anne Rodman, Chaplin (603) 624-4366 Ext 2159, anne.rodman@va.gov
Location: VA Chaple, 718 Smyth St., Manchester, NH 03104
Day/Time: 3rd Thursday of each month, 2:30 – 4:00 pm
Please call for more information
GREATER NASHUA AREA
Greater Nashua Area Grieving Survivors of Suicide
Group Mission: Grieving Survivors of Suicide is a place to meet and share with others who are suffering a loss to suicide.
Contact: Diane McEntee at (603) 673-7425 or (603) 978-7846(cell) dmcentee1415@gmail.com, leave message for call back or Maureen Sloan at (603) 578-5966 or maureendsloan@gmail.com
Location: Home, Health, and Hospice Office -7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH
Day/Time: 1st Wednesday of each month, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
Annual Events: Group fund raiser walks, annual AFSP teleconference meeting in November, others
Counties Served: Hillsborough County
NORTH CONWAY
Survivors of Suicide ~ Mount Washington Valley Area
Contact: Denise at (603) 356-2324
Location: Reverence for Life, 2503 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH
Day/Time: 2nd Thursday of each month, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Sponsored by: Vaughn Community Services, Inc.
PETERBOROUGH
Peterborough Survivors of Suicide Loss Group
Contact: Marguerite Cheney, (603) 532-8353, mcheney@hcsservices.org
Location: Home Health and Hospice Services, 45 MainStreet, Peterborough, NH
Day/Time: 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month, 4:30 – 6:00 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
PLYMOUTH
Plymouth Central NH SOSL Group
Contact: Barbara LaFlamme, centralnhsosl@yahoo.com, email if it will be your first time or for more information
Location: Pease Public Library,1 Russle Street, Plymouth, NH
Day/Time: 3rd Wednesday of each month, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
PORTSMOUTH
Portsmouth Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group
Contact: Paul Noyes, (603) 770-2987, getsomeshelter@hotmail.com or Candace Stiteler, (603) 868-2970, Candace@candacepratt.com
Location: Seventh Day Adventist Church, 861 Middle Rd. Portsmouth, NH
Day/Time: 1st Tuesday of each month, 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Facilitated by: Peer
No Walk Ins. Please call for more information
Out of State Groups Open to NH Residents
Berwick, ME – Maine Suicide Bereavement Support Group
Facilitators: Jennifer Ordway, jenniferordway@gmail.com or Tina Dodge, fajardo.tina@yahoo.com
Location: Whole Heart Therapies, 8 Wilson Street, Berwick, ME 03901
Day/Time: 3rd Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:00 PM
Facilitated by: Peer Facilitated
Please call if your first time attending
Note, this new group is open to all of Stratford, Rockingham, and Carroll County in NH, as well as ME
Resources for Children
At this time there are no grief groups in New Hampshire specifically for children who have experienced a loss to suicide. However, there are several support groups for children and teens grieving the loss of a loved one.
National
Survivors Road2Healing.com – Resources for Children and Teens
http://www.road2healing.com/children.html
Local
Camp Kita
Summer camp for children who have lost a loved one to suicide
http://campkita.com/
Children’s Good Grief Program
Home Health & Hospice Care, Nashua, NH
800-887-5973
http://www.hhhc.org/services/support_groups.php
GAPS (Grieving Assistance Program for Children)
Rochester, NH
603-335-7777
http://www.victimsinc.org/gappage.htm
Hospice at HSC
Keene, NH
800-541-4145
http://www.hcsservices.org/services/hospice/bereavement_support.php
Mountain of Hope
Center Ossipee, NH
603-569-2729 Ext. 230
http://www.vnahospice.net/news_events.htm
Stepping Stones
VNA of Manchester & Southern NH, Inc., Manchester, NH
603-663-4005
www.manchestervna.org/hospice_support_groups.asp