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
| Region | Date | Time | Location | Address | Contact | Additional Group Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claremont | Wednesday - 3rd Wednesday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Greater Sullivan County Survivors of Suicide Loss - Valley Regional Hospital, Chapel Room | 243 Elm Street, Claremont, NH 03743 | Connie - (603) 558-0961, or Randy - (802) 376-6115 | Use the Emergency Room entrance then ask receptionist for directions to The Chapel Room. If this will be your first time attending, or if you would like more information, please contact Connie or Randy. |
| Concord | Wednesday - 2nd Wednesday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Greater Concord Area Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group - NAMI NH Office | 85 North State Street, Concord, NH 03301 | Janyce Demers - (603) 625-9459 or Debbie Baird - (603) 717-5408 | |
| Durham | Wednesday - 3rd Wednesday of the month | 6:15 - 7:15pm | Survivors of Suicide Loss Group - Waysmeet Center | 15 Mill Road, Durham, NH | Amy | |
| Hampstead | Friday - Every Friday | 4:30 - 5:30pm | Coping with a Loved One's Suicide - Hampstead Public Library | 9 Mary E. Clark Drive, Hampstead, NH | Dan Wells - (603) 553-0119 | |
| Keene | Monday - Every Monday | 6:30 - 7:30pm | A Safe Place Support Group - The Samaritans - Monadnock Region | 25 Roxbury Street, Suite 113, Keene, NH 03431 | Carmen/Penny King - (603) 357-5510 - Website | All meetings are confidential and open only to survivors. |
| Laconia | Not currently meeting | Winnipesaukee Survivors of Suicide Loss Group | This group is currently on hiatus. Contact Debbie Baird for more information. | |||
| Lancaster | Thursday - 1st Thursday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | North Country Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group - Weeks Medical Center (Hospital) | 173 Middle Street, Lancaster, NH | Richard Cotter - 603-219-8912 or Sara Cotter - 603-631-5629. | If you are considering attending, please contact Richard Cotter, 603-219-8912 or Sara Cotter, 603-631-5629. |
| Maine | Tuesday - 3rd Tuesday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Maine Suicide Bereavement Support Group - Whole Heart Therapies | 8 Wilson Street, Berwick, ME 03901 | Jennifer Ordway or Tina Dodge | This group is open to all of Stratford, Rockingham, and Carroll County in NH, as well as ME. Please Jennifer Ordway or Tina Dodge if this will be your first time attending. |
| Manchester | Thursday - 2nd Thursday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Manchester Survivors of Suicide Support Group - Brookside Congregational Church (Manning House) | 2013 Elm Street, Manchester, NH | John McNally - (978) 804-5791 | |
| Manchester | Thursday - Every Thursday | 6:00 - 7:30pm | Manchester VNA Suicide Bereavement Support Group - Elliot at River's Edge, in the River Room (2nd Floor) | 185 Queen City Ave., Manchester, NH | Chuck Johnson - (603) 663-4005 | 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. 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. |
| Manchester | Not currently meeting | Community & Active Military/ Veteran's Loss Survivor Support Group | ||||
| Merrimack | Wednesday - 2nd Wednesday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Grieving Survivors of Suicide - Home, Health, and Hospice Office | 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH | Linda Vollmer - (603)-801-6856 or Gail McMorrow-Donahue - (603) 930-3640 | Serves Hillsborough County. Group Mission: Grieving Survivors of Suicide is a place to meet and share with others who are suffering a loss to suicide. Annual Events: Group fund raiser walks, annual AFSP teleconference meeting in November, others. |
| North Conway | Thursday - 2nd Thursday of the month | 6:00 - 7:30pm | Survivors of Suicide - Mount Washington Valley Area - Reverence for Life | 2503 White Mountain Hwy, North Conway, NH | Denise - (603) 939-2086 | Sponsored by: Vaughn Community Services, Inc. |
| Peterborough | Wednesday - 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month | 4:30 - 6:00pm | Peterborough Survivors of Suicide Loss Group - Home Health and Hospice Services | 45 Main Street, Peterborough, NH | Marguerite Cheney, (603) 532-8353 | |
| Plymouth | Wednesday - 3rd Wednesday of the month | 6:00 - 7:30pm | Plymouth Central NH SOSL Group - Pease Public Library | 1 Russle Street, Plymouth, NH | Barbara LaFlamme | Email Barbara LaFlamme if it will be your first time or for more information. |
| Portsmouth | Tuesday - 1st Tuesday of the month | 6:30 - 8:00pm | Portsmouth Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group - Seventh Day Adventist Church | 861 Middle Rd. Portsmouth, NH | Paul Noyes - (603) 770-2987 or Candace Stiteler - (603) 868-2970 | No Walk Ins. Please call for more information |
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
