Bereavement group

Bereavement groups, or grief groups, are a type of support group that bereaved individuals may access to have a space to process through or receive social support around grief. Bereavement groups are typically one of the most common services offered to bereaved individuals,^[1][2] encompassing both formalized group therapy settings for reducing clinical levels of grief as well as support groups that offer support, information, and exchange between those who have experienced loss.^[3]

Bereavement groups started from models of peer support for widows in the 1960s.^[4] From the start, these groups were diverse in facilitation format and offered at organizations such as churches. Such groups gained popularity in subsequent decades, such that they now are typically led by a designated trained facilitator.

Social support is a key therapeutic element of bereavement groups.^[5][6] Groups can enhance social support that is received within groups among bereaved group members, as well as group members' perceptions of and ability to ask for and receive social support from their loved ones outside of group.^[7] These forms of social support might span emotional, logistical, and practical needs.^[8] Additionally, bereavement groups also facilitate meaning-making processes by allowing members to reconstruct narratives of themselves and their lives after loss.^[9]

There exist two main types of bereavement groups today: those that offer general forms of support and those that are based in a specific psychotherapy modality. General support groups are highly variable but may provide psychoeducation, coping strategies, and problem-solving for issues after loss.^[10] On the other hand, psychotherapy groups draw from evidence-based treatments that are delivered in a group format. Psychotherapy groups for loss include cognitive-behavioral, interpersonal, complicated grief treatment, and interpretative therapy groups.

Despite the widespread offering and use of bereavement support groups, limited scientific evidence supports their effectiveness. Analyses of several randomized control trials of bereavement groups have suggested that they yield only small improvements in psychological distress and no long-term improvements.^[11][12][13] More broadly speaking, there is a lack of empirical consensus for which clinical services are beneficial for bereaved individuals.^[14] Still, those experiencing grief have offered feedback on their perceived utility of bereavement groups, such as the greater accessibility of care, as well as criticisms that groups may add to their stress or be unequipped to address issues requiring individualized services for a mental health professional.^[15]