online group for younger person whose spouse has passed away?

August 1, 2023 7:19 PM

My friend's spouse just passed away. Can you recommend an online group that's helpful and supportive for people of pre-retirement age who have lost their partners?

My friend's situation is pretty different from my elderly mom's situation when my elderly dad passed away, so are there any groups that are either inclusive of or oriented toward people who are relatively young for being widowed?

I found Modern Widows Club, but it gave me extreme White Entrepreneurial Ladies vibes. My friend really doesn't need a group that's going to pressure her to donate money to them or sign up for lots of things.

(She's in the US, if relevant.)

posted by wintersweet to Human Relations (7 answers total)

Response by poster: (I won't continue to reply to myself, but I've just found another group that requires a fee, and another group led by a "certified Law of Attraction facilitator". Help!)
posted by wintersweet at 7:36 PM on August 1, 2023

Many Hospice programs have grief groups. They often have a variety of age related options. . My local Hospice offers free group and individual counseling, in person and online.
I wish peace for your friend.
posted by jennstra at 8:05 PM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]

The Dinner Party is an online grief support group aimed at people in their 20s and 30s.
posted by Gamera4President at 8:57 PM on August 1, 2023 [2 favorites]

There used to be a group called the Hot Young Widows Club, they disbanded but their resource page might have some helpful links.
posted by hungrytiger at 10:54 PM on August 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

This isn't exactly what you're asking for, but I found it useful: Writing Your Grief. It's a 30 day online course, you take with a group. It's not uncommon to bond with the group and after the course, there is a discussion board for people who want to stay in touch.

Barring that, the the book It's Ok To Not Be Okay might be helpful, it's by the person who started the online course mentioned above. Here's the opening of the book, to get a feel of what it is like.
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 5:21 AM on August 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

/r/widowers is pretty supportive. Bereavement groups organized by cause of death might also skew younger, I got a lot out of suicide bereavement groups targeted at all mourners.
posted by shock muppet at 5:21 PM on August 2, 2023

A friend of mine found various facebook groups called variations on 'Young Widows' helpful
posted by Ned G at 5:52 AM on August 3, 2023