Grief Online

GRIEF ONLINE

“The Internet is becoming the town square for the global village of tomorrow.”

--Bill Gates

The Internet Town Square

• Come protected
  
• Guard your identity
  
• Watch your pocketbook
  
• Take nothing at face value
  
• Be observant
  
• Learn the language
  
• Ask questions
  
• Be polite but firm
  
• Follow the Golden Rule

INTERNET SAFETY FOR ADULTS

GROWW Awareness Page
Information on cyberstalking, hoaxes, harassment and general awareness sites

Netsmartz
Primarily for parents, teachers and children but an excellent resource

WiredSafety.org
Internet safety, help and education

Anti-Virus Software
Suggestions from Princeton University to students and alumni

Grief's Journey
Click on “Computers” in the left hand menu bar. Great information

BEREAVEMENT ORGANIZATIONS

From Victims to Survivors -- Topeka
Suicide Support Groups – Kansas
For the Survivors – www.forthesurvivors.com

Pregnancy and Infant Loss Group
First and third Thursdays of the month from 6 to 8 p.m. Pozez Education Center. For information, call (785) 354-5225. The Pregnancy and Infant Loss Group, which has regular meetings to share information and experiences, also has a blog for members, that offers communication, resources and support. If you are interested in learning more about the blog, please e-mall lrosen@stormontvail.org

Topeka “HEALS” Support Group
A confidential peer support group that is also known as Survivors of Suicide, “HEALS” stands for “Healing After Loss by Suicide.” It is for those who have lost a loved one by suicide. Meets the first and third Tuesdays of the month in Pozez Education Center, 1505 S.W. 8th Ave., Topeka, Kansas at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (785) 249-3792.

THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS
http://www.compassionatefriends.org/

• Audios, Videos, Books, Brochures, etc.
• Grandparent, Sibling, Parent, etc. Information
• Grief in the News
• Local Chapters (lists and information)
• Online Support (moderated chat)
• Regional Conferences
• TCF National Conferences
• To the Newly Bereaved
• We Need Not Walk Alone
• Worldwide Candle Lighting
• Twitter and Facebook Pages

ONLINE BEREAVEMENT GROUPS

Grieving Parents
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/grievingparents/

Grieving Grandparents
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/grievinggrandparents/

Grief and Healing Discussion Forums
http://webhealing.com/forums/

Adult Sibling Grief Message Board
http://www.adultsiblinggrief.com/message_board/index.php

GriefNet Links to Email Support Groups
http://griefnet.org/support/sg2.html

Yahoo Groups
http://groups.yahoo.com/

Google Groups
http://groups.google.com/?pli=1

Grief, Loss and Bereavement Support Groups
http://www.google.com/Top/Health/Mental_Health/Grief,_Loss_and_Bereavement/Support_Groups/

ONLINE COMMUNITIES
THE COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS

http://www.compassionatefriends.org/Resources/Online_Support.aspx
“The Compassionate Friends offers “virtual chapters” through an Online Support Community (live chats). This program was established to encourage connecting and sharing among parents, grandparents, and siblings (over the age of 18) grieving the death of a child. The rooms supply support, encouragement, and friendship. The friendly atmosphere encourages conversation among friends; friends who understand the emotions you're experiencing. There are general bereavement sessions as well as more specific sessions. “

GROWW Branches
http://www.groww.org/

Includes chat rooms for areas of bereavement covering specific areas Such as suicide, GLBT, addiction, faith-based bereavement, violent losses sudden deaths, etc. The website has a drop down box with areas of concentration as well as a page linked from the main page called Chat Branches.

INTERNET COMMUNICATION

Some Common Rules For Email Groups
(Adapted from “The Angel Connection”)

1. No mailing out of invitations to other groups.
   
2. No selling of products for personal gain.
   
3. No mailing of ‘forwarded’ email, link pages, and email loaded with graphics or email and pages not related to the topic of bereavement.
   
4. No solicitation of money.
   
5. Be respectful of everyone else’s feelings.

Common Chat Room / Email Abbreviations
http://www.5starsupport.com/tutorial/chat-abbreviations.htm

Netiquette (Internet Etiquette)
http://www.livinginternet.com/i/ia_nq.htm

50 Social Networking Rules for College Students
http://collegetimes.us/50-social-networking-rules-for-college-students/

Good rules for older folks too!. Includes rules for Twitter & Facebook

Some Internet Bereavement Resources:

GENERAL LINKS

Grief’s Journey
http://www.griefsjourney.com/index.php?&MMN_position=1:1
Though this page is for spouse loss the links under “Bereavement and Grief” contain some really good general information resources

Good Grief (Helping children cope with loss)
http://www.good-grief.org/resources.html

Good Grief Center For Bereavement Support
http://www.goodgriefcenter.com/help/links.php

The Family Portal
http://www.thefamilyportal.com/subpage.asp?node=1099198&CTitle=Be
reavement&Loc=\Death+%26+Dying|1099194\Bereavement|1099198

Surviving the Death of a Child Links
http://www.survivingthelossofachild.com/?p=50

Bereaved Parents of the USA
http://www.bereavedparentsusa.org/

MISS Foundation
http://www.missfoundation.org/

The Dougy Center
http://www.dougy.org/

SPECIAL TOPICS AND GROUIPS

Help for Friends and Family of the Bereaved
http://helpguide.org/mental/helping_grieving.htm

Help for Military Families
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reunions/infoWarGrief.cfm

Help for Adult Siblings
http://www.adultsiblinggrief.com/

The Sibling Connection
http://counselingstlouis.net/

Resources for Bereaved Families (SIDS)
http://www.sidsresources.org/BereavedFamlies.HTM

Grieving Children
http://www.missfoundation.org/kids/index.html

Parents of Murdered Children
http://www.pomc.org/

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Information Home Site
http://www.sids-network.org/

Suicide.org
http://www.suicide.org/index.html

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors
http://www.taps.org/

Wings of Light (Aircraft accident victims)
http://www.wingsoflight.org/

Alliance of Grandparents, a Support in Tragedy
http://www.agast.org/

LOOK AND LISTEN

Internet sites with audio-visual presentations

OPEN TO HOPE

Gloria and Heidi Horsley
Web radio and web TV programs covering many different aspects of grief: Pregnancy loss, sibling death, death of a child, for men only, special topics, etc.
http://www.opentohope.com/

CREATING A MEMORIAL WEBSITE

Gone Too Soon
Create an everlasting tribute to someone close to you whom you have lost.
http://www.gonetoosoon.org/

The Halo Garden
Hosts a collection of memorial website links, butterfly dedications, poetry, grief resources, and much more.
http://www.halogarden.com/

Victims of Violence
Many touching memorials focused on violent deaths and help to set up your own memorial.
http://www.victims-of-violence.memory-of.com/About.aspx

Create a Memorial Website (TCF $$)
http://www.compassionatefriends.org/resources/Create_a_Memorial_Website.aspx

Memory Of ($$)
Create a website in memory of a loved one
http://www.memory-of.com/Public/

Google Sites (Make your own free memorial page)
http://www.google.com/sites/help/intl/en/overview.html