Suicide Loss Grief Support Group for Youth and Young Adults

Youth and young adults in British Columbia face profound and often isolating grief after losing someone to suicide, yet developmentally appropriate, trauma-informed supports remain limited—even as suicide mortality in the province remains alarmingly high at approximately 12 deaths per 100,000 people each year. This program addresses that urgent and ongoing need by offering a structured suicide-loss grief support group for ages 13–29, beginning with a pilot and followed by a four-week series grounded in small-group connection, one-on-one intakes, and a trauma-informed curriculum. Through guided reflection, coping-skills practice, stigma-reduction strategies, and opportunities for peer bonding, participants gain emotional regulation, stronger social support, and a safe, validating space to navigate complicated grief, with parallel resources available for parents or guardians to better support their young person.