Q&A: Resources for Family Loss

By: Amanda Wormann

Question: I saw your post about having a dream about your brother and lately I have been having them about mine, too. I don’t know if it’s because his birthday was a couple of weeks ago or if it’s just happening. Do you know of any grieving groups or meetings about family loss? I feel like there are not a lot of resources..

Lucky you to have dreams about your brother! I hope they were comforting ones. I think this time of the year unearths different parts of ourselves, and it’s nice to have those reminders from them along the way that we’re exactly where we are meant to be and that they are always a part of us.

I agree that there are not a lot of resources for our grief, especially around sibling loss – that’s the very reason why I created Sibling Revelry. I’m excited to build the thing we’ve all been searching for, and I’m always open to feedback and requests on how we can create a useful resource.

At the moment, I’m not part of an in-person grieving group, but here are a few resources I think might be useful for you.

Loss of a Sibling Facebook Support Group. There are a lot of grief-focused Facebook Groups if you do a quick search. I am part of a sibling loss Facebook group called, “Loss of a Sibling.” It’s a group of 6,000+ members who are also grieving the loss of a sibling. It’s a private group, which is nice because it allows you to be vulnerable and post freely with others who have dealt with something similar. While all of our experiences are different, I often find comfort in seeing posts from others. It helps you feel a little less alone in grieving process.

Modern Loss. This website (and book) bills itself as, “a candid conversation about grief.” I appreciate its approach to the grieving process, and the website includes everything from essays and advice to resource links and in-person events. While the website is focused on all forms of loss, it allows you to sort by types which is helpful to see relevant posts about siblings.

Compassionate Friends. This non-profit organization is a grief group and resource for those mourning the loss of younger people. They have local chapters and a conference every year. I’ve haven’t attending the conference but would love to go some day. I first discovered The Compassionate Friends when they reached out asking if they could feature my story in their print magazine. While I believe their magazine it only available in digital form now, they’re a great resource.

The Dinner Party. Build on the idea of, “we know what it’s like to lose someone and we aren’t afraid to talk about it,” the Dinner Party has chapters all over the country who organize dinner parties with others who are grieving the loss of a loved one. While it’s not focused on sibling loss specifically, I appreciate their modern approach and open conversation built through community.

I hope these are all helpful for you – and stay tuned for more here on Sibling Revelry as we build a community and resource of our own.