Laura Wood was shy when she joined her first support group session with Roberta’s House. She was weighed down by grief and nervous about sharing something so personal and painful with a group of strangers on zoom. Each of the women on the call was learning to cope with their own loss but by coming together, to share their experiences, stories, and compassion, they hoped to help each other heal.
“Our work is about bringing people together to figure out how to help each other move through grief and heal” explained Veronica Land-Davis, the Executive Director of Roberta’s House. Roberta’s House was founded on the idea that everyone deserves a safe space to heal from grief.
Losing a loved one is devastating and can have a lasting impact on the mental health of adults and children. Finding meaningful ways to process loss and building positive relationships contributes to resilience and helps reduce the negative impact of loss on a person's mental health. Support groups help people find ways to make meaning out of loss and create new positive memories.
For Laura, the community of friends she made in the group helped her heal. “I can see why it’s called HOPE – it really does give you hope and encouragement to not overcome grief but channel it in positive ways."
Tips for Coping with Loss during the Holidays
The team at Roberta’s House knows how difficult the holiday season can be for families who have experienced loss. Here are some of their tips to help grieving individuals and families his holiday season:
