Get to know Grief Peer Meet (Grief Support Group).

Basic Information

• Fees Type: Free
• City: Mumbai
• Facilitated By: An Individual/Facilitator, Peers
• Languages: English, and Hindi
• Address: 51, Pali Village, Bandra West, Mumbai
• Meets: Every Sunday at 4pm
• Participant Limit: 15
• Grief Support Group

What is the group about?

"The idea is to provide a shared space for people to talk about their experiences, emotions, challenges and stories. It is not a place for providing or seeking therapy. It is a place where people know they are not alone and can reach out to their peers for support, as they navigate grief and loss. Grief here does not simply refer to the loss of a loved one by death, but also includes loss through a breakup, a divorce, a separation, a job loss, …"

What is your founding story?

"The idea behind the group was to provide a safe space for people who have undergone loss. We realized that there aren't any support groups which talk specifically about grief, which was surprising. Grief is a deeply complex emotion, with many underlying layers. It can also feel devastatingly lonely, and hence, we felt that a peer support might be an avenue for people to be able to share their grief, or simply find a space where others can …"

Who is your group for?

"Support group for people who have experienced some kind of loss, not just death of a loved one, but also loss of a job, a relationship, a marriage."

How does one sign up? What’s the coordination process like?

"Any interested members can register through our website. They have to provide us with certain details like name, age and area. They also have to acknowledge the terms and conditions of the peer support post which a member of our staff calls them to explain the general protocols of the peer support."

Walk us through the average format of your group session.

"We start the session on time. The session is started with the general rules and protocols of the peer support, followed by an introduction of the facilitator. Participants can choose to disclose their name if they wish to, or they can choose to remain anonymous. We then get started into the topic of the meet. We ask starter questions or prompts that may help members contribute to the conversation. The session lasts for one hour."

What do you hope for participants in your group to take back with them after a session?

"We hope the participants find a safe space where they can talk about their grief without any fear of judgement. We hope they take back a feeling of support. Their grief will not disappear, and it may not get lighter either, but they might feel comforted and supported and have a space where they can express their feelings."