Bereavement & Grief Resources

At some point each of us will be touched by the death of someone we care about. Whether they are very close to us, or just a casual acquaintance; whether they die suddenly and unexpectedly, or gradually from a lengthy illness, the emotional storm that follows can sometimes be difficult to face.

The Pastoral Care staff of MUSC Health realizes that people deal with death in a variety of ways. While there are certain commonalities, each one's grief is an individual experience. There is no formula for either how or how long one grieves. And sometimes, when we feel we are making great progress in the healing process, we can suddenly find ourselves seemingly at square one, as if it has all just occurred.

We have compiled the following list of resources to help those who have lost a loved one, or perhaps are facing potential loss. You may find help and the answers to your questions simply by reading from these materials, or you may wish to get involved in a support group. We encourage you to explore these websites and resources at your leisure.

Your pain is real, but there is hope.

"It is not length of life, but depth of life." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Devotional Articles

Read our devotional articles (PDF) written by the MUSC Chaplain Staff.

Grief Support for Adults

Survivors of Homicide

The Survivors of Homicide support group meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., and on the first and third Thursday of the month at 1:00 p.m. Meetings are located in West Ashley, North Charleston, and downtown Charleston.

For information about meeting locations, contact Easter LaRoche of the Charleston County Sheriff's Office at 843-745-2250, or contact Alyssa Rheingold of the MUSC National Crime Victims Center at 843-792-8209.

Families of Highway Fatalities

The Families of Highway Fatalities program provides peer support and periodic programs. Contact Sherri Iacobelli at 803-896-7920 for more information. This group is sponsored by the SC Department of Public Safety.

Grief Support for Parents

Missing Grace Foundation

The Missing Grace Foundation provides resources and support for pre-natal and neo-natal loss.

Grief Support for Children & Adolescents

Shannon's Hope Camp

Shannon's Hope is a weekend camp for ages 6 to 15 in Tri-county area. Spring and fall sessions take place at Camp St. Christopher on Seabrook Island. Contact Bridges of Hope for more information at 843-216-7323.

Camp Happy Days

Camp Happy Days offers special events for children living with cancer and survivors (siblings and parents). This is a week-long annual camp at Camp Bob Cooper in Manning, SC. Call 843-571-4336 for more information.

MUSC Children's Hospital Support Groups

The MUSC Children's Hospital support groups provide support and resources to patients and families of the MUSC Children's Hospital.

Suicide Prevention & Suicide Resources

Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

The National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Dial 9-8-8 to connect to support you can trust. 

Survivors of Suicide

The Survivors of Suicide is support group for those who have lost a loved one to suicide. Meetings are held online using Zoom, every Wednesday night from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Contact Charlotte Anderson at 843-693-1343 or charlotteanderson@coastalcrisischaplain.org for more information and a Zoom link to the meeting.

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention

For more resources on suicide prevention, visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention website.