Facilitating a Suicide Bereavement Support Group

The AFSP Facilitator Training Program offers suicide prevention organizers a way to create and facilitate a community support group for suicide loss survivors in the aftermath of a suicide.  Courses are offered as two-day trainings of up to 36 attendees, and include lecture, interactive discussion, and role-playing. They are led by experts in the field of suicide bereavement. AFSP offers two courses: one on facilitating adult support groups, and another on facilitating child and teen support groups.

• Mental health professionals and survivors of suicide loss who want to start a support group
• Current group facilitators who want to strengthen their skills, stay up to date on the latest practices, and explore issues they have encountered while facilitating
• Survivors of suicide loss who have waited at least two years after experiencing a suicide loss
• Non-clinicians who have at least one year of experience participating in a support group

To find an upcoming training, please visit afsp.org/calendar/ and select the program “Suicide Bereavement Facilitator Trainings.” You can also contact your local chapter about hosting a training in your area.

Please visit information for support group facilitators here. On this page, you will find information about how to add, update, or remove your support group listing, about our drop-in calls for facilitators, and more.