Dealing with the loss of a child is incredibly difficult for parents, grandparents, siblings, and other family members, but with support from communities like The Compassionate Friends, healing becomes a little easier.
Although the community was originally founded over 40 years ago in England, it's been continuously expanding since then. Currently, there are approximately 700 different chapters of The Compassionate Friends in more than 30 countries around the globe, from the United States to Guam.
The Compassionate Friends are welcoming of all age groups, backgrounds, and circumstances, as it is simply "committed to building a future" with those seeking emotional support. This means sharing experiences, ways of coping, and hosting events and conferences that bring members together.
Child-Mourning Communities
'The Compassionate Friends' Emotionally Supports Families
Trend Themes
1. Grief Support Communities - Opportunities to create similar communities for those grieving the loss of loved ones.
2. Emotional Wellness Resources - Developing more accessible and inclusive resources for those experiencing grief and emotional distress outside the scope of traditional healthcare practices.
3. Global Compassion Networks - Connecting members of different grief support organizations and expanding access to localized resources globally.
Industry Implications
1. Mental Health Services - Innovating mental health services and resources to include broader support for those experiencing grief and emotional distress.
2. Community Organizations & Nonprofits - Developing new organizations to serve the emotional and psychological needs of grieving families and individuals.
3. Social Networks and Platforms - Expanding current social networks and platforms to connect individuals experiencing grief, greater accessibility to online resources and counseling services.