Help Texts

01/09/2026

As we step into 2026, we honor both the changes we choose and those that choose us. If you're grieving, consider the words of renowned research psychologist and Help Texts advisor, Dr. J. Galen Buckwalter, who reminds us that grief is a window into change.

When we experience loss, our minds become more plastic, more open to transformation. This openness, though born from pain, creates space for deep personal growth and meaningful connection.

At Help Texts, we've witnessed thousands of people discover this truth: grief doesn't just change us - it can awaken us to new possibilities, deepen our capacity for empathy, and strengthen our connections with others.

Learn more at helptexts.com about how we're supporting people through life's biggest changes.

01/08/2026

We are so pleased to welcome Pine Tree Hospice as our newest partner at Help Texts!

Pine Tree Hospice is dedicated to providing compassionate support, education, and resources to individuals living with life-limiting conditions, their caregivers, and those who are grieving. Through their trained volunteer network, they walk alongside families with dignity and care when it matters most. We are deeply honored to be working with their team to support caregivers and grieving families across Maine.

01/08/2026

As AI deepfakes and “digital resurrections” move from science fiction into everyday life, questions about death, memory, consent, and grief are no longer hypothetical. In a recent Mashable article examining how AI is reshaping what it means to live on after death, Emma Payne, founder and CEO of Help Texts, offers an essential and grounding perspective on what’s at stake.

While some technologies promise comfort through AI-generated likenesses of loved ones, Emma cautions that imitation is not the same as memory — and that replacing grief with synthetic versions of the people we’ve lost may interfere with healthy bereavement. End of life, she reminds us, is a deeply human time, rooted in connection, acceptance, and care.

“Think deeply about what the end is for you.”

Read the full article here: https://mashable.com/article/ai-deepfake-protections-death-will

01/07/2026

Grief comes with us as we step into a new year. It doesn't disappear when the calendar changes, it remains part of our story. We don't have to choose between grieving and moving forward. They can coexist. Our grief can sit alongside our goals, our celebrations, and our growth. Some days grief will be loud. Other days it will tuck itself away quietly. But for many of us, it will always present in some way, and that is okay. As move into this new year, let us be mindful of how we can carry both our loss and what is yet to come — gently — at the same time.

01/06/2026

"Bereavement service deserts" exist where loss is high and grief support is limited or unavailable due inequities and barriers.

Clinically sound, text-based grief support helps expand access — no matter where someone lives, what language they speak, or how they choose to engage.

Read the full research article here: https://loom.ly/nPyPqzQ

01/05/2026

Texts work! Why? Our CEO, Emma Payne explains that texts make us feel cared for, have high open & engagement rates, and break through traditional barriers to support including stigma, cost, geography, and language. With Help Texts everyone looking for support can receive it. Right away.

With clinically approved text support there doesn't need to be a bereavement service desert anymore.

01/02/2026

Our CEO, Emma Payne, explains why Help Texts is like having expert support right in your pocket. Nothing to download, nothing to install. Sign up for tips from world-class bereavement and mental health experts—tailored to your needs and delivered directly to your phone.

Learn more: https://helptexts.com/

01/01/2026

Everything became uncertain in 2025. In her end-of-year blog, Help Texts' CEO Emma Payne reflects on how it's often only when things turn upside down, that we see what we’re capable of, and what our teams and companies are capable of, too.

Read the blog: https://loom.ly/HBy88n0

Six Lessons Learned in a Turbulent Year … It was December 2015 — a decade ago — that I flew home from a dear friend’s funeral in Toronto. He was the best…

12/31/2025

As the year comes to a close, Help Texts' CEO, Emma Payne, reflects on how Help Texts came to be. As we enter a new year, we remain here to offer support, whenever it’s needed.

12/29/2025

"Men don't necessarily want to talk about it." Help Texts' CEO, Emma Payne, discusses how Help Texts sees especially high engagement rates from men, who say that they appreciate that text support is discreet, low-threshold, and practical.

Know a man in your life in need of a little extra support?
Help Texts subscriptions make great gifts: https://helptexts.com/give-a-gift/

12/26/2025

Did you know Help Texts offers support for pet loss? Help Texts' CEO, Emma Payne, discusses this often disenfranchised grief, and how Help Texts cares for grieving pet parents.

See https://helptexts.com/get-help-texts/pet-loss/ to learn more!

12/25/2025

From all of us at Help Texts, we wish you a Merry Christmas and an easy holiday season. Thank you for joining us for our 12 Days of Griefmas series. We hope these tips and tools will help you support a grieving friend during the holidays and all year round.