26/01/2026
Support group Awareness week.
Mpumelelo Shakes Phakathi - Once Upon A Time In Nyaope
Support Groups Awareness Week | Grief & Bereavement in Recovery
Grief is one of the most powerful emotional experiences a person can face. The loss of a loved one often brings intense sadness, confusion, anger, and loneliness — emotions that can feel overwhelming and difficult to manage.
For many people, especially those already vulnerable, grief can become a risk factor for unhealthy coping. Some turn to alcohol, drugs, or other harmful behaviours in an attempt to numb the pain or escape the weight of loss. While these responses may offer temporary relief, they often complicate grief and delay healing.
Bereavement support groups are recognised as effective preventive interventions, helping reduce the risk of complicated grief by providing structure, understanding, and connection during an incredibly fragile time.
In recovery-focused spaces, individuals are supported to face grief without substances, and to develop healthier ways of coping.
The purpose of a grief support group is not to remove the pain, but to ensure no one carries it alone. Being with others who have experienced loss offers a unique form of support, one grounded in shared understanding, emotional validation, and education about the grieving process.
These groups help people normalise their feelings, rebuild stability, and strengthen recovery.
Support groups play a vital role in recovery by offering:
· Emotional safety and peer support.
· Accountability during vulnerable periods.
· Healthy coping skills for managing grief.
· Education that reduces shame and isolation.
· A sense of belonging and hope.
During Support Groups Awareness Week, we recognise the powerful role these spaces play in helping people grieve, heal, and recover. Grief does not have to lead to relapse, isolation, or self-destruction. With the right support, it can become a place where recovery is strengthened rather than lost.
Healing is not about forgetting those we’ve lost, it’s about learning how to live fully, honestly, and soberly while carrying their memory forward.
