Grief is a universal experience, but it need not be faced alone. In a reflection ahead of the 25th anniversary of September 11, contributors from the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) argue that support from people who have experienced similar losses can be especially meaningful to those who are grieving.
The authors describe mourning as a shared human practice, with public rituals appearing across cultures and throughout history. They also note a shift in psychological thinking from detaching from the person who died toward maintaining a continuing connection with them.
TAPS says it has supported more than 100,000 bereaved family members since the organization began, including 14,858 military family members bereaved in connection with 9/11. The authors say the scale of need led the organization to move beyond relying exclusively on licensed mental health clinicians and adopt peer support models.
In this approach, trained supporters draw on their own experience of loss to offer understanding and reassurance. TAPS describes a flexible three-part model: establish safety and provide immediate support, accompany people as they process grief, and help them find meaning and build a life that honors the person they lost. Therapy may also be offered when appropriate.
The authors say decades of work with bereaved families have reinforced the value of peer support, and note that the same principles are being applied in Ukraine. Their central lesson is that grief is a journey best shared, particularly with people who understand its challenges firsthand and can show that it is possible to live with loss while continuing to carry love forward.
Sources: Psychology Today.