Coping with Loss and Grief through Online Support Groups. ERIC/CASS Digest.

Current technology enables people to cope with grief through participation in online support groups from the comfort and privacy of their home. The three aspects of grief are emotional, physical, and behavioral. Facing the void left and dealing with the feelings of isolation after the loss of a loved one can be accomplished through online support groups. These kinds of groups experience high usage after tragic events, such as the recent numerous school shootings. This digest discusses increased access to support, specialized online support groups, and the universality of grief as benefiting online support groups for loss. The following are presented as limitations for these groups: anonymity breaches; differing stages of group development and phases of grief; hoax perpetuations; limited feedback; and accountability. (MKA)