Resources

1. Immediate Support

Immediate support for people in crisis, acute distress, or in need of fast connection to care.

• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — Free, confidential call, text, and chat support, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 988lifeline.org
• Veterans Crisis Line — Free, confidential crisis support for veterans, service members, and their families. Call 988 and press 1, or text 838255. veteranscrisisline.net
• Crisis Text Line — Free crisis support by text. Text HOME to 741741. crisistextline.org
• SAMHSA Find Help — National pathway to mental health and substance use treatment and support. findtreatment.gov
• United Way 211 — Confidential connection to local resources including housing, food, transportation, and community services. 211.org
• Backline B-Line — 24-hour mental health and crisis support specifically for people who work in music — musicians, touring crew, and industry professionals. If you’re a fan or community member rather than an industry worker, call 988 instead. backline.care/b-line

2. After a Death

The hours and days right after someone dies can be overwhelming. This section is for the immediate practical questions — what needs to happen, who to contact, and what you’re entitled to as you make decisions.

• Funeral Consumers Alliance: Making Arrangements — Consumer-focused guidance on making funeral arrangements, understanding your options, and protecting yourself from unnecessary costs. funerals.org
• AARP: Checklist of Things to Do After a Death — A practical checklist covering immediate steps, financial and legal notifications, and longer-term tasks. aarp.org/family-relationships/when-loved-one-dies-checklist
• Death Certificate Guide (NOLO) — Plain-language information on death certificates — how many you need, how to get them, and what they’re used for. NOLO provides legal information, not legal advice. nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/death-certificates
• Social Security Administration: When Someone Dies — Official federal guidance on reporting a death to Social Security and understanding survivor benefits. ssa.gov/personal-record/when-someone-dies
• Empathy — A platform and app that guides families through the practical and emotional tasks after a death — from funeral arrangements to estate settlement to grief support. Available as an employer or insurance benefit, or directly for a one-time fee of $65. Free resources also available on their site without an account. empathy.com
• Before you make any funeral arrangements, know what you’re entitled to. Visit Know Your Rights.

3. Know Your Funeral Rights

When someone dies, decisions about funeral arrangements often have to be made quickly—sometimes within hours. Funeral costs are among the largest purchases most families will ever make, often under the worst possible circumstances. You have rights that protect you in those moments—rights most families are never told about until it’s too late. JBG has built a full guide to your funeral consumer rights—in plain language, for this community specifically. Read Know Your Funeral Rights →

4. Grief & Loss

Grief doesn’t move in a straight line and it doesn’t look the same for everyone. This section holds resources for people who are grieving—wherever they are in that experience, whatever the loss was.

General Grief & Loss

A starting point for people looking for grief support, community, and education.

• National Institute on Aging: Grief and Mourning — Federal guidance on grief, mourning, coping, and practical next steps after a death. nia.nih.gov/health/grief-and-mourning
• Hospice Foundation of America: For Patients & Families — Education on grief, caregiving, and hospice care. Primarily a professional education organization, but with resources for families navigating serious illness and bereavement — useful for understanding how hospice works and what to expect. hospicefoundation.org/for-patients-families
• Modern Loss — Candid, approachable writing and community-oriented resources across many types of loss. modernloss.com
• HealGrief — Grief support network offering resources and virtual community options. healgrief.org
• What’s Your Grief — Practical, plain-language grief education and resources for people at any point in their experience. whatsyourgrief.com
• Refuge in Grief — Created by grief educator Megan Devine, this resource meets people where they are without prescribing how grief should look or when it should end. refugeingrief.com
• The Dinner Party — A community for people in their 20s, 30s, and 40s grieving the death of a parent, partner, child, sibling, or close friend. Peer-led gatherings in person and online. thedinnerparty.org
• Grief.com — Created by grief educator David Kessler, this resource offers articles, a podcast, and a peer grief support community. Kessler’s work centers on finding meaning after loss and is widely accessible to people at any point in their experience. grief.com
• Kitchen Table Conversations: Grief Education — Free webinars on grief education covering a wide range of grief experiences. Accessible, non-clinical, and grounded in the understanding that there is no right way to grieve. kitchentableconversations.org/grief-education

Grief & Loss by Experience

Not every loss is fully held by general grief resources. Some experiences carry distinct emotional, relational, cultural, or practical realities that call for more specific support. If something in this list feels closer to where you are, start there.

Suicide Loss · Loss of a Child · Pregnancy & Infant Loss · Sibling Loss · Parent Loss · Loss of Friend· Spouse & Partner Loss · LGBTQ+ & Chosen Family · Pet Loss · Military Loss · Homicide and Violent Deaths · Overdose and Substance-Related Loss · Estrangement & Family Rupture · Anticipatory Grief · Dementia, Caregiver & Ambiguous Loss · Culturally Responsive Support

Suicide Loss

Support specifically for people grieving a death by suicide.

• AFSP: Suicide Loss Resources — National support and healing resources for people grieving a death by suicide. afsp.org/suicide-loss-resources
• Alliance of Hope Community Forum — Moderated online community for suicide loss survivors, available around the clock. allianceofhope.org/find-support/community-forum
• SAVE: Loss Survivors — Support resources and a support group database for people grieving a death by suicide. save.org/programs/suicide-loss-support

Loss of a Child

Support for bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and families after the death of a child.

• The Compassionate Friends — Peer support for parents, siblings, and grandparents after the death of a child, grandchild, or sibling. compassionatefriends.org/find-support/family-support
• Bereaved Parents of the USA — National support organization for bereaved parents and families. bereavedparentsusa.org
• Alive Alone — Specialized support for parents whose only child, or all children, have died. alivealone.org

Pregnancy & Infant Loss

Resources for miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, and infant loss.

• Share Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support — Community and support for people affected by pregnancy loss, stillbirth, or the death of a baby in early infancy. nationalshare.org
• Star Legacy Foundation — Education, research, and family support around stillbirth, pregnancy loss, and neonatal death. starlegacyfoundation.org
• Return to Zero: H.O.P.E. — Virtual support groups, a national directory of trauma-informed providers, and healing retreats for families experiencing pregnancy and infant loss. Covers miscarriage, stillbirth, infant death, ending a wanted pregnancy, and loss through surrogacy. rtzhope.org
• CDC: Stillbirth Resources — Public health information and connections to vetted stillbirth resources. cdc.gov/stillbirth

Sibling Loss

Support for people grieving the death of a brother or sister, including resources that recognize how often sibling grief is overlooked.

• The Broken Pack — Community, education, and resources centered on adult sibling loss survivors. thebrokenpack.com/adult-sibling-loss
• Bereaved Parents of the USA — Sibling-focused support and validation within a broader bereaved family community. bereavedparentsusa.org
• Modern Loss: Sibling Loss — Writing and reflection on sibling grief. modernloss.com/tag/sibling-loss

Parent Loss

Support for people grieving the death of a parent, guardian, grandparent, or other parent-like figure.

• Modern Loss: Parent Loss — Writing and community-oriented support for parent loss. modernloss.com/tag/parent-loss
• My Grief Angels: Free Virtual Grief Support Groups — Includes dedicated support for grief after the death or anticipatory loss of a parent, guardian, mentor, or grandparent. mygriefangels.org/free-virtual-grief-support-groups

Loss of Friend

Support for people grieving the death of a friend, a person you found through the music, chosen family, or another close relationship that doesn’t fit neatly into family.

• Modern Loss: Friend Loss — Writing and community-oriented support for friend loss. modernloss.com/tag/friend-loss
• My Grief Angels: Free Virtual Grief Support Groups — Group structure explicitly includes friend loss and chosen family loss. mygriefangels.org/free-virtual-grief-support-groups

Spouse & Partner Loss

Support for people grieving the death of a spouse or partner.

• Soaring Spirits International / Camp Widow — Widowed-person community and programming, including in-person and virtual Camp Widow events. soaringspirits.org
• National Widowers’ Organization — Peer support network with resources and support groups for widowers specifically. nationalwidowers.org
• Hope for Widows Foundation — Community and resources for women who have lost a spouse or partner. hopeforwidows.org
• Modern Loss: Spouse & Partner Loss — Writing and reflection on grief after the death of a spouse or partner. modernloss.com/tag/spouse-loss

LGBTQ+ & Chosen Family

Affirming resources for grief, planning, caregiving, and loss in LGBTQ+ communities.

• SAGE — National support, resources, and services for LGBTQ+ elders, caregivers, and families. sageusa.org
• LGBTQ+ Advance Care Planning Toolkit — Step-by-step toolkit for LGBTQ+ people preparing for healthcare and end-of-life decisions. lgbtagingcenter.org/resource/lgbtq-advance-care-planning-toolkit
• Transgender Law Center: Life Planning Documents for Transgender Communities — Practical legal planning guidance around directives, proxies, and protecting wishes. transgenderlawcenter.org
• LGBT National Help Center — Peer support and hotlines for LGBTQ+ people. lgbthotline.org • The Trevor Project — 24-hour crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25. Adults over 25 should call 988 or the LGBT National Help Center above. thetrevorproject.org
• Eluna: LGBTQ+ Grief Support Resources — Affirming grief support resources, recommended organizations, and guidance for LGBTQ+ individuals and families. elunanetwork.org/resources/lgbtq-grief-support-resources

Pet Loss

Support for grieving the death of a beloved animal companion.

• Association for Pet Loss and Bereavement (APLB) — Pet loss support and bereavement education. aplb.org
• Best Friends Animal Society: Pet Loss Grief Resources — Coping tools and support resources after the death of a pet. bestfriends.org/pet-care-resources/grieving-loss-pet-resources-coping
• Modern Loss: Pet Loss — Writing and reflection on grief after the death of an animal companion. modernloss.com/tag/pet-loss

Military Loss

Support for people grieving a military service member or veteran.

• TAPS — Grief support and survivor programming for those grieving a military or veteran loved one. taps.org
• VA Office of Survivors Assistance — Federal hub for survivor benefits and support for families of deceased veterans and service members. va.gov/survivors
• Military OneSource: Bereavement & Grief Support — Military family bereavement resources, grief counseling connections, and survivor support. militaryonesource.mil/casualty-mortuary-affairs/bereavement-grief

Homicide and Violent Deaths

Support for people grieving homicide, violent death, or other traumatic loss, including survivor advocacy and practical guidance.

• Parents of Murdered Children (POMC) — Peer support and advocacy for people grieving a homicide loss. pomc.org
• Homicide Survivors Inc. — Arizona-based nonprofit with online support groups open to families of homicide victims across the country. Peer support, advocacy, and practical assistance — remote participation available. homicidesurvivorsinc.org
• Mothers Against Police Brutality: Help for Families — Black-led organization founded by and for families who have lost someone to police violence. Advocacy, peer connection, and direct support for impacted families, with a specific focus on Black families and communities of color. mothersagainstpolicebrutality.org/help-for-families
• MADD Victim Assistance — Emotional support and advocacy for people affected by drunk or drugged driving crashes. Trained victim advocates available 24/7. madd.org/victim-assistance

Overdose and Substance-Related Loss

Support for people grieving the death of someone they loved to overdose or substance use. This grief is real, it is often complicated by stigma, and it deserves its own space.

• GRASP (Grief Recovery After Substance Passing) — National peer support network with chapters throughout the United States and Canada for people who have lost someone to substance use or overdose. Founded by and run entirely by people who have experienced this loss. grasphelp.org
• For children affected by a family member’s substance use, see Camp Mariposa in Find Support → Recovery & Community Support below.

Estrangement & Family Rupture

This section holds resources for two related but distinct experiences: grieving the death of someone you were estranged from, and the ongoing grief of living estrangement — losing a relationship with someone who is still alive. Both are real grief. Both deserve support.

• Together Estranged — Peer-led support for adults navigating living estrangement — for people whose relationship with a family member has broken down while both parties are still alive. Not specifically designed for grief after the death of an estranged person, though many community members navigate both experiences. LGBTQ+ and neurodivergent-inclusive. togetherestranged.org
• Modern Loss: Estrangement — Writing and reflection on grief tied to estrangement and family rupture — including grief after the death of someone you were estranged from. modernloss.com/tag/estrangement

Anticipatory Grief

Support for people grieving before a death occurs, especially during serious illness, caregiving, or prolonged uncertainty.

• Modern Loss: Anticipatory Grief — Writing and community-oriented support for anticipatory grief. modernloss.com/tag/anticipatory-grief
• CancerCare: Anticipatory Grief — Plain-language guidance on grief that arrives before a death, particularly during serious illness. Written for cancer caregivers but applicable broadly. Cancercare.org/publications/385-anticipatory_grief_preparing_for_a_loved_one_s_end_of_life
• My Grief Angels: Free Virtual Grief Support Groups — Includes anticipatory loss support across several group types. mygriefangels.org/free-virtual-grief-support-groups
• Kitchen Table Conversations: Anticipatory Grief Drop-In Groups — Free weekly online support groups for people grieving before a death occurs. Tuesdays, 7–8pm CT. No commitment required. Open nationally. kitchentableconversations.org/anticipatory-grief

Dementia, Caregiver, & Ambiguous Loss

Support for grief that unfolds through dementia, caregiving, and other situations where loss is real even while the person is still living.

• Alzheimer’s Association: Grief and Loss in Alzheimer’s Caregiving — Guidance on grief specific to dementia caregiving, including anticipatory grief and grief after death. alz.org/help-support/caregiving/caregiver-health/grief-loss-as-alzheimers-progresses
• Family Caregiver Alliance: Caregiving and Ambiguous Loss — Specific guidance on ambiguous loss in caregiving — when a loved one is present but changed, and grief has no clear beginning or end. caregiver.org/resource/caregiving-and-ambiguous-loss
• Eluna: Ambiguous Loss Resource Hub — Covers estrangement, dementia, mental illness, divorce, immigration-related separation, and chronic illness-related ambiguity. elunanetwork.org/resources/ambiguous-loss-resource-hub

Culturally Responsive Support

Grief and mental health resources that better reflect cultural, racial, linguistic, Indigenous, and faith-based realities that mainstream grief systems may miss.

A note on gaps: resources specifically designed for the disability community and for people in rural areas are limited and underrepresented in the grief support landscape. If you’re navigating either of these contexts, many of the online peer support resources throughout this page are accessible anywhere. We’re actively looking for better options and will add them as we find ones we trust.

• BEAM (Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective) — Mental health resources, support, and community for Black people. beam.community
• CaringMatters: Loss & Grief in the Black Community — Grief support and resources centered on the experiences of Black communities. caringmatters.net
• Latinx Therapy: Grief and Loss in the Latinx Community — Culturally responsive grief resources and education for Latinx communities. latinxtherapy.com/podcast/grief-and-loss-in-the-latinx-community
• Asian Mental Health Collective: Find Support — Mental health resources and community for Asian communities. asianmhc.org/findsupport
• Native American Discussion Guide for Grief and Bereavement — Culturally grounded grief guidance for Native American communities, available through the SAMHSA publications store. store.samhsa.gov
• Ziyara Bereavement Support — Grief support centered on Muslim communities and traditions. ziyara.org

5. Kids & Families

Grief looks different for children and teenagers than it does for adults — and the people caring for them often need support too. This section holds resources for grieving young people, caregivers navigating loss with kids, and families finding their way through together.

• Dougy Center — National grief support for children, teens, young adults, and families after a death. Includes a directory of grief support programs and resources for caregivers. dougy.org
• National Alliance for Children’s Grief: Find Support — Directory of grief support programs for children and families, searchable by location. nacg.org/find-support
• Camp Erin — The largest national bereavement program for children and teens grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Free, in-person overnight camps available in many locations. elunanetwork.org/eluna-camps/camp-erin
• Camp Kangaroo — Free national bereavement camp for children and teens ages 5–18 who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Psychotherapy and creative arts based. Caregiver support is included alongside the children’s programming. Check their site for current locations and availability. seasonsfoundation.org/camp-kangaroo
• Comfort Zone Camp — Free grief camps and support programs for children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, caregiver, or other significant person. comfortzonecamp.org
• Experience Camps — Free one-week overnight summer camp program for children and teens grieving the death of a parent, sibling, or primary caregiver. Available in multiple locations across the US — check their site for current camp locations and availability. experiencecamps.org
• National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement — Resources for schools, educators, and families navigating grief and loss in educational settings. schoolcrisiscenter.org
• Sesame Workshop: Grief — Age-appropriate grief resources for young children and the adults who care for them. Videos, interactive tools, storybooks, and printables, available in English and Spanish. sesameworkshop.org/topics/grief

6. Talk About Death

Whether you’re planning ahead, processing a loss, or just want to think more honestly about mortality, these resources are for you. Talking about death before it arrives — and after — is something this community already knows how to do. These resources are for people who want to go deeper: start a conversation, think through what they want, or simply sit with the fact that death is part of life.

• The Conversation Project — Practical tools and guides for starting conversations about end-of-life wishes with the people you love. Free, plain-language, and designed for real kitchen-table conversations. theconversationproject.org
• Death Cafe — A global movement of informal gatherings where people meet to talk about death over tea and cake. Not grief support or counseling — just conversation, without agenda or conclusion. deathcafe.com
• Death Over Dinner — Tools and guides for hosting a dinner conversation about death with people you know. A structured but accessible way to start the conversations that matter most before they become urgent. deathoverdinner.org
• Kitchen Table Conversations — Free webinars and resources for having honest conversations about death, dying, and end-of-life wishes. Practical, accessible, and built around the idea that these conversations belong at the kitchen table — not just in clinical settings. kitchentableconversations.org
• Order of the Good Death — Founded by mortician and author Caitlin Doughty, this is one of the most influential death positivity resources in the country — educational, direct, and written for people who want to engage with death honestly rather than avoid it. Articles, videos, and a directory of death-positive providers. orderofthegooddeath.com
• National Healthcare Decisions Day — An annual initiative on April 16th encouraging everyone to make and share advance directives. Includes tools and resources available year-round. nhdd.org
• Reimagine — A nonprofit that has explored death, dying, and loss through arts, creativity, and community conversation, including online programming with music, storytelling, and drop-in grief support. letsreimagine.org

7. Plan Ahead

Most of us don’t plan ahead for death — not because we don’t care, but because it’s hard to start. These resources make it easier. Planning before a crisis happens is one of the most practical things you can do for yourself and the people you love.

Advance Planning

Tools and guides for documenting your wishes, choosing who speaks for you, and making decisions before they become urgent.

• CaringInfo: State Advance Directives — Free, state-specific advance directive forms for all 50 states and DC. Download your state’s form, complete it, and share it with your healthcare team and the people you trust. caringinfo.org/planning/advance-directives
• PREPARE for Your Care — Free, evidence-based online program that helps you think through advance care planning using video stories and plain-language guides. Available in English and Spanish. prepareforyourcare.org
• Five Wishes — A $5 advance directive written in everyday language that covers medical, personal, emotional, and spiritual wishes — not just clinical decisions. Legally valid in 46 states. A more personal alternative to standard legal forms. fivewishes.org
• National POLST — Explains what a POLST is — known as MOLST, MOST, or POST in some states — when it applies, and how to get one. A medical order for people with serious illness that documents treatment preferences and travels with them across care settings. Different from an advance directive and important to understand separately. polst.org
• AARP: End-of-Life Planning — Practical guides, checklists, and conversation tools for planning ahead, organizing important documents, and starting the conversations that matter. aarp.org/caregiving/grief-loss-end-of-life
• Kitchen Table Conversations: End of Life Planning — Free five-part webinar series covering advance directives, legacy planning, final arrangements, and creating a grief care plan for the people you leave behind. kitchentableconversations.org/end-of-life-planning
• National Healthcare Decisions Day — An annual initiative on April 16th encouraging everyone to make and share advance directives. Includes tools and resources available year-round. nhdd.org

Serious Illness, Caregiving, & Donor Family Support

Resources for people navigating a serious illness — their own or someone they love — and for caregivers, donor families, and people making decisions on behalf of someone who can’t.

• NIA: End of Life — Federal guidance on what to expect at end of life, how to provide comfort and care, hospice and palliative care, and how to make decisions for someone who can no longer speak for themselves. nia.nih.gov/health/end-life
• GetPalliativeCare.org — Clear, plain-language explanation of what palliative care is and how it helps, plus a national directory of palliative care providers searchable by location. Run by the Center to Advance Palliative Care. getpalliativecare.org
• CaringInfo: Serious Illness Resources — Guides on palliative care, hospice, caregiving, and bereavement care for people facing serious illness and the people supporting them. caringinfo.org
• Family Caregiver Alliance — Resources, guides, and support for family caregivers navigating serious illness, including practical help on caregiving tasks, legal and financial planning, and caregiver self-care. caregiver.org
• Triage Cancer — Free education on the legal and practical rights of people navigating a serious illness — including insurance, employment, financial protections, and how to appeal denials. Resources are written for people with cancer but applicable to anyone with a serious medical condition. Legal navigation services are available in select states — check their site for eligibility. triagecancer.org
• Donate Life America — The national resource for organ, eye, and tissue donation registration and education. For people making donation decisions as part of planning ahead, and for families of donors. donatelife.net
• National POLST — Explains what a POLST is — known as MOLST, MOST, or POST in some states — when it applies, and how to get one. A medical order for people with serious illness that documents treatment preferences and travels with them across care settings. Different from an advance directive and important to understand separately. polst.org

8. The Yellow Balloon Groups

For decades, people in this community have been finding each other at shows and supporting each other in not drinking or using. If you’re looking for that community at a concert or festival, look for the yellow balloons.

These are peer-led, community-generated groups that meet at shows — usually during set break. They are not clinical programs and are not affiliated with AA, NA, or any twelve-step program, though many members participate in those programs. Each group is named for the band whose shows they attend. Most have Facebook group presences — search your band’s name plus “sober” or “yellow balloon” to find yours.

• Wharf Rats—Grateful Dead / Dead & Company
• The Phellowship—Phish
• The Dusty Baggies—Billy Strings
• The Digital Buddhas—Disco Biscuits
• The Gateway—Widespread Panic
• Much Obliged—Umphrey’s McGee
• Happy Hour Heroes—moe.
• Blue Morphos—King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
• The Hot Tea Party—Goose
• The Jellyfish—String Cheese Incident
• The Yellow Balloon Group—Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
• One Show at a Time—Weekly Zoom meeting and podcast open to anyone in the sober jam band community, across all bands. oneshowatatime.org

Don’t see your band? More yellow balloon groups exist and new ones form regularly. Search Facebook for your band’s name plus “sober” or “yellow balloon” to find your community.

9. Find Support

Resources for finding support near you, connecting with others online, and accessing community-specific programs. This is also where you’ll find harm reduction resources and the spaces where this community already gathers.

Find Support Near You

Tools for locating grief support, mental health services, and community resources in your area. If you’re in a rural area with limited local options, many of the online peer support resources throughout this page are accessible anywhere. United Way 211 can also connect you to region-specific resources.

• SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Locator — National directory of mental health and substance use treatment facilities searchable by location. Free to search, no account required. findtreatment.gov
• NAMI Helpline — The National Alliance on Mental Illness helpline connects callers to local resources, support groups, and information about mental health services. Monday through Friday, 10am–10pm ET. nami.org/help
• Psychology Today Therapist Finder — Searchable directory of therapists, counselors, and support groups by location, specialty, and insurance. Includes filters for grief, loss, and bereavement specialists. psychologytoday.com/us/therapists
• Open Path Collective — Reduced-cost therapy for people who cannot afford standard rates. Sliding scale sessions between $30 and $80. openpathcollective.org

Online Peer Support

Virtual communities and peer support spaces for people who want connection without geographic limits.

• Actively Moving Forward (HealGrief) — National network of peer support groups for grieving young adults. Online and in-person options available. mygriefangels.org/actively-moving-forward
• 7 Cups — Free online emotional support through trained volunteer listeners. Available 24 hours a day. Not a crisis line — for ongoing emotional support and connection. 7cups.com

Recovery & Community Support

Peer support programs for people in recovery and those navigating substance use.

• GRASP: Grief Recovery After Substance Passing — National peer support network and chapter-based community for people who have lost someone to substance use or overdose. If you’re in recovery yourself and also carrying this loss, GRASP meets you at that intersection. grasphelp.org
• Camp Mariposa — Free year-round program for children and teens ages 9–17 affected by a family member’s substance use disorder. Run by Eluna in partner locations across the country. elunanetwork.org/eluna-camps/camp-mariposa
• SMART Recovery — Peer support for people managing addiction and substance use, grounded in Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy (REBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Not twelve-step based. Online and in-person meetings available globally, free to attend. smartrecovery.org
• Refuge Recovery — Peer support for recovery grounded in mindfulness and Buddhist principles. Online and in-person meetings in over 500 locations worldwide. refugerecovery.org

Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention

Resources for people who use substances — at shows, at festivals, and anywhere else. Harm reduction meets people where they are, without judgment, with the goal of keeping people safer.

• This Must Be The Place — Nonprofit dedicated to bringing free naloxone and overdose prevention education to music festivals and concerts across the country. Look for their booth at shows, or visit their site to request naloxone ahead of your next festival. betheplace.org
• National Harm Reduction Coalition — National advocacy and education organization promoting the health and dignity of people who use drugs. Free resources, fact sheets, naloxone locator, and online training available. harmreduction.org
• DanceSafe — Public health nonprofit providing drug checking materials, fentanyl test strips, and harm reduction education for the music and nightlife community. Test kits and resources available online. Occasional festival presence — check their site for current events. dancesafe.org
• NEXT Distro — National naloxone distribution and harm reduction resource locator. Find where to get naloxone near you. nextdistro.org
• Never Use Alone Hotline — Free service for people who use drugs alone. Call 1-800-484-3731 to have someone on the line while you use. If you become unresponsive, they will send emergency services to your location. neverusealone.com
• Tripsit — Community-run harm reduction resource with a drug interaction checker and plain-language information on safer use. Not an institutional or verified public health source — for anything involving serious health risk, pair it with guidance from DanceSafe or the National Harm Reduction Coalition above. tripsit.me

Music Community Support

Organizations and programs built specifically for people in the music world.

• Backline — Free mental health and wellness resources specifically for people who work in music — musicians, touring crew, industry professionals, and their families. Not a general public resource. Includes a directory of therapists familiar with music industry realities. backline.care
• MusiCares — The Recording Academy’s safety net for people in the music industry. Provides financial assistance, mental health and addiction recovery support, medical help, and crisis relief to musicians, touring crew, and music professionals of all kinds. musicares.org/get-help
• Sweet Relief Musicians Fund — Financial assistance for career musicians facing illness, disability, or other hardship. sweetrelief.org
• Mimi Fishman Foundation — Phish-affiliated foundation providing grants to musicians in need and community causes. Not a direct service provider — listed here as a community anchor you may want to know about or support. mimifishman.org

In the Community

This is where the community already shows up for each other. These aren’t programs — they’re the spaces where grief, memory, and support happen organically. The jam band community has always taken care of its own. When someone dies, the conversation starts in the places people already gather — Reddit threads, Facebook groups, setlist dedications, the room going quiet for a moment before the music starts again. These spaces don’t replace organized support, but they’re often where people first reach out, first feel less alone, and first find their way to something more.

• r/gratefuldead, r/phish, r/jambands — Reddit communities where loss is acknowledged, memory is kept, and people show up for each other. reddit.com/r/gratefuldead · reddit.com/r/phish · reddit.com/r/jambands
• Band-specific Facebook groups — Where announcements of deaths travel fastest and memorial threads form. Search your band’s community to find yours.
• Setlist.fm — Fan-generated setlist database where dedications and memorial notes appear in show notes and comments. setlist.fm
• JBG’s Tribute Space —The Graveyard— Where the people this community has lost are remembered by name.