As Alameda recovers from recent tragedy, local services are available to help us cope with the aftermath
Our entire city has been filled with sadness, grief, and even trauma following the mass shooting here last week, when a man killed his wife, children, and in-laws in their home on a quiet street near the shopping center. More than a hundred of us came together for a vigil on the steps of City Hall, to mourn together and offer support to one another. But many of us may need additional help to process and cope with our grief.
Fortunately, many sources of help are available. Alameda Family Services Executive Director Katherine Schwartz provided the following list of support services, therapists, and reading materials for both adults and youth.
Don’t hesitate to use any of these mental health resources. You don’t have to manage your grief and/or trauma alone, and there are people waiting to help you.
Crisis support services
- Crisis support services: https://www.crisissupport.org/
- Counseling support: https://www.crisissupport.org/programs/grief-counseling
- 24-hour phone hotline – Call 988
- Text hotline – Text “SAFE” to 20121: 8 a.m. – 12 p.m. 7 days a week
- Textear “SEGURO” al Numero 20121: 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Martes – Vientes .
Grief support for adults and youth
- Kara Grief Center: https://kara-grief.org/services/peer-support/
- Alameda County Crisis Support: https://www.crisissupport.org/resources/bereavement/
- Circle of Care – East Bay Agency for Children: www.ebac.org 510-351-7551. Support groups for families with children. Some services available in Spanish.
- Sutter Care at Home: www.Suttercareathome.org 510-450-8728. Support groups and bereavement programs.
- Hope Hospice: www.HopeHospice.com 925-829-8770 or 1-800-HOSPICE. Grief support groups.
Grief support for youth
- Josie’s Place: https://josiesplace.org/ 415-513-6343. Support groups for children of varying ages and for parents.
- Circle of Care: https://www.ebac.org/services/circle.asp 510-531-7551. Support groups for children and parents. Offers Spanish language services.
- Kara Grief Support: https://kara-grief.org/support-for/teens-and-children/ 650-321-5272. Support for children of varying ages. Offers Spanish language services.
- Sutter Health Grief Support: https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/home-health-hospice/griefsupport-alameda 510-263-0903. Alameda grief support services, open to the public.
- Snowline Hospice: https://snowlinehealth.org/grief-support. Children/Family bereavement program.
- Healing All Together: https://friendsforsurvival.org/meetings. Online and in-person grief support groups following a loved one’s death by suicide.
Grief support for adults
- Josie’s Place: https://josiesplace.org/ 415-513-6343. Young Adult (ages 18-24) Grief Support Group meets on Zoom every 1st and 3rd Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Register via email [email protected] or call.
- Kara: https://kara-grief.org/support-for/adults/young-adults. Group and 1:1 Peer Support for ages 18-35.
- The Dinner Party: https://www.thedinnerparty.org. Online peer support for ages 21-45 who have lost a parent.
- Kaiser San Francisco: https://hospice-ncal.kaiserpermanente.org/support/after-yourloss/sf/ Under 40(ish) drop in-group for Kaiser members.
Private therapists who specialize in grief counseling
- Sarah Stroe, LCSW. sarahstroelcsw.com or [email protected]. Previously on staff at By the Bay Hospice.
- Beth Logan, LCSW. 925-353-0135. Previously on staff at By the Bay Hospice.
- Marsha Rusby, MFT, Touchstone Counseling. 925-932-0150.
- Eliza Cantor, MA. Blue Oak Therapy Center. 510-649-9818
- Dr. Nicola Wagenberg. https://nicolawagenberg.com/#welcome. 510-698-2491. Accepts Medicare, also speaks Spanish.
Articles, podcasts, handouts, and books
- The Invisible String Book. (for young children and families).
- Tips for Teens Who are Grieving.
- When a Friend Dies: A Book for Teens About Grieving & Healing. Quotes from teens, short page-long sections about grief.
- YouTube video: The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr.
- Helping Infants and Toddlers Cope With Grief by Alan Wolfelt.
- Helping Children Deal With Grief from the Child Mind Institute. You can’t protect your kids from the pain of loss of a loved one, but you can help build healthy coping skills.
- Sesame Street Workshop – Grief provides help explaining death to children.
- Psychology Today: The Do’s and Don’ts of Talking with a Child about Death.
- Podcast: Coping with Grief and Loss.
- PDF: Guiding Adults in Talking to Children About Death and Attending Services.
- Child Development Institute: How to Talk to Kids About Death.
- Helping Toddlers Cope with Grief and Loss includes examples of questions and answers, behavior changes, and ways to be supportive to children.
Additional resources for adults
- Sesame Workshop: Growing as We Grieve.
- Good Grief grief resources.
- Mental Health America: Bereavement and Grief.
- American Cancer Society: Seeking Help and Support for Grief and Loss.
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center: What Do I Say When Someone is Grieving?
