If you have lost a loved one to suicide,
here are some resources that can help.

AFSP has a number of resources for those affected by suicide loss.

Local Resources

Suicide Bereavement Trained Clinicians: The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention provides a list of clinicians who are knowledgeable about bereavement after suicide and are able to provide grief therapy for survivors.

Local Bereavement Groups: Visit the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention national website to search for Support Groups in your area.

The following resources are available in the Montana Area specifically for those who have been affected by a suicide loss.  We do not run, recommend, endorse, or fund any of the groups listed. If you run a support group in the area and would like your listing included, please email us at: [email protected].

Additional information for Support Group Facilitators, including how to list support groups on AFSP's Support Group search, can be found here.

*Please note that groups may change their times and meeting places without notifying us. We recommend contacting all listed resources directly to confirm most up-to-date details.

Virtual Groups Based in Montana:

Parents of Suicide Support Group: Meetings are held virtually to allow any parent who as lost a child to suicide the time and space to grieve with others that may know how they feel. Free and open to anyone. Our facilitator is a peer.

3rd Wednesday of each month
7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Virtual
[email protected]
(406) 312-0252

Charlie Health Suicide Support Group: This is a space to share stories, build community, and gain support across a virtual and healing space. Free and open to anyone! Our facilitator is a mental health professional.

1st and 3rd Friday of each month
12:00 pm
Virtual
Register via zoom link
[email protected] 
406-624-8059

In-Person Montana Groups:

Survivors of Suicide Loss Billings: Our support group is for anyone who has lost a loved one to suicide. Our facilitator is a peer.

1^st and 3rd Monday of October through May
3^rd Monday of the month year round
6:00 pm – 7:30 p.m.
2032 Central Avenue
Billings, Montana 59102
[email protected]
801-440-5785

Bozeman Suicide Loss Survivors Support Group: This group is for adults. Once you register the facilitator will reach out to you to confirm your registration and answer any questions you have before your first meeting. You can join the group at any time during the year. Pre-registering does not commit you to attending and will ensure that you are on the contact list to receive details and reminders regarding the group each month. If you do not register ahead of time, you will not be turned away from the group - please just reach out to the Help Center (406-586-3333) to inform the staff you are attending so they can inform the facilitator.

2^nd Monday of each month
7:00 pm – 8:30 p.m.
To join we kindly ask you to pre-register Here.
406-586-3333

 Helena Area Bereavement Support Group: This group is for adults. Our facilitator is a peer & mental health professional.

1^st Tuesday of each month
6:30 pm – 8:00 p.m.
2500 E Broadway
Helena, Montana 59601
Jason McNees
[email protected]
406-475-5003

Kalispell SOLAS 406 (Surviving Our Loss After Suicide): This group is for adults. Our facilitator is a peer.

2^nd and 4^th Tuesday of each month
6:30 pm – 8:00 p.m.
209 3rd Ave East
Kalispell, MT 59901
Abe Malley
[email protected]
910-627-9386

 Local Community Mental Health Centers

National Assistance:

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS): Offers compassionate care to all those grieving the loss of a military loved one, including suicide-specific loss support such as the Peer Mentor Program, Survivor Care Team, and online community support. 

Call (800) 959-TAPS (8277) for the TAPS National Military Survivor Helpline available 24/7. Visit taps.org/suicideloss for more information about the full range of services.

Mental Health Referrals

Although AFSP does not endorse or recommend specific professionals or businesses, the following sources may help you identify local mental health professionals in the area.

• Ask your doctor for a recommendation
• Ask other loss survivors for a recommendation
• Contact your insurance company or behavioral health care organization for a list of mental health care providers covered by your plan
• Contact the Department of Psychiatry at a local university or hospital

Websites with Information for Mental Health Care

Visit the American Psychological Association webpage or call 1-800-964-2000 (Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 5:00 pm ET)

Contact the American Psychiatric Association webpage or call 888-357-7924 (press 0 to speak with a customer service representative)

Visit the Mental Health America website or call 1-800-969-6642
Visit the SAMHSA Behavioral Health Treatment Services Locator
Visit the Psychology Today Therapist Finder
Visit the HelpPRO Suicide Prevention Therapist Finder

 National Resources

Nationwide 24-Hour Crisis Line: If you, or someone you know, are ever in crisis, call the Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. You are still able to use the previous Lifeline number of 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (veterans press 1). Details for how to take advantage of this service in other languages or for those who are deaf/hard of hearing, visit the Lifeline website.

Montana Memory Quilts

Our Memory Quilt Program gives suicide loss survivors a way to share memories of their loved one, either through physical memorial squares assembled into traditional Lifekeeper Quilts displayed at public events, or through the Digital Memory Quilt.

Learn more at afsp.org/quilts

Each panel in our quilts tells the story of someone who took their life. The panels are lovingly stitched together, and the quilts are publicly displayed at Montana events to remind us that no survivor of suicide loss stands alone.

Montana Chapter currently has 2 completed quilts and are working toward enough quilt squares for a third.

Quilt #1

Row 1 Ranoda Jean Rowe, 4/2/74 – 7/13/89, Pat Jones • Tyrell Jay Malatare, 1/4/80 – 1/1/00, Janet Nelson and Grandma Marnie

Row 2 Lance W. Taylor , 5/26/82 – 9/29/98, Diane Taylor • Adam P. Taylor, 9/4/83 – 11/2/00, Diane Taylor • Dylan Fagan, 7/10/85 – 5/12/98, Sherry Turner • David Paul Eaton, 3/9/75 – 8/24/93, Michelle Eaton • Matthew Badger, 1/25/80 – 6/5/95, Marsha Badger • Toni Hoff, 9/21/61 – 2/13/97, Alana Barone

Row 3 Travis Lawrence Moser, 8/13/72 – 4/10/96, Linda Fleming • Nate Chute, 1980-1999, Terry Chute and Jane Kollmeyer • Kendra Rose Held, 5/27/88 – 8/20/01, Dionne Adams • Robin Annette Meech, 5/20/67 – 7/1/90, Sandy Meech • Wesley McFarland, 11/6/1918 – 5/13/66, Laila Lindberg for Marjorie McFarland

Row 4 Angela Marie Ottoson Roe, 5/31/77 – 6/4/01, Rhonda Castner • Willam Duncan Jacobsen, 1956-1999, Cynthia Jacobson • Jerry Lindberg, 6/9/1950 – 1/26/00, Linda Lindberg • Matthew Scott Duffin, 8/16/79 – 2/1/95, Terri Duffin

Row 5 Jerry Lindberg, 6/9/1950 – 1/26/00, Laila Lindberg • Richard D McFarland, 3/18/25 – 10/21/95, Rose McFarland • Jeremy Mark Young, 8/18/80 – 5/5/99, Mark and Liz Young • Brent Dale Meier, 11/11/83 – 12/31/00, Brenda Ocheltree • Jack Keeler, 1/1949 – 2/1990, Terry Sather

Row 6 Jennifer Mae, 1978 – 1993, Jan Sarasua • Carl E. Faber, 6/14/29 – 5/11/97, Lindy Faber • James Lloyd Chinnock, 7/4/64 – 1/14/01, Mary Meagher • John V. Meyer, 10/18/79 – 6/27-99, Joan Nye

Update: We are saddened to report that Quilt #1 was stolen in Missoula in Friday night, March 9, 2019. The quilt was folded, wrapped in cloth and stored inside a pillowcase and the person likely had no idea what they were stealing. It has never been returned to the chapter, despite having offered a reward. We have reached out to as many of the original square creators as we could, inviting them to recreate their square. We have since received one such recreation square which will go on our next quilt. Anyone else wishing to recreate their square, we would be honored to add it to our next quilt.

Quilt #2

Row 1: Greg Fanyak, 1970-1994 Billings • Sarah Moore, 1968-2002 Billings • Alex Chessen, 1990-2013 Billings

Row 2: Kevin Daniel Zahn, 1990-2009 (Jill Wilson son) Billings • Andrew Charles Hay, 1982-2008

Row 3: Jack Clason Sanford, 1985-2001 (Mare Sanford son) Polson • Tyler Jay Hockett, 1985-2001 (Brother of Daniel) • John Paul Greni, 1977-2002 Billings

Row 4: Daniel Jeffrey Hockett (Brother of Tyler) • William Richard Brown, 1971-1990

Row 5: Trevor Mead, 1979-2011 • Unnamed blond man holding salmon, he looks about 40 • Daniel Dean Habel, 1975-2002

We are actively seeking additional squares for Montana’s 3rd quilt.

Submit a Square in Honor of Your Loved One

You don’t need to have sewing or other special skill to make a quilt panel. Download our helpful instructions to develop your quilt square. (download link)

NEW: Get Assistance with Your Quilt Square

Montana Chapter has a volunteer who is willing to assist those who need some help with honoring their lost loved ones with a quilt square. In order to have your quilt square made, we have developed an online request form.

This form will provide our volunteer with the information necessary to develop a square with your loved one in mind. Upload a photo or photos, tell us about them, and a square will be made for you. If any further information is needed, we will contact you.

Send In Your Quilt Square

Please Send Your Quilt Square with the Following Information

• Your Name
• Your Address
• Your Phone Number
• Your Email Address
• Your Loved One's Name
• Your Loved One's Date of Birth
• Your Loved One's Date of Death
• Where In Montana Did Your Loved One Reside
• Any other information you feel we should have

Mail To:

AFSP Montana Chapter - Attn: Memory Quilt
1001 E Gallatin Ave
Belgrade, MT 59714