Heartbeat GJ

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No matter where you are in your grief journey, you are among those who listen with compassion and understanding.

Heartbeat functions because of private donations. We are all volunteer peer support suicide loss survivors.

Regular Heartbeat Meetings:  Every 3rd Tuesday of each month, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Held at First Congregational Church, 1425 N. 5th St. in Grand Junction, (across from Grand Junction High School) Use the entrance on the back of the building off the south parking lot of the church.

 Informal Coffee meetings: Every 2nd Saturday of each month, 1:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Come and be with other loss survivors in this informal coffee gathering at 4 Winds Coffee (corner of Bookcliff Ave. and 12th St. in Grand Junction) You're not required to stay the whole time, come for whatever length of time during this time frame. A chance to socialize without having to 'put on a happy face'.

January 2026 Meeting topic - "Rebuilding The Future"  After the devastating loss, we slowly learn to rebuild our lives. But the future looks different now. What was our vision of the future when our loved one was alive? What will it be now? How do we rebuild our future? Come and explore the answers to these questions. Cherlyn Crawford will bring her son Billy's LEGOs for us to play with during our discussion. It is important that we remember to play once in a while. Playing can help us rebuild that unknown future.

February 2026 Meeting topic - "Heart Hugs"  Love is a basic important quality for humans! Valentine's Day can be especially difficult. We experience a variety of different emotions. How we deal with these emotions is important in rebuilding our lives. Based on an activity suggestion in Terry Chase's book Spoke By Spoke Guidebook, our activity will involve exploring the expression of our emotions and communicating to others what emotional state we are experiencing. Terry Chase's story of incredible resilience after an accident left her paralyzed and she endured many surgeries rehabilitation, pain, emotions, and even being suicidal at one point, is a phenomenal account of overcoming the seemingly impossible. Likewise, it may seem impossible to survive the loss of someone we love to suicide.

Our meetings offer an opportunity to share and learn ways of coping with grief and stress through discussion and activities. We do not require anyone to have to talk.  Just listening can be enlightening. We are always open to suggestions for topics or activities. We do not walk alone.

If you have suggestions on topics or submissions for our newsletter, please contact us at gjheartbeat@gmail.com.

Would you like to get involved in Heartbeat volunteering or be on our Steering Committee? Let us know at gjheartbeat@gmail.com

Save the Dates:  May 29, 30, and 31st, for the Grand Valley Yoga Festival. For more information go to www.grandvalleyyogafest.com. This is a 3-day festival with national and internationally known instructors, musicians, performers, and vendors. Early bird prices end in March. You won't want to miss this community- buidling, learning, and fun experience!  All proceeds go to LOCAL suicide prevention, postvention, and mental health programs in the Grand Valley.

If you or someone you know is in need of support,and you’d like to talk to a peer, warmline.org contains links to warmlines in every state. For peer support in Colorado call 1-844-493-(TALK) and press *, or text “TALK” to 38255. The national suicide hotline number is 1-800-273-TALK, with a chat option, or text ‘HOME’ TO 741741. National Hotline 988. You do not have to be in crisis or suicidal to use the 988 hotline. Just need someone to talk to? Dial 988.

NOTE: Many crisis related resources could utilize restrictive interventions, like active rescues (wellness or welfare checks) involving law enforcement or emergency services. A warmline is least likely to do this, but may still have such policies. You can ask if this is a possibility at any point in your conversation if this is a concern for you. 

LOCAL IN-PERSON SUPPORT FOR LOSS SURVIVORS

GriefShare - GriefShare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Christian centered program. griefshare.org

HopeWest Kids - Grades K-12: Grief support, classes, and camps for children and teens. hopewestco.org/hopewest-kids

The Compassionate Friends - Mesa - Child, grandchild, and sibling loss support group. The Compassionate Friends are welcoming to suicide loss survivors. Through The Compassionate Friend’s website, there are more print, virtual, and social media support options.compassionatefriends.org

The Heartlight Center - Call 720-748-9908, for more information on new groups or opportunities on grief support. This group is now based in Denver. They offer on-line support groups and information on other grief support.

FORUMS, PHONE, PRINT, & VIRTUAL

Alliance of Hope for Suicide Survivors - Offering loss survivor resources and an 24/7 online discussion forum where you can connect with others who’ve lost a loved one to suicide. Allianceofhope.org

Colorado Grief Care - Downloadable pamphlets for people bereaved by suicide in Mesa County. coloradogriefcare.org

Friends for Survival - Monthly newsletter, virtual suicide loss support group meetings, and printed resources. Friendsforsurvival.org

Grief Recovery After a Substance Passing - for those who have lost someone to substance use or addiction. Print, virtual, and social media support resources. Grasphelp.org

iCare Packages - iCare packages contain resources to help support an individual or family with the loss of a loved one to suicide. Suicidepreventioncolorado.org/icare-packages

The Dougy Center - Online print and virtual resources for children, teens, young adults and their families grieving a death can share their experiences. Dougy.org

Veterans Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) - Offering compassionate support to those who lost a loved one while serving in the Armed Forces. Mesa County does not have an active TAPS chapter, though the Grand Junction VA Medical Center does have several peer and clinical providers trained in suicide loss support. Taps.org

ManTherapy - Designed for helping men with grief, loss, stress, feelings, and general issues, in a way that appeals to men. Hosted by Richard Mahogany, Mantherapy.org.

If you are struggling to find resources for any needs go to https://www.mesacounty.us>Grandvalleyconnects.com. Don't let a lack of resources to help you in life's situations become a crisis. There are solutions! They will help you find and connect to resources that can help.