The VITAS Grief Helpline also is available to members of the health care community who need emotional support related to grief, death and loss as a result of their experiences on the COVID-19 front lines.

Front-line health care workers should identify themselves when they call to be connected with specialized support services.

“As health care workers who specialize in support for the dying, we have unique insight into what family members and health care professionals are experiencing,” said Joseph Shega, MD, senior vice president and chief medical officer for VITAS Healthcare.

VITAS’ nearly 50 counselors are highly trained grief specialists and their expertise is now available to anyone in need, including a dedicated virtual support group for front-line health care workers.

Other virtual support groups over the phone and via teleconference platforms are available year-round for general grief, spouses, veterans, LGBT+, young adults, children, Spanish-speaking audiences, and others on the website under we saw health care workers taking their own lives as a result of the extraordinary tragedies they have witnessed, we knew that it was critical to open our arms to those who were pressed into active service during the pandemic,” Shega said.