🕯️ Grief support: forms and contact points

Grief support is a voluntary, low-threshold service – not a substitute for psychotherapy, but often the right first step.

Grief support Grief group Prolonged grief disorder ICD-11 Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung

In brief

Grief support is a voluntary support service – provided by volunteer or professional, often certified grief counsellors, in one-to-one conversations, groups, grief cafés or online. It does not replace psychotherapy, but in most cases of bereavement it can be a good first point of contact.

Grief itself is not an illness and needs no fixed timetable. If symptoms last exceptionally long and are severely debilitating, however, the World Health Organization has recognised a separate diagnosis since ICD-11: "prolonged grief disorder". It can be diagnosed six months after the loss at the earliest, when the grief reaction clearly exceeds the level usual under social, cultural or religious norms and severely impairs everyday life.

Step by step

Be clear: grief support is voluntaryMost services from welfare associations and hospice associations are free of charge or run on donations.
Choose a suitable formatOne-to-one support, group service, grief café or online forum – depending on what suits your own situation.
Look for local servicesSearch for services nearby via the Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V. or local hospice associations and welfare associations (Diakonie, Caritas, DRK, AWO).
Take signs of prolonged grief disorder seriouslyIf there is severe impairment lasting more than six months, seek medical or psychotherapeutic advice.
Clarify the cost question in advanceGrief support itself is generally not covered by health insurance; psychotherapy for a diagnosed disorder, however, is.

Deadlines

no statutory deadline

There is no application deadline or other statutory deadline for grief support itself

from 6 months

Earliest point from which the clinical diagnosis "prolonged grief disorder" can be made under ICD-11 (for comparison: the US DSM-5-TR sets 12 months)WHO, ICD-11

Watch out – common mistakes

Grief support is generally not covered by health insurance – unlike psychotherapy, it is usually not paid for by the health insurance fund.
"Grief counsellor" is not a protected professional title – certification, for example by the Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V., is one way of judging quality, but not a legal requirement.
Not every strong grief is a "disorder" – grief without a fixed timetable is normal; professional help is mainly worthwhile when symptoms persist and severely restrict life.
Services differ greatly depending on where you live (rural/urban) – if in doubt, ask your health insurance fund, GP practice or an advice centre for recommendations.

In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals

Prolonged grief disorder (ICD-11)

With ICD-11, the World Health Organization for the first time included a separate diagnosis for a grief reaction that persists and impairs beyond the usual extent. Core criteria are a persistent, intense longing for the deceased person or a persistent preoccupation with them, combined with further distressing symptoms over at least six months, which clearly go beyond culturally expected grief reactions and substantially impair everyday life.

Providers of grief support

In Germany, grief support is offered predominantly by independent providers: hospice associations, the welfare associations (Diakonie, Caritas, German Red Cross, Arbeiterwohlfahrt and others) and specialised associations. The Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V. develops quality standards for the training and further education of grief counsellors and offers a search for local services.

Who is responsible

Welfare associations and hospice associations (voluntary grief support)
Psychotherapists in private practice if prolonged grief disorder is suspected

Quick questions

Worum geht es bei „Grief support: forms and contact points“?

Grief support is a voluntary, low-threshold service – not a substitute for psychotherapy, but often the right first step.

Which deadlines and figures matter?

no statutory deadline: There is no application deadline or other statutory deadline for grief support itself
from 6 months: Earliest point from which the clinical diagnosis "prolonged grief disorder" can be made under ICD-11 (for comparison: the US DSM-5-TR sets 12 months) (WHO, ICD-11)

What should I do first?

Be clear: grief support is voluntary: Most services from welfare associations and hospice associations are free of charge or run on donations.
Choose a suitable format: One-to-one support, group service, grief café or online forum – depending on what suits your own situation.
Look for local services: Search for services nearby via the Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V. or local hospice associations and welfare associations (Diakonie, Caritas, DRK, AWO).

What do I need to watch out for?

Grief support is generally not covered by health insurance – unlike psychotherapy, it is usually not paid for by the health insurance fund.
"Grief counsellor" is not a protected professional title – certification, for example by the Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V., is one way of judging quality, but not a legal requirement.
Not every strong grief is a "disorder" – grief without a fixed timetable is normal; professional help is mainly worthwhile when symptoms persist and severely restrict life.

Evidence

Bundesverband Trauerbegleitung e.V. (bundesverband-trauerbegleitung.de)
WHO, ICD-11, Prolonged Grief Disorder

As of

As of September 2026. · Sources and method

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