National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp
October 8 - 11, 2021
Important Update: The health and safety of the whole TAPS family are important to us. TAPS has diligently worked throughout the COVID-19 pandemic to continue providing opportunities to come together and build the healing connections that we have all grown to depend on. Before hosting in-person TAPS Events, we evaluate our ability to provide the very best care for those who may become sick while attending and may need to quarantine for an extended time away from their loved ones.
With this in mind, we have made the difficult decision that all attendees will be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 in order to attend the National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp. This applies to staff, survivors, and volunteers. Because children under 12 are not able to be vaccinated, the event will only be for those 12 and over who have obtained the vaccination. Given the size of the event and with infections rates of children reportedly higher now than at any previous time during the pandemic, we would not be lovingly caring for our precious TAPS children if we put them at unnecessary risk when there is something we can do to minimize that risk.
Please know that our hearts are with you and we long for a day when we can all be together, vaccinated or not, to continue supporting one another and sharing this journey.
For Adults: TAPS Seminars
TAPS has supported thousands of survivors of military suicide loss by offering them hope, healing, and renewed opportunities for personal growth. If you’ve lost a military loved one to suicide, you've come to the right place. We've got you. At TAPS we understand that suicide grief is different. We know that you are struggling with a range of powerful emotions and wrestling with very complicated questions.
Fortunately, you are not alone on this journey. At the National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar, you’ll be able to look around and feel the hope and healing. You'll have the opportunity to participate in activities, workshops and small-group sharing sessions, where we’ll connect you with leaders in the fields of suicide grief, trauma and healing. You’ll meet other people walking the same road as you and your family: suicide loss survivors from across the country who have come to share their stories, struggles, moments of reflection, bursts of hope, and loving support.
Together we will work toward gaining an understanding of the complex grief journey we experience after losing a loved one to suicide, develop helpful coping skills and learn to put some pieces of the puzzle together. In this compassionate environment, you’ll find information, empathy and brave companions - a family of survivors with whom to share the journey.
For Young Adults: Pillars of Growth
The TAPS Young Adults Program is for 18 to 30 year old surviving children and siblings and helps our graduating Good Grief Camp children transition into a program all their own.
Transitioning into adulthood is difficult enough, but when you add grief to the scenario, it becomes more challenging. This program takes that into consideration when addressing five pillars of growth: Personal Development, Financial Stability, Communications, Career Development, and Service to Others. With practical life skills explored, the Young Adult Program strives to help each individual create a well-rounded life full of hope, healing, and growth.
Whether you are a graduate of our Good Grief Camp or new to our TAPS events, please know you have found your tribe to grow and heal. If you have any questions, please email youngadults@taps.org.
For Youth: TAPS Good Grief Camp
The TAPS Good Grief Camp at this seminar is a program for children who are grieving the suicide death of a loved one who served in the Armed Forces.
For children attending Good Grief Camp at the TAPS 13th annual National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar, it is strongly advised that the child be aware, or on their way to knowing and understanding (dependent on their age and developmental level) of the cause of death as being by suicide. This seminar is specific to suicide loss where there will be signs, printed materials, and/or scenarios where children may hear conversations where the word suicide is spoken, so adults must be prepared to have the conversation should a child be curious or ask questions.
If you would like help talking to your child about this prior to attending the event, TAPS is here to help. You can request support for this by emailing us at youthprograms@taps.org.
You can also learn more with our TAPS resources on this topic here:
- How to Talk to Children About Suicide
- Talking to Children About Suicide
- Five Reasons to Bring Your Kids to the National Military Survivor Suicide Seminar
- Video: Five Things Kids Bereaved by Suicide Want Adults to Know
CHILD CARE
Children under the age of four-years old will be cared for and loved throughout the seminar by trained professional, licensed and insured caregivers. A designated suite will be assigned and set up with age-appropriate toys, games and arts and crafts. Infants, toddlers and preschoolers will have lunch on Saturday inside their room, along with healthy snacks all weekend, and will be fed dinner Saturday night as well. Individual schedules will be honored for each child, including nursing infants.
If you need further information, please email childcare@taps.org.
Volunteer as a Legacy or Military Mentor
TAPS invites those active duty military, veterans, and military survivors who have graduated from Good Grief Camp (Legacy mentors) to register as a volunteer mentor for the TAPS National Military Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.
As a Legacy or Military Mentor, you will support a child throughout the weekend as he or she shares and connects with other surviving kids and learns how to honor their loved one. You will receive training from our Youth Program staff and come alongside a child to do a variety of activities geared toward promoting healing. Whether doing art projects, playing games, throwing or kicking a ball, doing memorial activities, or being silly, you will have fun with a purpose with a child who needs you. Along the way, you will create lasting memories and feel pride in yourself for the amazing impact you will have on a military child and their family.
To register as a Legacy or Military Mentor, create a mentor account and complete a background check form. Once your background check is approved, you can log into your account to register to volunteer at the National Military Suicide Survivor Seminar and Good Grief Camp.
Become a TAPS Peer Mentor
During the seminar, TAPS will be conducting a 4.5 hour Peer Mentor training session for adult military suicide survivors who are at least 18 months beyond their own loss and are ready to be there for other adult suicide survivors to offer support. As a Peer Mentor, you will have a wide variety of opportunities to choose from to support your peers through activities such as seminars, retreats, TAPS Togethers, hosting a Care Group, supporting the Online Community, and providing one-to-one mentoring. You will learn more about grief and trauma, learn to identify risks and warning signs for suicide, gain basic helping skills, and become part of our nationwide TAPS Peer Mentor Team.
If you're interested in attending the in-person Peer Mentor training at the seminar on Friday, October 8 in the morning, you can sign-up as part of the seminar registration.
There are also many opportunities to attend a training virtually from home. See our peer mentor virtual training calendar for dates and times.
For more information, email peermentors@taps.org.
VOLUNTEER
To support this event as a volunteer or discover other ways to help, please visit the Volunteer with TAPS page.