There are a number of ways to join the SBD Family. Through sharing your story, starting a Love Cupboard, becoming a Mentor or a Mentee, or any of many more ways to get involved. Here, you can read about our mentoring program.
Stillbirthday’s mentorship program is for moms and dads who have experienced grief to have an opportunity to share with other moms and dads who are new to this journey.
If you have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss (recently or any time in the past) and would like to be paired with another parent who can help you identify tangible barriors in your process of healing, identify support systems and techniques for you to lean on, and help you identify your own inner strength as you find your way through healing, this program is right for you.
“As a professional in the mental health field who has worked in organizations that use peer counseling and mentorship as part of grief & loss, chemical dependency and abuse, and gender and sexual orientation programs, I can attest to the effectiveness of their vital and important role. Many of my clients found it to be very helpful as an adjunct to therapy/counseling in their process, and some of them became mentors as a result. Mentorship affords another level of healing and growth to the mentor as well by offering comfort to others in a way which someone who hasn’t “been there” can’t. Being a mentor in a peer counseling relationship is unlike being a therapist. The power differential seen in the therapist/client relationship isn’t there. The mentor is not present to offer advice or to give treatment plans or influence the mentee in any way. The role is all about offering comfort and just “being there”. I think it is so wonderful (and such an essential part of the process) that stillbirthday offers this relationship. Thank you, stillbirthday and Heidi Faith!” – Miriam Wilson, MSW
Prior to participating in our mentoring program, you will need to read the complete information regarding our mentorship program.
You’ll view through our list of mentors, and determine whom you believe is the best match for your needs.
He or she will respond to your email to begin the mentoring relationship. You will be able to exchange emails once a week for a period of three months; during this time, the mentor will work on activities and dialogue and help remind you that you are not alone.
Communication is to be by email, once weekly.
After the three month time, the mentorship relationship will end, and you should have some great tools to help you begin this journey from grief to healing.
If you have difficulty in reaching a mentor through our list of mentors, please submit an email to mentoring@stillbirthday.info. Please include:
- Your name
- Your email address
- If you are a stillbirthday mother or father (you will need to include if your gender role is other than your anatomical gender)
- What kind of support you are looking for:
- Miscarriage
- Elective Abortion Vulnerable
- Stillbirth
- Difficult/Fatal Diagnosis
- Neonatal Death
- Grief in General
- Specific Perspective (Christian, single parenting, teen, etc.)
Want to be a Mentor?
If you are interested in becoming a mentor, please list your information and the site creator will contact you as soon as possible. You will also need to read through the complete mentorship program information prior to joining our mentoring team.
Mentee Feedback
How is your mentoring relationship going? Please feel free to leave a reply below, letting us know how you feel the program impacted you in your grief journey. Additionally, you can fill out our “Rate Your Mentor” form.
