Luto – An Innovative New Grief Support App

The loss of a loved one is one of the most difficult experiences a person can go through. Grief is a natural response to loss, but it can also be incredibly challenging to navigate. That’s where Luto  an innovative new app, comes in.

What is Luto?

Luto is a mobile app that provides grief support and connections for people who are mourning the loss of a loved one. The app was created by two women, Nancy Xu and Lauren Schneider, who both experienced their own grieving journeys and realized there was a need for more accessible resources.

Some key features of Luto include:

Supportive Community

The app connects you to a community of others going through grief so you don’t have to feel alone. You can share your story and emotions, and offer support to others.

Coping Tools

Luto provides healthy coping methods and strategies from mental health experts to help you process grief in a positive way. This includes journaling, mindfulness exercises, and more.

Memorialization

You can create a digital memorial space to honor your loved one. This can include photos, videos, memories, and messages from friends and family members.

Resources

The app offers vetted resources, articles, podcasts, and videos to help you understand grief and the mourning process. This educational content comes from grief counselors and therapists.

Why Was Luto Created?

Luto aims to reimagine and modernize grief support. The founders recognized that most existing options like support groups or therapy can be inaccessible due to stigma, lack of availability, and high costs. They wanted to create a flexible, accessible tool that provides personalized support.

Some key motivations behind creating Luto included:

• Removing stigma: Grief is not openly talked about enough in society. Luto offers a judgement-free space where you can be open.
• Accessibility: With Luto, support is available 24/7 in your pocket, overcoming barriers like transportation, work schedules, and mobility challenges.
• Diversity: Luto aims to help all types of grievers regardless of their loss, background, identity, or circumstances.
• Community: People going through similar losses can connect and support each other through the unique bonds of shared experience.
• Affordability: Luto is free to download and use, increasing access to support. Optional premium features are available.
• Scalability: The app makes it possible to reach and help millions of grievers worldwide.

How Does Luto Work?

Luto has an intuitive mobile app interface that’s simple to use even when you’re struggling with emotions and exhaustion in early grief. Here are the key features:

Self-Guided Learning

Work through various learning paths and reflective exercises based on your grief stage and style:

• Read articles and listen to audio clips from experts at your own pace. This covers topics like managing shock, healthy coping, understanding grief, and more.
• Use journaling prompts, breathing exercises, gratitude practice, and other activities to process emotions and thoughts.
• Learn about different grief rituals and memorialization ideas.
• Take self-assessments to better understand your grief.

Support Network

Connect with others experiencing similar losses and life stages:

• Join themed online groups moderated by professionals.
• Participate in group chats and forums.
• Send direct 1:1 messages to give and receive peer support.
• Attend live virtual events to hear from experts and connect with others.

Memorialization

Create a living, interactive online memorial to honor your loved one:

• Upload photos, videos, stories, and memories to the memorial page.
• Invite family and friends to contribute their memories and condolences.
• Customize with themes, colors, symbols, timeline, and more.
• Add functions like commenting, lighting candles, sending flowers.
• Receive notifications and memories on significant dates.

Resources

Explore vetted resources hand-picked by grief counselors:

• Read articles on understanding different types of loss, managing grief responses, healthy coping, and more.
• Listen to podcast episodes from grief experts.
• Watch videos that provide guidance and validation.
• Get referrals to grief counselors, therapists, support groups, and other services.
• Browse book, movie, and music recommendations for different grief needs.

Benefits of Using Luto

There are many potential benefits of using the Luto app for grief support:

• Validates your grief experiences: Reminds you that your grief is normal and that you don’t have to cope alone.
• Reduces isolation: Connects you with others going through similar losses so you feel less lonely.
• Provides education: Teaches you about grief, its impacts, and healthy ways to cope through expert content.
• Encourages expression: Gives you creative outlets like journaling, art, and memorials to process your emotions.
• Supports reflection: Offers thought-provoking prompts and exercises to help gain insights.
• Promotes self-care: Suggests positive coping methods like deep breathing, meditation, and gratitude.
• Creates continuity: Lets you memorialize and honor deceased loved ones and share memories.
• Improves access: Makes high-quality grief support available 24/7 through your smartphone.
• Fosters community: Lets you support others going through similar experiences, which can aid healing.
• Provides affordability: Makes grief resources more accessible through free and low-cost options on the app.
• Allows flexibility: Offers varied features so you can engage in ways aligned with your needs and comfort levels.

While everyone’s grief journey is unique, Luto aims to provide personalized support that meets you wherever you are. If in-person grief support is not available or accessible to you, Luto can fill those gaps through technology.

Tips for Using Luto Effectively

Here are some tips to get the most out of using the Luto app for your grief support:

• Complete the onboarding assessment so Luto can suggest personalized content for you. Be honest about where you’re at.
• Make use of varied features like articles, groups, memorials, and self-care exercises instead of just one or two.
• Go at your own pace – there’s no rush to progress through content or “get over” grief on a timeline.
• Share as much or as little as you feel comfortable with in group discussions. You don’t have to open up until you’re ready.
• Reach out for 1:1 support from peers going through similar losses if the group discussions feel overwhelming.
• Use journaling, breathing exercises, and meditation frequently as positive coping outlets for emotions.
• Customize and add to memorials over time as a way to actively process grief and honor loved ones.
• Reach out to in-app counselors or your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your mental health and grief.
• Rate and review features honestly so Luto can improve and expand its offerings to support you better.
• Trust that there is no “right” way to grieve – be kind to yourself throughout your journey.

Don’t be afraid to ask Luto moderators for help optimizing your experience if you ever feel stuck or overwhelmed. Support is there whenever you need it.

Conclusion

Losing a loved one can be incredibly painful, but you don’t have to navigate the grief process alone. Luto offers an innovative approach to grief support through its accessible, customizable mobile app. Whether you need education, connection, self-care, or memorialization, Luto provides tools to help you cope at your own pace. While it cannot replace specialized mental healthcare, it can make grief resources more available through technology. If you or someone you know is grieving, downloading Luto can provide much-needed validation, community, and healing.

Frequently Asked Questions About Luto

What types of loss can Luto help with?

Luto is designed to support grief from any type of loss, whether it’s the death of a family member, a friend, a spouse or partner, a child, a pet, or another loved one. It can also help with grief from losses like divorce, broken engagements, job loss, infertility, and more.

Is Luto only for recent losses or can it help later in grief too?

Luto can provide support through all stages of grief from early bereavement and shock to many years later. There are ongoing groups, articles, and memorial features that continue providing help whenever it’s needed along your journey.

Do I need to pay to access features on Luto?

The core Luto app is free to download and many features like articles, assessments, learning paths, and online groups don’t require payment. Some additional features like 1:1 counseling, creating memorial websites, and downloading content do require affordable subscription plans.

How is Luto different from in-person grief counseling or support groups?

Luto provides an additional way to access grief support that therapists and support groups may not offer, like having resources in your pocket 24/7. However, it doesn’t aim to fully replace these options. Luto can complement and expand traditional grief help through technology.

Is my grief data private and secure on Luto?

Yes, Luto prioritizes keeping your data private and secure. They use encryption and other safety measures to protect any sensitive information you provide. You have control over what you share publicly vs. privately on the app.

Can I use Luto while I’m also in therapy or another grief program?

Absolutely. Luto is designed to be a complementary resource to any other mental healthcare you may be receiving. It does not provide therapy or counseling itself but can reinforce those services’ benefits through added support.

Who created Luto and what are their credentials?

Luto was created by Nancy Xu and Lauren Schneider. Nancy has a PhD in clinical psychology and has conducted extensive research on grief. Lauren has worked for years as a certified grief counselor for hospice organizations. Their personal experiences with loss also inform Luto’s supportive mission.