Resources for Handling Grief

Home
Emotional Support and Daily Life
Grief and Bereavement
Resources for Handling Grief Current Page

Closeup of two unrecognizable people holding hands in comfort — Connecting with others who understand can bring comfort after the death of a child.

It can help to connect with and learn from other people who have gone through a similar experience, after the death of a child.

Resources that can be helpful include:

Organizations and websites
Grief camps
Support groups
Books

Organizations and websites

Organizations and websites that can help include:

Support groups

You can often find support groups for parents or siblings at hospitals, churches, or community centers. Hospices may also be a good resource. To find a group near you, search online for “grief support groups in [your town].”

Many of the organizations listed above also offer support groups, both in person and online.

Grief camps

Families can get support at grief camps. These camps give participants a chance to share their feelings and connect with others who are grieving the death of someone important to them.

Examples include:

Books on grief

Many books can help people understand grief and feel less alone.

Books for adults
- Understanding Your Grief: Ten Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart by Alan Wolfelt (Companion Press, 2004): Explains why grief feels different for each person. It talks about common thoughts and feelings and offers ideas to help you heal. It also covers questions about faith, spirituality, and self-help.
- There is No Good Card for This by Kelsey Crowe (HarperOne, 2017): Uses gentle humor and practical advice to help readers support someone going through a hard time.
- It's OK that You're Not OK by Megan Devine (Sounds True, 2017): Offers practical tips for managing stress, sleeping better, and reducing anxiety.
- The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of How We Learn from Love and Loss by Mary-Frances O’Connor (Harper One, 2022): Discusses what happens in the brain when you grieve.
- Gone But Not Lost: Grieving the Death of a Child by David W. Wiersbe (Baker Books, 2011): Has short chapters that cover different parts of grief. It helps parents deal with anger, guilt, and the strain grief can put on a marriage.
Books for men grieving a child’s death
- Lament for a Son by Nicolas Wolterstorff (Eermans Publishing Company, 1987): Tells a father’s story of grief after his grown son died in an accident. It shows 1 man’s struggle and helps others find words for their own pain.
- Swallowed by a Snake: The Gift of the Masculine Side of Healing by Thomas R. Golden (Golden Healing Publishing, 2010): Explains how men and women often grieve in different ways and how a child’s death can affect the whole family.
Books for grandparents
- Grandparents Cry Twice: Help for Bereaved Grandparents by Mary Lou Reed (Baywood Publishing Company, 2000): This book talks about the double grief grandparents feel when a grandchild dies. It helps grandparents cope with their own pain and the sadness they see in their child.
- For Bereaved Grandparents by Margaret H. Gerner (Centering Corporation, 1990): Shows how grandparents can support their children while also allowing themselves to grieve.
Books for children’s grief
- When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Brown (Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 1998): Explains death and what happens after someone dies.
- Water Bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children by Doris Stickney (Pilgrim Press, 2010): Uses the story of a water bug turning into a dragonfly to explain death in a gentle way.
Books for grieving teens
- The Healing Your Grieving Heart Journal for Teens by Alan D. Wolfelt (Companion Press, 2002): Gives teens a safe place to write about their feelings.
- Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love by Earl Grollman (Beacon Press, 1993): Answers questions teens often ask when someone dies. It talks about different kinds of death, including accidents, illness, and suicide.
- I Will Remember You: What to Do When Someone You Love Dies: A Guidebook for Teens by Laura Dower (Scholastic Paperbacks, 2007): Includes real stories from teens, advice from a grief counselor, and creative exercises to help teens cope with pain and sadness.
- Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins by Enid Samuel Traisman (Center Corp., 1992): Offers a guided grief journal for teens and young adults.