Support for life with loss

A directory of grief support programmes, with information to help families locate support for children and young people. Contact the individual programme to understand its approach and availability.

A peer community for people whose spouse or partner has died, including unmarried and LGBTQ+ partners. The newly widowed programme and online community can help you connect with people who understand.

Find local or online suicide bereavement groups. AFSP lists these as a public service; it does not run or endorse every group in the directory.

Resources and peer support after pregnancy loss, stillbirth or a baby’s death in the first months of life. Find programmes and local chapters suited to your circumstances.

A faith-based option for people who would welcome a Christian approach. Find locally hosted or online groups and ask the host about the format before joining.

It’s OK That You’re Not OK

Megan Devine

Practical guide and lived experience

A US therapist and bereaved partner writes about living with grief in a culture that often wants to fix it. Includes ideas for grieving people and for friends who want to offer meaningful support.

The Grieving Brain

Mary-Frances O’Connor

Science and psychology

A US psychologist and neuroscientist explains research on attachment, learning and bereavement. May suit readers who find it helpful to understand why absence can feel so hard to take in.

The Year of Magical Thinking

Joan Didion

Memoir

The American writer describes the year after her husband’s sudden death while her daughter was seriously ill. An intimate literary account for readers seeking recognition in another person’s experience.

An introduction to how grief can change over time, including why anniversaries and unexpected reminders can bring strong feelings back. There is no set sequence you have to complete.

Small, practical ideas for rest, daily life and asking for help. Choose something that feels possible today; you do not need to do everything at once.

Explains anticipatory grief and some feelings that can come with caring for someone who has a terminal illness. Includes a short video and suggestions for finding support.

Age-specific activities, information and support for families before and after a death. Includes material for parents and caregivers, and a Spanish-language resource collection.

Ideas for listening, offering practical help and sharing memories without trying to fix another person’s grief. For friends, family and colleagues who want to be there.

Ways to keep supporting someone after the first weeks, remember important dates and continue making room for the person who died in conversation.

Explores why people in the same family can grieve differently and why tensions may grow after a death. A starting point for understanding difficult feelings and seeking support.

Information for people grieving a pet or assistance animal, including grief before a death. The UK charity also describes its pet-loss support options; check access from your location.

Conversations about the many ways people experience grief. Browse episode descriptions and choose a topic that feels right; listening can be an alternative when reading feels hard.