Open Accessibility Menu
Hide

Grief resources and support groups

If you are interested in online grief centers and support groups, please click on the links below:

  • The Dougy Center: A national center for grieving children and families. While their focus is on grieving children and adolescents, they recognize that grieving children are a focus of the whole family.
  • Modern Loss: Online support for those who have experienced all types of loss. You can search by topic to connect with others who have experienced a similar loss to find advice, share stories, and gain strength.
  • March of Dimes “Share Your Story”: An online supportive space for those who have experienced neonatal or perinatal loss. You can share your story, connect with others, and gain support from families with similar experiences – such as infertility, complicated pregnancy, and even the heartbreak of pregnancy or infant loss.
  • Compassionate Friends: A website specifically for those who have experienced child loss. Find support through online chat, join private Facebook groups, or search for a local chapter for in-person support groups. Helpful resources and information on grieving the loss of a child can also be found here.
  • What’s Your Grief: A blogsite about grief run by two mental health professionals. Find articles pertaining to all aspects of grief.
  • Grief Share: A simple platform to help search for grief support groups in your local area. They also offer daily emails to help subscribers work through their grief.
  • Saul’s Light: A support program based out of New Orleans, LA for families who have experienced infant loss. They can offer resource support and community/peer support to any family who has experienced infant loss in the state of Louisiana.

Recommended Books:

Books for Adults
It’s Ok that You’re not OK: Meeting Grief and Loss in a Culture that Doesn’t Understand byMegan Devine
Beyond Tears: Living after Losing a Child byEllen Mitchell
Shattered: Surviving the Loss of a Child byGary Roe

Books for Teens
Straight Talk about Death for Teenagers: How to Cope with Losing Someone You Love byEarl Grollman
I Will Remember You: What to Do When Someone You Love Dies: A Guidebook for Teens byLaura Dower

Books for Children
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death byLaurie Brown
WaterBugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Young Children by Doris Stickney
The Invisible String by Patrice Karst
Sad Isn’t Bad: A Good Grief Guidebook for Kids Dealing with Loss by Melanie Mundy

Books for Grandparents
Grandparents Cry Twice: Help for Bereaved Grandparents by Mary Lou Reed
For Bereaved Grandparents by Margret H Gerner

Recommended Podcasts:
Grief Out Loud
What’s Your Grief
Where’s The Grief
Terrible, Thanks for Asking

Recommended Videos:
The Grieving Process: Coping With Death: a 4 minute video discussing grief, appropriate for adults and teenagers.
Grief and Loss Video: The Wiggle Tales: a 5 minute video appropriate for young children.

Information on supporting your child through grief:

In addition to Children’s Hospital's TAG Center, there are programs across the state to support children through their experiences with grief and loss. Please see the map above for programs specific to your region.

There are also several different grief camps offered throughout the year. Some of these are day camps, while others are overnight. All camps offer programs to support children in a fun, interactive, and age-appropriate manner while helping them learn to cope with their grief.

Helpful tips on how to talk to children after the loss of a sibling have been provided by the Dougy Center: the National Center for Grieving Children and Families

  • Open Communication: Be honest. Be ready to repeat information. Listen without judgement. Acknowledge differences.
  • Honor Uniqueness: Celebrate their individuality. Recognize uniqueness in connections to the deceased child. Meet children and teens with acceptance. Remember that children are still children.
  • Give Options: Offer choices on how to grieve. Provide outlets for expression.
  • Take Care of Yourself: You cannot take care of your children if you aren’t taking care of yourself. Find your own grief support!

    More Dougy Center Resources

If you are feeling overwhelmed by your grief and worry that you may do something to harm yourself or others, please call 988 immediately to get help.