Grief & Loss
“Grief is the psychological-emotional experience following a loss of any kind (relationship, status, job, house, game, income, etc).”
—Psychology Today
Actions for Now
Steps To Reduce Symptoms
- Grief Deck
Interactive digital deck of cards with tools for grief, accompanied by comforting artwork. - Tips for Coping with the Stages of Grief
An article that discusses the different emotions people tend to feel while grieving, with case studies - Activities
Drawing and writing exercises for children experiencing grief - Coping with Grief
A brief (under 5 minutes) audio meditation - StruggleCare
A community for the days when everyday activities are overwhelming. - 5 Tips for Dealing with Grief Over Christmas
Handling a tough transition during holiday season. Targeted towards adults (for children, see resource #10). - Emotion Explorer
Get to the bottom of how you’re feeling, how it’s affecting you, and what you can do to soothe yourself with this interactive website - Grief Support Network
Join a social network for those grieving a loss - A Meditation on Grief
A more lengthy audio meditation taken from The Art of Forgiveness, Lovingkindness, and Peace - NPR: Grief-Related Podcasts
Listen to the latest news and stories on grief and loss - Healing After Loss
A non-audio meditation for remembering a loved one - Cause of Death-Specific Resources Organized by the Wendt Center
Find resources created specifically for those coping with losses due to cancer, suicide, military service, and more. - Demystifying Grief Counseling: Five FAQs
An article that answers questions many people have when they start therapy for grief. - Resources for suicide loss survivors
Collected books recommendations, fact sheets, and personal stories for those who’ve lost loved ones to suicide.
Loss of Child / Pregnancy
- What To Do After A Child Has Died
Actions to take following a tragedy - Helping Parents Heal
Resources for bereaved families
Loss of a Parent
- 8 Tips for Coping with the Death of a Parent
Suggestions for those experiencing parental loss
Loss of a Spouse / Partner
- A To-Do List for the Surviving Spouse
What to (and not to) do while grieving the loss of a partner - Surviving Spouse Financial Checklist
Manage financial obligations with this PDF - Death of Spouse: OPM
How to change your annuity benefits after the death of a spouse, if you are retired under CSRS or FERS - How to Cope with Losing a Spouse: Advice From Those Who Have Been There
Recommended next steps from others who have lost a partner
For Allies
Give The Best Support Possible
- How to Help a Grieving Friend: 11 Things To Do When You’re Not Sure What To Do
How to support a friend while holding the knowledge that you can’t fix the unfixable - How to Talk to a Parent Who is In Grief
The author, who lost her own daughter, offers advice on supporting other parents who’ve lost a child - How to Help Your Spouse Grieve the Loss of a Parent
An article on providing support for your bereaved partner
You’re Not Alone
Connect With Others
- Online Grief Support
A forum for individuals to share their experiences of loss and their successful coping strategies. It covers everything from the death of a family member or friend to the death of a pet. - COVID Grief Network
Connect with other people who have lost loved ones to COVID and are struggling with the disease’s long term effects. - Check In With Me
Having a rough day and looking for support? This community from The Mighty has you covered. - Grief Support Network
A social network for those grieving a loss - Black Women Get Real About Grief
An article covering the unique experiences of Black Women grieving.
Stories
- Pet Loss: When Nothing Eases the Pain
Personal reflections on losing a pet, including thoughts about bringing a new pet into your home - Grieving the Loss of a Pet
A blog post from Viva that normalizes the grief that surrounds losing a pet and shares some useful steps that you can take. - Pet Loss
A website and community dedicated to honoring lost pets and being compassionate to those grieving.
Loss of a Child / Pregnancy
- Faces of Hope
An online support community for those coping with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant loss - Comparing Grief
In this post, a mother who lost her son discusses how difficult it can be to listen to others complain about everyday losses - Reflections from a Father About a Lost Son
A father shares how the loss of son has affected his life and how his religious beliefs have provided him with support
Loss of a Parent
- Losing a Parent in Your 20’s
1 year after the death of her father, this blogger reflects on her experience - Losing My Mother: I Was Supposed to Be Ready
One woman discusses the expectation that adults will be prepared for their parents’ deaths—and how this doesn’t always reflect reality - The Truth About Parenting When You’ve Lost a Parent of Your Own
This blogger reflects on how her father’s death altered her perspective as a parent
Loss of Spouse / Partner
- Sisterhood of Widows
An online community for widows - After Losing a Spouse, Finding a Different Kind of Happiness
This NPR podcast looks at the story of K.T. Nicolaides, whose husband passed away two days before their fifth wedding anniversary - Getting On With Life After a Partner Dies
This NYT article, by widower Jane Brody, reflects on the emotional experience of losing a spouse - Doing Well At Not Doing Well
A father reflects on how he and his son continue daily activities despite continuing to grieve the passing of his wife - Tell Two Jokes and Call Me In the Morning
A woman reflects on how humor helped her while she was grieving the loss of her husband - How to Cope with Losing a Spouse: Advice From Those Who Have Been There
Recommended next steps from others who have lost a partner - Soaring Spirits
An inclusive community for connecting with other widowed individuals
Master the Subject
Learn How It Works
- American Psychological Association: Grief
This webpage offers a thorough definition of what it means to grieve, and tips for moving forward from a loss - 16 Different Types of Grief
Grief looks different for everyone. There are also many different varieties, reasons, and events that can lead to grief. - Open to Hope
This website offers articles, videos, and podcasts on the loss of friends and/or family members - Grief Happens: A TEDx Talk
This Tedx Talk discusses gratitude as a foundation for healing - Mayo Clinic: Coping with Reminders After Loss
Advice on dealing with reminders of grief, even if significant time has passed since the initial loss - What are the Most Common Symptoms of Grief?
A brief video surveying frequent reactions to loss - Bereavement in Adult Life
This article examines adult responses to grief - Grieving in the Modern World
Elizabeth Tschoegl, LICSW, MSc discusses some of the modern-day challenges to coping with loss - When Sobriety Meets Grief (and Grief Meets Sobriety)
A discussion of how the two issues of substance use and grief often interact, and advice for how to cope with both
Loss of a Child / Pregnancy
- Helping Parents Heal
Resources for bereaved families - After a Miscarriage: Surviving Emotionally
This article reflects on how individuals can cope with and move forward from the loss of a child during pregnancy, birth, and/or infancy’
Loss of a Parent
- Death of Parents and Adult Psychological and Physical Wellbeing
A study that observes the effects of parental loss on adult health - When A Parent Dies
This article looks at the impact of parental death
Loss of Spouse / Partner
- When a Spouse Dies, Resilience Can Be Uneven
This New York Times article looks at the importance of resilience in moving forward from the death of a spouse or partner
Advocate
Connect to the Larger Movement
- Center for Prolonged Grief
An organization dedicated to improving the lives of complicated grief sufferers via innovative research and outreach - The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families
Designed as a safe place for people of all ages to share their stories and find grief resources
Loss of a Child / Pregnancy
- Compassionate Friends
Support for those grieving the death of a child
Loss of a Spouse / Partner
- Soaring Spirits
An inclusive community for connecting with other widowed individuals - National Widowers Association
Resources for grieving men - Sisterhood of Widows
An online community for widows