Books to support grief

Some people prefer something very practical with tools to survive a loss. Reading about other people's experiences may also be helpful. These books have all been recommended by professionals who work closely with bereaved people.

Practical guides to grief

  • This Too Shall Pass and Every Family has a Story – by Julia Samuel
  • Griefworks - by Julia Samuel
  • The Grieving Brain: The Surprising Science of how we learn from love and loss – by Mary-Frances O’Connor
  • The Modern Loss Handbook - by Rebecca Soffer
  • The Grief Survival Guide – by Jeff Brazier
  • Manual for Heartache - by Cathy Rentzenbrink
  • Talking with Bereaved People: An Approach for Structured and Sensitive Communication – by Dodie Graves

Stories of grief

  • A Grief Observed - by C S Lewis 
  • The Madness of Grief - by Richard Coles
  • The Red of My Blood - by Clover Stroud
  • Redemption - by John Gardner
  • The State of Disbelief - by Juliet Rosenfeld
  • When Words are Not Enough - by Jane Harris & Jimmy Edmonds
  • You are not alone – by Cariad Lloyd
  • Notes on grief – by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
  • The Last Act of Love  - by Cathy Rentzenbrink

Share

Related Services

Amparo support following suicide
Close

This free Specialist Bereavement Service, delivered by Amparo for residents in mid and south Essex, provides emotional and practical support for anyone who has felt the impact of suicide at any time (recent or historical).

The  service is completely confidential and can provide short-term or longer-term support. It is also available to bereaved children (Aged between 4 and 11 with agreed appropriate adult)  and young adults (Age 11 upwards).

Experienced Liaison Workers, aim to make initial contact within 24 hours of a referral being received, offer residents:

  • Support in their homes or wherever is most comfortable to the resident.
  • One to one individual support
  • Help with any media enquiries
  • Practical support when liaising with the Police or Coroners including preparing for and attending inquest
  • Help overcoming feelings of isolation

Please complete the referral form: https://amparo.org.uk/refer/

At a Loss
Close

Bereavement support for all ages including children.

Bereavement Support available with a bereavement counsellor online: https://www.ataloss.org/live-chat

Bereavement Advice Centre
Close

Bereavement Advice Centre

T. 0800 634 9494

W. https://www.bereavementadvice.org/

Bereavement Advice Centre provides practical help when you need it most. They support and advise people on what they need to do after a death.

CRUSE Bereavement care
Close

CRUSE Bereavement care

T. 0808 808 1677

W. http://www.cruse.org.uk/

CRUSE Bereavement care helps children and adults through bereavement with support, information and campaigning.

Fair Havens Hospice Bereavement Support
Close

The Bereavement team supports family members, friends, children and carers through pre and post bereavement. The support is available to anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one who was cared for by the Hospice. 

Please watch this video for more information.

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service
Close

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service

T. 020 8951 3881

W. https://jbcs.org.uk/

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service has counsellors that understand the specific issues raised by bereavement within a Jewish context. This service is sensitive, aware and knowledgeable about social, cultural and religious needs.

Muslim Bereavement Support Service
Close

Muslim Bereavement Support Service

T. 020 3468 7333

The Muslim Bereavement Support Service supports Muslim women who are facing bereavement and/or are bereaved. They will speak with Muslim men and signpost them to appropriate bereavement support. 

Sue Ryder Grief Support
Close

Sue Ryder Grief Support

W. https://www.sueryder.org/

Online expert information provides ways to deal with the practical and emotional issues after someone has died.

The online Bereavement Community is a place to share experiences, get things off your chest and chat to people who understand.

Grief Guide is a safe space, free from other distractions where you can find self-help tools and information to help you cope with grief.

Talk to a qualified counsellor by video, up to 6 online sessions, at times that suit you speak from the comfort of your own home.

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Close

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide

W. https://uksobs.org/

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide are a national charity providing dedicated support to adults who have been bereaved by suicide. The volunteers come from all walks of life but nearly all have been touched by suicide themselves, this experience enables them to connect with others.

The Bereavement Journey
Close

The Bereavement Journey runs an online course three times per year for anyone in the UK who isn’t able to access an in-person course near to where they live, or who would prefer an online course.

The Good Grief Trust
Close

The Good Grief Trust helps all those affected by grief in the UK and brings bereavement services together, to ensure that everyone receives the tailored support they need to move forward with their lives.

The trust is run by the bereaved, for the bereaved and aim to normalise grief and raise awareness of the impact of grief on a national platform. 

 

Widowed and young
Close

Widowed and young (WAY) is a UK charity that offers a peer-to-peer support network for anyone who's lost a partner before their 51st birthday – married or not, with or without children, inclusive of sexual orientation, gender, race and religion.

Related Articles

9th January 2025

Explaining grief

Feedback