Bereavement resources

After a bereavement, it can be hard to know what might help or where to begin. Some people find comfort in reading, listening to, or exploring information that helps them make sense of their grief.

We’ve gathered a range of bereavement resources and recommendations that you can explore at your own pace, whenever you feel ready.

You Can Do This Guide: A Guide to Living with Grief

We have developed a workbook called You Can Do This: A Guide to Living with Grief to support people navigating bereavement.

This practical resource is designed to help you understand grief, reflect on how it may be affecting different areas of your life, and explore ways of coping day to day. It includes information, gentle activities and space for personal reflection, allowing you to engage with it in a way that feels right for you.

You can use the workbook at your own pace, whether you are newly bereaved or further along in your grief. It can be read in full or dipped into over time, and revisited whenever you need it.

Download the guide

Immediate emotional support

At times, grief can feel particularly intense or overwhelming. When this happens, it can help to have access to immediate emotional support from trained bereavement counsellors.

GriefChat

GriefChat is a free web chat service with trained bereavement counsellors, available Monday to Friday, 9am–9pm. It provides a safe space to talk about how you are feeling and receive emotional support.
Access the service by clicking the chat window on this page.

Leaflets and information

• Coping with Anniversaries, Special Days and Christmas

Books

You may find comfort in reading about grief and loss. The following books are recommended:

• The Madness of Grief – The Reverend Richard Coles
• A Grief Observed – C.S. Lewis
• Welcome to the Grief Club – Janine Kwoh
• Notes on Grief – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
• Loss – Donna Ashworth (Poems)
• The Plain Guide to Grief – Dr John Wilson
• The Grieving Brain – Mary Frances-O’Connor

National organisations

There are several national organisations offering information, resources and support:

• Cruse Bereavement Support – helpline 0808 808 1677 and website
• Sue Ryder Online Bereavement Support – free information, resources and community support
• Marie Curie Support Line – 0800 090 2309 and website
• Grief Works app – available on Apple and Android
• At a Loss – helps bereaved people find support
• Good Grief Trust – information and support resources

Private counselling options

If you would like to explore private counselling options, you may wish to use the following directories:

• British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
• National Counselling Society
• Counselling Directory