For everyone who wants to show up.
Resources for the people who want to support a family after the loss of a child.
When someone you love has lost a child, it can be hard to know what to say, what to do, or how to keep showing up. These resources are here to help you offer comfort, practical support, and presence without trying to fix what cannot be fixed.
Books
5 items- It's OK That You're Not OK, Megan Devine
A helpful grief book for both grieving people and the people supporting them. It explains why grief should not be rushed, fixed, or minimized.
- There Is No Good Card for This, Kelsey Crowe & Emily McDowell
A practical and compassionate guide for what to say and do when someone you care about is hurting.
- Bearing the Unbearable, Joanne Cacciatore
A compassionate book about traumatic grief and love after loss. Helpful for understanding the depth of grief after the death of a child.
- The Grieving Brain, Mary-Frances O'Connor
A book that explains how grief affects the brain, memory, attachment, and the way we continue to carry love after loss.
- Option B, Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant
A book about grief, resilience, and life after devastating loss. Especially helpful for supporters who want to better understand long-term grief and recovery.
Podcasts
5 items- Grief Out Loud
A podcast from The Dougy Center with conversations about grief, children, families, and how to support people after loss.
- Here After with Megan Devine
A podcast about grief, loss, and how to support people without trying to fix their pain.
- All There Is with Anderson Cooper
Thoughtful conversations about grief, memory, love, and the people we continue to carry.
- Terrible, Thanks for Asking
Honest conversations about grief, loss, pain, and the parts of life people often do not know how to talk about.
- As Long As I'm Living
A podcast by two bereaved mothers. Helpful for supporters who want to better understand what grieving parents may be carrying.
Videos & YouTube
5 items- The Dougy Center YouTube Channel
Videos and resources for grieving children, teens, parents, caregivers, and supporters.
- Megan Devine / Refuge in Grief Videos
Short videos about grief, support, and why some common comfort phrases do not feel comforting.
- Open to Hope YouTube Channel
Conversations and videos about grief, hope, and life after loss.
- The Compassionate Friends YouTube Channel
Videos and conversations for families after the death of a child, sibling, or grandchild, and for those who want to support them.
- Grief Out Loud Podcast Videos and Resources
Conversations from The Dougy Center about grief and supporting grieving families.
Articles & Online Support
8 items- The Dougy Center: Family & Friends, Help for Helpers
Resources for family, friends, and community members supporting grieving children and families.
- The Dougy Center: Grief Support Resources
A broader resource library for children, teens, young adults, parents, caregivers, and supporters.
- The Compassionate Friends: When a Child Dies
Support and information for families after the death of a child, as well as those trying to support the grieving family.
- The Compassionate Friends: Grief
A helpful article about how grief may feel after the death of a child and why support matters over time.
- National Alliance for Children's Grief: Resources and Support
Resources for families, caregivers, schools, and communities supporting grieving children and teens.
- National Alliance for Children's Grief: Resource Library
A searchable library of grief resources for people supporting children, teens, and families.
- Verywell Health: What to Say to Someone Who Lost a Child
A practical article with guidance on what to say, what to avoid, and how to offer support to grieving parents.
- Refuge in Grief: How to Help a Grieving Friend
A practical guide for supporting someone in grief without trying to fix, explain, or rush their pain.
