Grief Resources
Below is a curated collection of books, websites, and organizations I trust and recommend. This list reflects my values as a grief educator — evidence-informed, compassionate, and inclusive of a range of experiences and faiths. It will grow over time.
These resources are offered as a starting point, not a prescription. What helps one person may not help another. Trust yourself to take what is useful and leave what is not.
Books on Grief
| It’s OK That You’re Not OK — Megan Devine. One of the most honest books written about grief in recent years. Devine validates the reality of loss without rushing toward hope. Highly recommended for the newly bereaved and those who love them. |
| Finding Meaning: The Sixth Stage of Grief — David Kessler David Kessler offers a compassionate framework for moving through grief toward meaning — not by getting over loss, but by honouring it. |
| Bearing the Unbearable — Joanne Cacciatore. Written specifically for those who have experienced the death of a child or other catastrophic loss. Compassionate, honest, and deeply respectful of the magnitude of such grief. |
| The Year of Magical Thinking — Joan Didion. A memoir of acute grief after sudden loss. Unflinching, beautifully written, and deeply true to the disorientation of early bereavement. |
| A Grief Observed — C.S. Lewis A raw, honest account of Lewis’s grief after the death of his wife — including his wrestling with faith. A quiet companion for those whose belief is shaken by loss. |
| Option B — Sheryl Sandberg & Adam Grant. Written after the sudden death of Sandberg’s husband, this book blends personal narrative with research on resilience and rebuilding after loss. |
Websites & Online Resources
| The Compassionate Friends · www.compassionatefriends.org A peer support organization for families who have experienced the death of a child at any age. Chapters across North America, including a growing presence in Canada. |
| What’s Your Grief · www.whatsyourgrief.com An evidence-informed grief education website with articles, resources, and tools for the bereaved and those who support them. One of the most reliable grief sites available. |
| David Kessler’s Grief Resources · www.grief.com Resources, community, and guidance from one of the world’s leading grief experts, including support forums and educator tools. |
| GriefShare · www.griefshare.org An international Christian-based grief support group held in various church and community organizations. |
Support Organizations in Canada
| Bereaved Families of Ontario · www.bfo.ca Peer support for bereaved individuals and families across Ontario, including loss-specific groups and one-on-one support. |
| The Compassionate Friends Canada · www.tcfcanada.net National organization supporting bereaved parents, grandparents, and siblings following the death of a child. |
| Wellspring Cancer Support · www.wellspring.ca Free support programs for people living with cancer and those who love them, including grief and bereavement support for families. |
| Canadian Mental Health Association · www.cmha.ca For those in Canada seeking broader mental health support alongside grief care. Includes a directory of local resources and crisis support information. |
| Crisis Services Canada · www.crisisservicescanada.ca · 1-833-456-4566 Available 24 hours a day for anyone in emotional distress or crisis. If you are struggling, please reach out. |