Losing a son to suicide: A poetic journey through grief

 Simply losing a child would have been difficult enough, but once you add suicide tothe equation it can almost seem insurmountable. But it is possible to weather this storm and learn to live again. 

Not That Kind of Love

A year after the death of his beloved sister, Wise talks about caring for Clare in her last days, and the blog, now a book, they wrote together

Inside Grief

Rowan Williams-This book is hardly a preparation for grief – how could it be. But it is a helpful insight into what grief looks like from inside. That knowledge alone will help you avoid delivering the kind of crass statement, insensitive comment and crushing platitude that – even with the best intention, invariably only makes things worse.

Are You Sad Little Bear?

Rachel Rivett- a beautifully written little book to help explain the death of a grandparent to young children

Grief Diaries: How to Help the Newly Bereaved

Linda Cheldelin Fell-a guide full of useful tips to answer questions about what to say, what to do, and what not to say to someone facing loss.

The Grief Survival Guide: How to navigate loss and all that comes with it

Jeff Brazier-provides guidance and advice to the bereaved from personal experience

The Last Act of Love: The Story of My Brother and His Sister

Cathy Rentzenbrink-. Told after her brother died, aged 16. It’s a story for anyone who has ever watched someone suffer or lost someone they loved or lived through a painful time that left them forever changed. Told with boundless warmth and affection (Amazon)

Beyond Tomorrow- The essential Guide to life after bereavement

Judy Carole Kaufmann-The period following the death of a loved one can be a time of great turmoil. This sensitive book acts as a helpful and supportive road map through the initial period of loss, and through the weeks and months that follow.

Aaron’s Star

Roark McMaster- The story is written and presented in the format of an illustrated story. It is written to provide comfort and hope to parents, siblings, and families that have experienced loss. The book is written by: Daddy, for Mummy. It could be written by any Daddy for any Mummy that has been through this type of trauma. The book has space for a parent to add their child s name and commit the book to his or her memory.

See you Soon:A Mother’s Story of Drugs, Grief and Hope

Phillipa Skinner-This book is a honest and reflective account of a mother’s story as she faces up to and lives through her son’s death from a heroin overdose in 2007. Skinner is writing for those who are bereaved, those seeking to support people who are, and also, more specifically, for people affected by addiction – whether through a family member, friend or a personal struggle.

Life Touches Life: A Mother’s Story of Stillbirth and Healing

Lorraine Ash-Ash discusses the inner changes she faced after the stillbirth of her daughter and delves into spiritual questions that shook her soul. The final message: Epiphanies emerge from the stuff of everyday experience. Hope is here.

Holy Innocents: Grieving for the Death of a Baby

Margaret Sparshott- This book describes the physical and individual development of the newborn; the different stages of bereavement and how they relate to death before, during, and after birth; and ways in which bereaved parents and other members of the family may be supported by friends, and members of the different professions. Special attention is paid to the beliefs of major religions and how they view the spirituality and death of a baby and minister to the bereaved family.

Grief in Young Children- A Handbook for Adults

Atle Dyregov-For years, I have strongly advised adults to read Grief in Children because I believe it is the most sympathetically written and accessible book on the topic. It is the thoughtful distillation of many years’ clinical experience of working with bereaved children and their families

A Beastly Burden

Merel Barends-When I was a teenager, my younger brother took his own life. I never saw it coming.
Twenty years too late, I am figuring out how I could have helped him.

An Empty Chair: Living in the wake of a sibling’s suicide

Sara Swan Miller- too often, the grief and bewilderment of surviving siblings is simply ignored, leaving the bereaved siblings feeling even more abandoned. The accounts of siblings’ experiences in this book are based on interviews with more than thirty people from all over the United States, as well as the author’s own experience of losing a sister to suicide.

History of a Suicide: my sister’s unfinished life

Jill Bialosky-The author presents an account of her sister’s suicide, and the lifelong impact that the suicide has had on her own life and the lives of the other members of her family.

Tips from widows

Jan Robinson-It is like a crib sheet of how to cope; it is as helpful to friends of widows as to the widows themselves, and it is written from experience, which is the bedrock of reliable advice

Thinking Out Loud: Love, Grief and Being Mum and Dad

Rio Ferdinand-after the sudden and tragic loss of his wife Rebecca to cancer. Written to help others through their grief, he shares, openly and honestly, the hard journey he’s on with his three young children and the support and advice that’s getting them through.

Letting Go

Peter Speck and Ian Ainsworth Smith- this book holds a central place within the pastoral literature for carers of the dying or bereaved. Since publication of the first edition, research and new multi-professional approaches to care require more than ever that those in ministry develop a good grasp of current understanding and models of grief

Living with Loss and Grief: Letting Go, Moving on (Overcoming Common Problems)

Julia Tugendhat-Grief and loss come in many different forms, from the searing pain when a loved one dies, to the necessary mourning for lost dreams and changed ideals at different life stages. After loss, people cannot be as they were before, but they can adapt to the changed circumstances and go on from there. This book looks at ways of grieving and the factors which help the grieving process.

Death… And How To Survive It: A unique, practical and uplifting guide to coming to terms with the loss of your partner

Kate Boydell-was widowed at the age of 33. She felt that her life had lost its purpose and she wanted it to end. But she got through it – and so can everyone. In this down-to-earth, practical, insightful and often humorous guide, Kate draws on her own experience of bereavement to offer frank advice on coping with every aspect of the grieving process.

Widow to Widow: Thoughtful, Practical Ideas For Rebuilding Your Life

Genevieve Davis Ginsburg- widow, author, and therapist offers fellow widows-as well as their family and friends-sage advice for coping with the loss of a husband

I’m Grieving as Fast as I Can

Linda Feinberg-A guide for young widows and widowers through the normal grieving proccess that highlights the special circumstances of an untimely death. Young widows and widowers share thoughts and dilemmas about losing a loved one, what to tell young children experiencing a parent’s death, returning to work and dealing with in-laws.

When Bad things Happen in Good bikinis

Helen Bailey-takes her readers with her on her journey through life after the inconceivable loss of her husband – accompanied by her faithful dachshund, Boris. Honest, searing, yet often laugh-out-loud funny, this is a compelling story of a marriage, and a truly life-affirming testament to the power of survival.

Grief is a Thing with Feathers

Max Porter-two young boys face the unbearable sadness of their mother’s sudden death.   In this moment of despair they are visited by Crow – antagonist, trickster, healer, babysitter. This sentimental bird is drawn to the grieving family and threatens to stay until they no longer need him

6 Word Lessons on Coping with Grief

Living with Loss- A guide for the recently widowed

Liz Taylor-a survival guide for a widow following her journey to inner peace

The Courage to Grieve

Judy Tatelbaum-expert advice on how to cope with loss and bereavement

The Empty Bed-Bereavement and the Loss of Love

Susan Wallbank- describes the feelings of love and intimacy following the death of her husband

You’ll Get Over It

Virginia Ironside- A very frank observation of grief and loss

The Early Days

David Nuttall, finding support in the early days

The Grief Book

Debbie Moore helps you to understand and manage your grief

Option B

Option B by Sheryl Sandberg is a much publicised journey of grief and loss

Grief Works

Julia Samuel, discusses her work as a therapist