Resources and Bibliographies

Resources

This section lists resources, by region, followed by a bibliography structured by client type. It was developed by the Transplant Québec Families Committee in response to the needs often expressed by families and communities.

Abitibi

  • Le Mouvement la Porte Ouverte Inc.
    Clientele: Widows and widowers
    (819) 732 -7804

  • Centre de Prévention suicide d'Amos
    Clientele: People in grief following a suicide and those in need of assistance
    (819) 732-5473
    toll free: 1 (866) 277-3553
    www.preventionsuicideamos.com

Bas St- Laurent

  • Groupe de soutien au deuil
    Clientele: Grieving adults
    (418) 860-3337
    Adm: (418) 682-0228

Charlevoix

  • Groupe Mont D'Espoir du CSSS de Charlevoix
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 655-6413

  • Centre de prévention du suicide de Charlevoix
    Clientele: Adults in grief following a suicide
    (418) 665-0096
    (La Malbaie)
    www.cps-charlevoix.com

Chaudière -Appalaches

Côte Nord/Nord du Québec

  • Groupe d'entraide l'Arc-en-ciel
    Clientele: Grieving adults and adolescents (418)

  •  
  • Centre de prévention du suicide de la Côte-Nord
    Clientele: People in grief following a suicide and those in need of assistance
    For help: 1 (866) 277-3553

Estrie

  • Groupe de soutien pour les personnes vivant un deuil, en collaboration
    avec la Coopérative funéraire de l'Estrie
    Clientele: People in grief
    (819) 823-9996
    http://rosedesvents.com
  • Le Mouvement la Porte Ouverte Inc.
    Clientele: People who have lost a spouse
    (819) 562-0227

    Rose des vents
    Clientele: People in grief
    urgence: (819) 565-1330
    (819) 823-9996
    www.rosedesvents.com

    Urgence-Détresse
    Clientele: Anyone in an urgent, difficult situation
    (866) 277-3553
    www.jevi.qc.ca

    Maison Marie-Élise
    Clientele: Adults in grief and those who have experienced loss (employment, divorce); grieving for petshttp://www.maisonmarielise.com

    Virage Santé mentale
    Clientele: Mental health (depression, emotional disturbance, severe disorder, etc.)
    (819) 877-2674
    www.aide-internet.org/virage

  • J'écoute ma toute petite voix Clientele: Children ages 6 to 12 (819) 823-9996
    JEVI Centre de prévention du suicide-
    Estrie
    Clientele: People in crisis or distress and people in grief following a suicide Children in grief following a suicide
    (819) 564-1354
    1 (866) 277-3553
    www.jevi.qc.ca 

Lanaudière

  • Deuil Amis Jo
    Clientele: People in grief
    (450) 752-4371

    Paroisse St-Henri
    Les ailes de la vie
    Clientele: Grieving adults
    (450) 474-2413
    (514) 609-9026

    Les amis de Simon
    Clientele: Parents grieving the loss of a child
    (450) 492-9179
    (450) 435-7731

Laurentides

  • Pallia-Vie
    Clientele: All forms of grief except following a suicide
    (450) 431-3331
    Adm: (450) 431-0488
    http://pallia-vie.ca

    La Maison des soins palliatifs à St-Eustache
    Clientele: Grieving adults and children
    (450) 491-1912

    Palliaco
    Clientele: People in grief
    (819) 717-9646 http://www.palliacco.org

Laval

  • Lumi-Vie
    Clientele: Adults in grief for more than three months and less than two years after losing a loved one to illness, accident or natural death.
    (450) 687-8311
    www.lumivie.com

    Ressource régionale suicide
    CSSS de Laval
    Clientele: Children and adolescents in grief following a suicide
    (450) 687-5690, poste 434

    Cap Vie Clientele: Adults
    (450) 625-3083
    www.cap-vie.org

Mauricie et Centre du Québec

  • Groupe d'entraide et de soutien pour personne en deuil Communauté chrétienne Jean XXIII
    Clientele: All adults in grief, except following a suicide
    (819) 379-2862
    http://sites.rapidus.net/paroisse/

    Au-delà du deuil (Princeville)
    Clientele: Adults who have lost a spouse
    (819) 752-6706

    Groupe d'entraide pour personne en deuil
    (Plessisville)
    Clientele: All adults in grief, except following a suicide
    (819) 362-8723

Montérégie

  • Centre d'intervention de crise L'accès
    Clientele: People in crisis or distress and people in grief following a suicide
    Urgence: (450) 679-8689
    (450) 468-8080

     La maison sous les arbres

    Anyone experiencing an urgent, difficult situation
    Clientele: People in grief
    People in grief following a suicide
    People living with mental health issues

    Ligne d'intervention de crise: (450) 699-5935
    ou 1 (866) 277-3553
    www.la-msla.com

    L'Entraide chez nous
    Clientele: Grieving adults
    Responsable: (450) 468 1726 poste: 29
    (450) 468 1726
    www.groupededeuil.com

    L'envol de St-Bruno
    Clientele: Grieving adults
    (450) 653-6319, option: 0

    L'Équipe d'accompagnement
    Au Diapason et la maison Au diapason
    Clientele: People in grief, regardless of family ties or cause of death of the deceased person; also end-stage cancer patients
    (450) 534-2002
    www.audiapason.org

    Les amis du Crépuscule
    Clientele: Grieving adults, adolescents, children
    (450) 252-2737
    www.lesamisducrepuscule.org

    La Traversée
    Clientele: People in grief
    (514) 838-5562

    Service d'accompagnement sur le deuil
    Clientele: People in grief
    (450) 455-2656
    (514) 529-4225
    www.louiseracine.com

Montréal

  • Société de soins palliatifs à domicile
    Clientèle : Toute personne endeuillée
    (514) 272-7200, poste 225
  • Dawn Cruchet
    Clientele: Grieving children
    (514) 230-3592
    www.dawncruchet.com

  • Cedars Cansupport & MUHC Psychosocial Oncology Royal Victoria Hospital
    (514) 934-1934, ext 37053
    www.cedars.ca  
  •  
  • Centre de Consultation psychologique et Educationnelle (CCPE)
    Clientele: Individual, family and group psychotherapy
    (514) 522-3195
    www.ccpeweb.ca

  • Centre de crise le Transit
    Clientele: Anyone in an urgent, difficult situation
    Le Transit: (514) 282 7753
    Centre de crise psychosocial de l'ouest de Montréal: (514) 684- 6160 (Banlieue ouest)
    Iris : (514) 388-8988 (Nord-Est)
    Tracom: (514) 483-3033 (centre-ouest)
    L'Autre Maison: (514) 768-7225 (sud-ouest)
    L'Entremise: (514) 351-9592 (est)
    L'Appoint: (514) 351-6661
    http://www.centredecriseoi.com/

  • Centre d'écoute et de référence Multi-Écoute
    Clientele: Adults, mostly immigrants
    (514) 737-3604
    www.multiecoute.org

  • Compassionate Friends
    Clientele: Grieving adults and children
    (450) 458-3164
    Toll free: 1 866 823 0141
    http://tcfcanada.net

  • Louise Bourassa psychologue
    Clientele: People in grief
    (514) 987-1021


    Hope and Cope
    L'espoir c'est la vie
    Jewish General Hospital
    Clientele: People in grief
    (514) 340-8255
    Groupe (doctorat) 514 340-8222
    www.jgh.ca/en/HopeCope
  • Life, Love and Loss
    Clientele: Grieving adults, families, couples and children
    (514) 222 9668
    www.cedarscansupport.ca

    Maison Montbourquette
    Clientele: People in grief
    1 (888) LE DEUIL
    (514) 523-3596
    www.maisonmonbourquette.com

    West island Community Ressource Center (minus one)
    Clientele: Widows and widowers
    (514) 694-6404
    www.crcinfo.ca

    Mount Royal Commemorative Services Complexe funéraire des Trembles Clientele: Grieving adults and children
    (514) 279-7358
    www.dawncruchet.com

    NOVA West Island
    lientele: Grieving adults and children
    (514) 695-8335, poste 115
    www.novawi.org

  • Parents-étoiles

    Clientele: Grieving children ages 6 to 12
    Grieving adolescents ages 13 to 17

    (514) 947-0606
    www.parent-etoile.com
     
    Tel-Aide
    Clientele: People in difficulty
    (514) 935-1101
    www.telaide.org
  • Widow to widow services
    YM-YWHA
    Clientele: Widows and widowers ages 40 to 65
    (514) 737-6551
  • Canadian National Organization for the Widowed (CNOW)
    Clientele: Widows and widowers
    (514) 934-0280
    (514) 931-3935
  • Family survivors of suicide (FSOS)
    Clientele: People in grief following a suicide
    (514) 398-7067
    www.suicideaftermath.com

Outaouais

  • Boutique du silence
    Clientele: People in crisis or distress
    (819) 770-7843

    Centre d'aide 24/7
    Clientele: People in crisis or distress
    (819) 595-9999
    1 (866) 277-3553

    Entraide-Deuil de l'Outaouais
    Clientele: People in grief
    (819) 770-4814
    1 (866) 770-4814
    http://entraide-deuil.qc.ca
  • Expression-Deuils
    Gatineau
    Stéphanie Chasle, Psychothérapeute
    613-898-5367                                                                                   
    Offrir une aide professionnelle spécialisée en matière de deuils à la population endeuillée

    Porte ouverte inc.
    Clientele: Widows and widowers
    (819) 671-2529
    www.cursillo.org

Portneuf

  • Centre de prévention du suicide de Portneuf
    L'arc-en-ciel secteur prévention du suicide
    Clientele: People in grief following a suicide
    (418) 285-3847

    Le deuil parlons-en
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 337-6166

Québec

  • Centre de crise
    Clientele: People in grief
    Crisis: (418) 688-4240
    (418) 687-2747
    www.centredecrise.com

    Centre de crise de Québec
    Clientele: All forms of grief, for people ages 14 and over living in the Quebec City area
    (418) 688-4240,
    Portneuf-Charlevoix:
    1 (866) 411-4240
    www.centredecrise.com

    Deuil Jeunesse
    Clientele: Grieving children and adolescents
    Urgence: (418) 670-9772
    (418) 624-3666
    www.deuil-jeunesse.com

    Groupe d'entraide pour personnes en deuil L'Ancienne Lorette
    Clientele: Adults in grief except following a suicide
    (418) 871-7055

    La boussole
    Clientele: People in grief following the suicide of a mentally ill loved one
    (418) 523-1502
    www.laboussole.ca

    L'Hibiscus
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 651-4041
    (418) 688-3918

    Maison de la Famille de Charlesbourg
    Clientele: Grieving children
    (418) 623-5705
    www.mfcharlesbourg.org

    Maison de la famille de Québec
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 529-0263
    www.mf-quebec.org

    Maison de la Famille Louis-Hébert
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 681-0141

    Maison de la famille Rive-Sud
    Clientèle : Toute personne endeuillée
    (418) 835-5603
    www.maisonfamille-rs.org

    Service d'accompagnement pour personnes malades ou en deuil du service à la communauté de Cap-Rouge
    Clientele: People in grief
    (418) 641-6643
    www.msccr.com

    Service d'entraide communautaire
    Rayon de soleil
    Clientele: Adults in grief except following a suicide
    (418) 871-7055

    Solidarité-Deuil d'enfant
    Clientele: Parents grieving the loss of a child
    (418) 990 0435

    Tel-Aide
    Clientele: People in difficulty
    (418) 686-2433
    www.telaide.qc.ca
  • Centre de prévention du suicide de Québec
    Clientele: Suicidal people, family and friends, caregivers
    (418) 683-4588 interv. 24/24
    Adm. : (418) 683-0933
    www.cpsquebec.ca

Saguenay Lac-St-Jean

  • Groupe d'entraide Aimer, Perdre et Revivre
    Clientele: Anyone grieving a death or loss (separation, disability)
    (418) 276-1063
    (418) 276-8948

    Deuil 02
    Passage pour toute détresse
    Clientele: Anyone grieving a death or loss (separation, disability)
    (418) 696-8861

    Tel-Aide Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean-Côte-Nord
    Clientele: People of any age who need someone to talk to
    Saguenay: (418) 695-2433
    Lac-St-Jean: 1 (888) 600-2433
  • Centre de prévention du suicide 02
    Clientele: People in grief and in need of help following a suicide
    Saguenay: (418) 668-6851
    Lac-St-Jean: 1 (866) 277-3553
    www.cps02.org

For all of Québec

  • Fédération du mouvement
    Albatros du Québec
    Support for people in grief and those with severe illnesses, from diagnosis to end of life
    Contact: (819) 375-8533
    Refer to the various numbers listed by region on the Web site
    www.corporation-albatros.ca

    Les amis compatissants
    Clientele: Parents who have lost a child
    (514) 933 5791
    Refer to the Web site for the phone numbers for other regions.
    www.amiscompatissants.org

    Maison Montbourquette
    Clientele: People in grief
    1 (888) LE DEUIL
    ( 1 (888) 533-3845 )
    www.maisonmonbourquette.com

    Ordres des psychologues du Québec
    Clientele: Anyone in need of assistance
    (514) 738-1881
    1 (800) 363-2644
    www.ordrepsy.qc.ca

    Suicide Action
    Clientele: People in grief following a suicide and those in need of assistance
    1 (866) 277-3553
    www.suicideactionmontreal.org

Internet

 

Bibliography

Bibliography – children
  • 1- Emswiler, J. P., & Emswiler, M. A. (2000). Guiding your child through grief. New York: Bantam Books.
    Target audience: children and adults
    Synopsis
    "When death occurs in a family, all hell breaks loose," note the Emswilers, founders and directors of The Cove, a program for grieving children and their families, and of the New England Center for Loss & Transition. Beginning with the wrenching tale of how James lost his first wife to an unexpected heart attack, the book is threaded with his own personal experience in helping himself and his three children navigate through their shared grief, as well as with the firsthand accounts of others. The book's eminent practicality and compassionate, down-to-earth tone make it an invaluable handbook: from dealing with the initial shock to identifying typical reactions to death by age group and achieving the "three goals" of family grieving: reestablishing stability, acknowledging the experience of loss individually and collectively, and supporting each member in his or her efforts to start growing again.
  • 2- Greenlea, S., & Drath, B. (1992). When someone dies. Atlanta: Peachtree Pub Ltd.
    Target audience: Ages 9-12.
    Synopsis

    The bereavement-counseling technique that forms the basis for this informal, conversational commentary on a child's experience of grief is sound, touching upon important points such as feelings, fears, and the need to cry.

  • 3- Hanson, W. (1997). The next place. Golden Valley: Waldman House Pr.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis
    An inspirational journey of light and hope to a place where earthly hurts are left behind.
  • 4- James, J. (2002). When children grieve. New York: Harper Paperbacks.
    Target audience: Children and adults
    Synopsis
    For adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving and other losses.
  • 5- Karst, P., & Stevenson, G. (2000). The invisible string. Camarillo: DeVorss & Company.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    Specifically written to address children's fear of being apart from the ones they love, The Invisible String delivers a particularly compelling message in today's uncertain times that though we may be separated from the ones we care for, whether through anger, or distance or even death, love is the unending connection that binds us all, and, by extension, ultimately binds every person on the planet to everyone else. Parents and children everywhere who are looking for reassurance and reaffirmation of the transcendent power of love, to bind, connect and comfort us through those inevitable times when life challenges us!

  • 6- Krasny-Brown, L., & Brown, M. (1996). When Dinosaurs Die: A guide to understanding death. Boston: Little, Brown and Company.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    Unlike many books on death for little ones, this one doesn't tell a story. Instead, it addresses children's fears and curiosity head-on, and in a largely secular fashion, by answering some very basic questions: "Why does someone die?" "What does dead mean?" "What comes after death?" Other questions deal with emotions, and there's a section about death customs (the weakest part of the book). The forthright approach makes the subject seem less mysterious and provides kids with plenty to think about and discuss with their parents. It's the brightly colored artwork, however, that will really enable children to relax with the concept. The pictures are filled with homey clutter and familiar detail, and the activities of the appealingly quirky characters (who resemble dinosaurs in only the broadest way) add a strong, comforting sense of what can only be called normalcy.

  • 7- Mundy, M., & Alley, R. W. (1998). Sad isn't bad: A good-grief guidebook for kids dealing with loss. St. Meinrad: Abbey Press.
    Target audience: Ages 9-12
    Synopsis
    Loaded with positive, life-affirming advice for coping with loss as a child, this guide tells children what they need to know after a loss--that the world is still safe; life is good; and hurting hearts do mend. Written by a school counselor, this book helps comfort children facing of the worst and hardest kind of reality. 
  • 8- Powell, E. S. (1990). Geranium Morning Minneapolis: Carolrhoda Books
    Target audience: Ages 7-10
    Synopsis
    A sensitive story on a difficult subject. Although his father is disappointed, Timothy pretends he is too tired to go along on their annual outing to buy geraniums. On his return from the nursery, Timothy's father is in a fatal car accident. Now the boy must deal with the ultimate loss and guilt he feels for staying home. As he and his mother struggle to cope, their emotions are in chaos. A chance meeting with Frannie, a new girl at school, brings Timothy the lifeline of friendship he needs to accept his feelings and the loss of his father. She also needs a friend; her mother is dying, and Frannie feels isolated from the happy children around her. Together, they come to terms with death, sharing a special understanding that sustains and heals. Few titles examine the loss of a parent, particularly for younger readers. This one gently probes the myriad feelings associated with grief, and looks at the value of the shared experience as the root of recovery. It may persuade a child who has lost a parent to accept solace from other children, or even from a local support group.
  • 9- Romain, T. (1999). What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? Minneapolis: Free Spirit Publishing.
    Target audience: Ages 9-12
    Synopsis

    When Trevor Romain’s father died, Trevor didn’t know what to feel, say, or do. Shocked, saddened,
    and confused, all he could say was . . . wow. As he started understanding what had happened, he began writing about his experiences and feelings. Trevor talks directly to kids about what death means and how to cope. He asks the kinds of questions kids have about death—Why? How? What next? Is it my fault?What’s a funeral?—in basic, straightforward terms. He describes and discusses the overwhelming emotions involved in grieving—sadness, fear, anger, guilt—and offers practical strategies for dealing with them. He also suggests meaningful ways to remember and honor the person who has died. When someone dies, adults are often involved with their own loss and grief and not as available to children as they might otherwise be. This little book, full of concrete advice and expressive illustrations, offers the comfort and reassurance that children need during these difficult times. Written to and for kids, it’s also recommended for parents and other relatives, educators, counselors, and youth workers.

  • 10-Schweibert, P., DeKlven, C., & Bills, T. (2006). Tear Soup: A recipe for Healing after Loss. Portland: Grief Watch.
    Target audience: Ages 4-10
    Synopsis

    If you are going to buy only one book on grief, this is the one to get! It will validate your grief experience, and you can share it with your children. Grand's Cooking Tips section at the back of the book is rich with wisdom and concrete recommendations. A building-block for children. Winner of the 2001 Theologos Book Award.

  • 11- Simon, N., & Rogers, J. (2004). The saddest time. Park Ridge: Albert Whitman & Co.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    This book tells three separate stories about children's experiences with death. The first tells how a boy deals with the death of his uncle. The second, how students deal with the sudden death of a classmate. The third tells of a girl who is at the bedside with her family when her grandmother dies. Each one deals with the sad feelings surrounding death, but also celebrates the life of the deceased individual. Each story ends with how the children cope and come to terms with loss. Before and after each story are poems that connect death with the celebration of life. These explain that endings and beginnings are all connected.

  • 12- Stickney, D. (2004). Waterbugs and dragonflies: Explaining death to children Cleveland: Pilgrim Press.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    Aimed primarily at children this book uses the allegory of metamorphosis to assist in understanding death.

  • 13- Thomas, P., & Harker, L. (2001). I miss you. Hauppauge: Barron's Educational Series.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    When a close friend or family member dies, it can be difficult for children to express their feelings. This book helps boys and girls understand that death is a natural complement to life, and that grief and a sense of loss are normal feelings for them to have following a loved one's death. Titles in this sensitively presented series explore the dynamics of various relationships experienced by children of preschool through early school age. Kids are encouraged to understand personal feelings and social problems as a first step in dealing with them. Written by psychotherapist and counselor Pat Thomas, these books promote positive interaction among children, parents, and teachers. The story lines are simple and direct--easily accessible to younger children. There are full-color illustrations on every page.

  • 14- Vigna, J. (1991). Saying Goodbye to Daddy. Park Ridge: Albert Whitman & Co.
    Target audience: Ages 4-8
    Synopsis

    Frightened, lonely, and angry after her father is killed in a car accident, Clare is helped through the grieving process by her mother and grandfather.

  • 15- Wolfelt, A. (2001). Healing your grieving heart for kids: 100 Practical Ideas. Fort Collins: Companion Press.
    Target audience: children and adults
    Synopsis

    With sensitivity and insight, it offers suggestions for healing activities that can help survivors learn to express their grief and mourn naturally. Acknowledging that death is a painful, ongoing part of life, they explain how people need to slow down, turn inward, embrace their feelings of loss, and seek and accept support when a loved one dies. The book provides ideas and action-oriented tips that teach the basic principles of grief and healing. These ideas and activities are aimed at reducing the confusion, anxiety, and huge personal void so that the living can begin their lives again. Included are age-appropriate activities that teach younger people that their thoughts are not only normal but necessary.

Bibliography – adults (under construction)
  • 1- Magee, D. (1983). What murder leaves behind: The victim’s family. New York: Dodd Mead.
    Target audience: Adult
    Synopsis
Bibliography – adults for sharing with children
  • 1- Coloroso, B. (2001). Parenting through crisis: Helping kids in times of loss, grief and change. Scarborough: Harper-Collins.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis
    The chapters of this book are arranged by type of crisis--quite helpful if you're looking for information on dealing with adoption and don't feel up to reading how to handle the death of a sibling. Inside each chapter, you'll find specific stages that children of different ages may go through in processing their difficulties, along with helpful parenting techniques, ways of creating a positive dialogue with all family members, and the occasional suggestion for particular legal issues. Pages are sprinkled heavily with appropriate quotes from many sources, and many parents may find a bit of memorization helpful in keeping their tempers. One chapter contains advice from Henry Ford that seems equally appropriate for assembly line or family drama: "Do not find fault, find a remedy." Coloroso encourages open communication at every opportunity, and her expertise in nonviolent conflict resolution shows itself with her suggestions of effective discipline and problem solving that leave blame and punishment in the dust. New language choices are a part of her techniques, and words like "co-parenting" and "primary responsibility" are emphasized instead of old school phrases like "joint" or "sole" custody. Parents in difficult situations should find a few quiet hours to spend with this book--it's not one to be quickly absorbed, but one to be used with planning and patience.
  • 2- Emswiler, J. P., & Emswiler, M. A. (2000). Guiding your child through grief. New York: Bantam Books.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis

    "When death occurs in a family, all hell breaks loose," note the Emswilers, founders and directors of The Cove, a program for grieving children and their families, and of the New England Center for Loss & Transition. Beginning with the wrenching tale of how James lost his first wife to an unexpected heart attack, the book is threaded with his own personal experience in helping himself and his three children navigate through their shared grief, as well as with the firsthand accounts of others. The book's eminent practicality and compassionate, down-to-earth tone make it an invaluable handbook: from dealing with the initial shock to identifying typical reactions to death by age group and achieving the "three goals" of family grieving: reestablishing stability, acknowledging the experience of loss individually and collectively, and supporting each member in his or her efforts to start growing again.

  • 3- Grollman, E. A. (1991). Talking about death: A dialog between parent and child. Ypsilanti: Beacon Press.
    Target audience: Adults and children
    Synopsis
    Why do people die? How do you explain the loss of a loved one to a child? This book is a compassionate guide for adults and children to read together, featuring a read along story, answers to questions children ask about death, and a comprehensive list of resources and organizations that can help.
  • 4- James, J. (2002). When children grieve. New York: Harper Paperbacks.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis
    For adults to help children deal with death, divorce, pet loss, moving and other losses.
  • 5- Wolfelt, A. (2001). Healing your grieving heart for kids: 100 Practical Ideas. Fort Collins: Companion Press.
    Target audience: Children - Adults
    Synopsis

    With sensitivity and insight, it offers suggestions for healing activities that can help survivors learn to express their grief and mourn naturally. Acknowledging that death is a painful, ongoing part of life, they explain how people need to slow down, turn inward, embrace their feelings of loss, and seek and accept support when a loved one dies. The book provides ideas and action-oriented tips that teach the basic principles of grief and healing. These ideas and activities are aimed at reducing the confusion, anxiety, and huge personal void so that the living can begin their lives again. Included are age-appropriate activities that teach younger people that their thoughts are not only normal but necessary.

  • 6- Grollman, E. A. (1993). Straight talk about death for teenagers: Hope to cope with losing someone you love. Ypsilanti: Beacon Press.
    Target audience: Adolescents.
    Synopsis

    With brief entries such as "Accidental Death," "Self-Inflicted Death," "Talking," "Crying," and "Going Nuts," Grollman offers advice and answers the kinds of questions that teens are likely to ask themselves when grieving the death of someone close. 

Bibliography – grieving following suicide
  • 1- Bloom, L. A. (2004). Mourning after suicide. Varanasi: Pilgrim Press.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis

    This booklet is short, clear, easy to read, is good for someone newly grieving loss of a loved one to suicide. It offers comfort and hope that we can heal; it 'normalizes' the grieving and healing processes of post-suicide, letting many know that what they're experiencing is normal. Reference to spirituality is in a gentle, non-invasive way. The raw honesty of the author sharing her experience of losing her son to suicide humanizes the experience and again, can be comforting. It's more than a pamphlet but not a whole book; a nice introduction to the subject. It isn't trying to promote anything in particular except that help, peer or professional, is effective and available.

  • 2- Bolton, I., & Mitchell, C. (1983). My son… my son… A guide to healing after suicide in the family. Roswell: Bolton Pr Atlanta.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis

    After the 1977 suicide of her 20 year old musician son, Iris Bolton says, "to climb from that emotional abyss would force me to fight the hardest battle of my life." On top of that, she was faced with the stigma of a "failed parent", and, she felt like a "discredited counselor" as the director of a family therapy center. Suicide transmits a public ridicule and private humiliation, grief, guilt and anger.Bolton eloquently shares her experience with brilliant usage of metaphors to describe the tortured process from grief to survival.

  • 3- Fine, C. (1997). No Time to Say Goodbye: Surviving The Suicide Of A Loved One New York: Broadway Books.
    Target audience: Ages 12 and up
    Synopsis

    In 1989, the author's husband of 21 years, 44-year-old Harry, a New York City physician who was depressed over the recent deaths of his parents, killed himself with a lethal dose of an anesthetic. She offers advice for those recovering from the suicide of a marital partner, relative or close friend. Drawing on research, interviews with survivors and her own experience, Fine provides insights into living beyond this tragedy including dealing with feelings of guilt and anger, the stigma of suicide and financial and legal problems. She stresses that joining a peer support group is an important coping tool. Some of the descriptions of suicides make for difficult reading.

  • 4- Smolin, A. (1993). Healing after the suicide of a loved one. Parksville: Fireside Books.
    Target audience: Adults
    Synopsis

    Too often people suffering the aftermath of a suicide suffer alone. As the survivor of a person who has ended his or her own life, you are left a painful legacy -- and not one that you chose. Healing After the Suicide of a Loved One will help you take the first steps toward healing. While each individual becomes a suicide survivor in his or her own way, there are predictable phases of pain that most survivors experience sooner or later, from the grief and depression of mourning to guilt, rage, and despair over what you have lost.

  • 5- Wolfelt, A. (2010). The wilderness of suicide grief: Finding your way. Bozeman: Companion Press.
    Target audience: Ages 14 and up
    Synopsis

    Presenting the idea of wilderness as a sustained metaphor for grief, this compassionate guide explores the unique responses inherent to the grief felt by those who have experienced the suicide of a loved one and offers information about coping with such a profound loss. Likening the death of a loved one to the experience of being wrenched from normal life and dropped down in the middle of nowhere, the handbook employs 10 touchstones, or trail markers, that survivors use to begin to make their way through the new landscape. Each touchstone gently guides readers through the entire grieving process and includes topics such as dispelling misconceptions regarding suicide, exploring feelings, and embracing the uniqueness of a loss.