Welcome to Why Grief Matters!
The best internet resources on grief and loss.
All in one place.
Download the latest copy of the Grief Resource Guide here.
Our Story
This Guide was created by a small team of dedicated people without professional or financial backing. We began our work to provide support for individuals who had lost a loved one in the COVID-19 pandemic. Because few mental health services were available, we began to search for Internet resources that could help fill this gap. We looked for resources that would help bereaved people manage their painful emotions, build resilience, and improve their mental health and well-being. We reviewed hundreds of websites and found many that included valuable information for those who lost a loved one in the pandemic. We selected the best of these resources and combined them into a comprehensive, searchable guide. We recognized that this compendium of resources could benefit anyone who is grieving, not just those who are suffering a loss from COVID-19. Over time, we broadened our content to include other kinds of losses.
We sent the Guide to several grief experts before circulating it more widely. Without exception, their responses were extremely positive. As an example, Dr. Robert Neimeyer, Director of the Portland Institute for Loss and Transition, described the Guide as “a Godsend…Countless mourners will suffer less because of this remarkable compendium.” The Guide has also received attention in the media. On three separate occasions, reporters from The New York Times have included a link to the Guide in their articles about grief.
What Our Guide Offers
1. Best grief resources consolidated
Our Guide includes extensive resources on dozens of topics pertaining to loss. Examples include coping strategies for dealing with grief, helping children to cope with loss, and how to handle feelings of guilt and anger.
2. Peer support and support groups
Contact with those who have experienced a similar loss can provide validation for one’s feelings and play a vital role in the healing process. Our Guide integrates and organizes resources on peer support and support groups from dozens of other sites.
3. A wide array of resources for underserved groups
The pandemic highlighted the striking inequalities in access to resources for members of marginalized and underserved groups. Identifying helpful materials for these groups has been a major focus of our work. Specifically, we have included a rich array of resources for the following communities: African American/POC; Asian American/Pacific Islanders; Indigenous Communities, LatinX; the LGBTQ+ community; and people with disabilities.
4. Stories touching on all types of grief/loss
Our Guide offers hundreds of stories that cover losses of every type, spanning countless situations. Stories about grief can restore hope and help the bereaved to recognize that they are not alone.
5. The largest collection of COVID-related grief resources available on the internet today
COVID-19 has claimed over 1 million American lives over the past two years, leaving tens of millions grieving in its wake. Our Guide offers unparalleled resources for those who lost a loved one in the pandemic.
6. A wealth of information for individuals who want to provide support to the bereaved
In coming to terms with the death of a loved one, nothing is more important than receiving support from others. Yet many people are reluctant to reach out to the bereaved because they do not know what to say or do. We provide guidance about the best ways to provide support to someone who is grieving.
It should be emphasized that the Guide is a work in progress. The content on grief and COVID-19 is dynamic and constantly changing. We welcome feedback that would strengthen our offerings or improve the way they are presented or organized.
Coming Next: A New Website
Numerous people have advised us to transform this Resource Guide into a website, which would make it far easier to navigate. We have taken steps toward this goal. We obtained a domain name, whygriefmatters.org, which will also be the name of the new website. We have also established a nonprofit organization that has this same name. In moving forward with the website, we are interested in partnering with others who share our vision of bringing the best information on grief together in one place. If you would like to join us in this endeavor, please contact Dr. Wortman at camille.wortman@gmail.com.