Caring for our community through grief and loss

The tragic events of April 28 have deeply shaken our community. At SIU Medicine, we know that grief touches every part of life — at home, at work and in our connections with others. As health care providers, parents, teachers, neighbors and friends, we often want to offer comfort and support but may feel unsure where to begin.

To help our patients, families and community members navigate this difficult time, three of our faculty have compiled a list of thoughtful, practical resources.

• Anna Hickey, PhD, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• Kristen Leadbetter, MD, Neonatology and Pediatric Palliative Care
• Michelle Miner, MD, General Pediatrics and Pediatric Palliative Care

Below you’ll find books, websites and tools to help both children and adults process grief and loss. Whether you are supporting a loved one or caring for yourself, these resources offer a place to start.

Books for children and parents

Reading together can help children understand loss and give parents gentle ways to start hard conversations.

For younger children

Lost in the Clouds – Tom Tinn-Disbury
The Memory Box – Joanna Rowland
Ida, Always – Caron Levis
The Goodbye Book – Todd Parr (also in Spanish)
The Invisible String – Patrice Karst (also in Spanish)

For parents

What Happens When a Loved One Dies? – Dr. Jillian Roberts
Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child – Earl A. Grollman
What on Earth Do You Do When Someone Dies? – Trevor Romain and Gabby Grant
Everywhere, Still: A Book About Loss, Grief and the Way Love Continues – M.H. Clark and Claire Sahara Lemp

Journals and workbooks

How to Carry What Can’t Be Fixed – Megan Devine
Angel Catcher for Kids – Amy Eldon
My Healing Journey: 29 Coloring Affirmations for a Grieving Heart – K.K. Carson
Grief in Color – Rebecca Black

Resources for adults

If you are looking for guidance as you support children or care for yourself, these tools can help:

Supporting children:
How to Talk to Kids About Tough Topics
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope With Traumatic Events

For adults grieving:
How to Help Yourself
How to Help Others
NIH Emotional Wellness Toolkit

Support for teachers and schools

Educators play a key role in helping children heal. These tools offer practical guidance:

• Grief and Loss Resources for Educators and Students
• Compassion Resilience Toolkit for Schools
• When Death Impacts Your School

National organizations and websites 

• The Compassionate Friends — Support for families grieving the loss of a child or sibling
• Dougy Center — Grief resources for children, teens and families
• National Alliance for Children’s Grief — Tools and support for grieving children and communities
• Songs of Love — Personalized songs for children facing medical or emotional challenges
• Courageous Parents Network — Resources for families caring for children with serious illness
• National Child Traumatic Stress Network — Trauma resources for families and professionals
• ChildCare Aware of America — Helping children cope with crisis events
• American Academy of Pediatrics: Trauma Resources for Families

Caring for ourselves as health care professionals

Grief affects caregivers too. If you work in health care or are supporting others through loss, these resources offer guidance just for you:

• NAMI Resources for Health Care Professionals
• Tips for Practitioners and Responders
• NIH Emotional Wellness Toolkit

You are not alone

Grief has no timeline and no single path. Whether you are mourning yourself or walking alongside someone who is, please know you are not alone. SIU Medicine is here to support the health and well-being of our patients and our community — today and in the days to come.