Bereavement Support
Emotional support for bereaved people, access to trained bereavement counsellors and referral into other specialist bereavement services.
Most people expect to be very upset or distressed when someone close to them has died. What takes many people by surprise is how strong the emotions can be, how they can change very quickly, and how long they last. People around you may seem to think you should be 'back to normal' after a few weeks or months. You might appear to be your usual self to other people, but you know that on the inside, you’re not even sure what normal is anymore.
Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them and their relationship with the person who has died. Well-intentioned people may say to you, 'Time is a great healer.' Sometimes, however, it can seem that life is more difficult as the weeks and months go by.
We know that no-one can understand exactly what your loss feels like to you. But we do understand that it’s sometimes easier to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about grief and the impact of bereavement of your life.
Helpful Bereavement Services
Cruse Bereavement Care (England and Wales)
Call: 0844 477 9400
Young persons helpline: 0808 808 1677
www.crusebereavementcare.org.ukCruse Bereavement Care, PO Box 800, Richmond, Surrey TW9 1RG
Citizens Advice
To find your nearest bureau visit: www.citizensadvice.org.uk
This nationwide service is an excellent source of practical help and advice.
Samaritans
Call: 08457 90 90 90
www.samaritans.orgjo@samaritans.org
Samaritans offer a 24-hour phone listening service.
The Compassionate Friends
A service offering help for parents whose children have died.
Call: 0845 123 2304
www.tcf.org.ukhelpline@tcf.org.uk
The Compassionate Friends, 53 North Street, Bristol BS3 1EN
The Child Death Helpline
Call: 0800 282 986
(Mon to Fri 10am to 1pm, Tues and Wed 1pm to 4pm and every evening 7pm to 10pm).
www.childdeathhelpline.org.ukNeed to Talk?
GriefChat
The GriefChat service was created by bereavement experts and by clicking on the GriefChat box below, you can chat directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor.
GriefChat counsellors are experienced in supporting bereaved people and will listen to your story, explore how your grief is affecting you and help you to find any additional support you might need.
GriefChat is a completely free service and is available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm or by email out of these hours.
Stages of Bereavement
Experts generally agree there are four stages of bereavement or grief:
- Accepting that your loss is real
- Experiencing the pain of grief
- Adjusting to life without the person who has died
- Giving less emotional energy to grieving and channelling it into something new
