Bereavement Support

Grief is powerful and can seem overwhelming, particularly in the early days of the loss of a loved one. It’s normal to experience strong emotions, which may include anger, anxiety, confusion, depression, numbness and disbelief. You may also find you have difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite and other reactions.

However, grief is natural. Many people find that releasing emotions is much better than keeping them in. Mourning a loss is a way to come to terms with it – and, in time, to move on with life.

You may find that the support of others helps at this time. There are many bereavement care and support groups, which some people find both comforting and useful, such as:

• Child Bereavement UK
• Childhood Bereavement Network - a hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families
• Childline - a national helpline for children
• Cruse Bereavement Care - bereavement care for adults
• Family Lives - a parenting website with useful links
• Hope Again - an interactive website for young people managed by Cruse Bereavement
• MPS Online - a free service that enables those who have died to have their personal details removed from mailing lists
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide - a self-help service for adults who are bereaved by suicide
• The Compassionate Friends - a peer support group for parents who have lost a child
• WAY Widowed and Young - a support group for young widows