Do you need to talk to someone?
Call Samaritans on 116 123
Experiencing a mental health crisis?
Call 111
Is your life at immediate risk?
Call 999 or go to A&E
When you lose someone close to you, it can feel like your whole world changes in an instant. Not only are you grieving the person you’ve lost, you’re also closing the chapter of your life that they were part of.
Following a loss, it’s natural to go through a range of emotions, from sadness to anger, hopelessness to loneliness. However, bereavement affects everyone differently; some people may feel devastated right away, while others may take a while to process what’s happened. There’s no right or wrong way to feel, nor is there a set length of time to grieve.
National Grief Awareness Week (2nd - 8th December), organised by the charity, Good Grief, aims to get the public talking about grief to normalise this difficult but inevitable part of life. Grief affects us all and it’s important that we’re able to talk about it, as keeping our feelings inside can mean we feel more distressed, overwhelmed and isolated.
Bereavement can have a big impact on a person’s mental health. People who already have a mental health condition can find that it worsens, while others may develop difficulties for the first time. It’s important that we prioritise taking care of ourselves and make sure that we have the right support in place.
How you might feel following bereavement:
Although grief is personal and everyone’s experience will be different, following a bereavement, it’s common to:
Taking care of yourself after bereavement:
Bereavement resources and support services:
Marie Curie - Bereavement due to cancer
Samaritans - Support 24/7 for anyone who needs to talk
Cruse Bereavement Support - Support after bereavement
Bead Project - Bereavement due to drugs and alcohol
Child Bereavement UK - Support when a child is dying, or support for a child who has been bereaved
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) - Nationwide support for bereavement by suicide
Mental health affects us all. This means it's essential that mental health services are equally available to everyone, everywhere. This World Mental Health Day, 10th October, we explore the right to access care.
This week is National Work Life Week, a campaign led by the charity, Working Families, to get people talking about wellbeing at work and work-life balance.
Have you noticed a change in a friend or family member’s behaviour or mindset? Maybe they’re isolating themselves, worrying more than usual or acting erratically. Here are some tips on how you can support them.