Grief is something that affects us all. At some point in our lives, we will all feel the impact of experiencing grief and loss.
National Grief Awareness Week is a campaign run by The Good Grief Trust to help raise awareness of the impact of grief and to create a unified voice for all bereavement support services.
As much as we are all impacted by it, there is no right or wrong way to deal with our grief and loss.
Christmas can be an especially tough time of year with extra merriment, social pressures and collective fatigue which is heightened when you’re grieving. The Loss Project has created some new resources aimed to provide some hope, peace and wellbeing this festive season.
Just because someone is smiling, it doesn’t mean that they are not grieving; each of us is unique and we all have our own ways of showing our emotions. The most important thing is to look out for each other, and support your loved ones, friends and colleagues when they are struggling.
Grieving has no expiry date. There’s no set time of how long you’re allowed to grieve for. Loss is not something that you ‘get over’ or ‘move on’ from. However, we can all move forward and learn to live with our bereavement with the right care and support from those around us.
There are support services available to offer practical and emotional support for bereavement. Sometimes we need a friendly face and shoulder to cry on, and sometimes it takes a more in depth approach. Whichever you need, please don’t suffer in silence.
Hear from Dr Kathryn Hall, GP Clinical Lead for Palliative Care, North Tyneside CCG.
Please speak with your local GP if you feel you need help and check out these organisations all providing help and support..
Bereavement Support
Below is a list of places where you can access support.
The UK’s signposting website for the bereaved
Provide support for people bereaved by a death on the road
Includes Live Chat via the website
Tel: 0800 02 888 40
Coroners’ Courts Support Service
Provide support to people where there is an inquest following a death
Tel: 0300 111 2141
Tel: 0808 808 1677
Tel: 0808 802 0111
Online support for children and young people
Support for anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child
Tel: 0800 090 2309
National Bereavement Partnership
Tel: 0800 448 0800
Supports pastoral, spiritual, and religious care in healthcare, particularly at end-of-life
Tel: 116 123 free from any phone
Tel: 0330 094 5717
Local call charges apply
Support for anyone affected by the death of a baby
Tel: 0808 1643332
Support when someone has died suddenly, or too soon in their lives
Tel: 0800 2600 400
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Tel: 0300 111 5065
Tel: 0345 123 2304
For people aged 50 or under when their partner died
Tel: 08088 020 021
Bereavement support online
The following is a list of nationally produced online information, which families and carers can be signposted to about grief, funerals and support in exceptional times.
Helping people prepare for the end of life. How to talk about it, plan for it, and record your wishes
Tel: 0800 999 2434