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Bereavement

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Losing someone you are close to can be deeply distressing, both immediately after the death, and later on. Your loss is unique, and people cope with loss in their own ways.

Although bereavement is a highly personal event, many people go through a range of recognisable reactions and emotions when someone they are close to dies, such as feeling sad, angry or betrayed. These feelings are a normal part of the grieving process and coming to terms with loss.

Getting help to cope with bereavement

When someone close to you has died, you may feel lonely and isolated. Support from family and friends can be vitally important at this time, so don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it.

Psychological therapy services

Talking to a trained professional can also help you to understand and work through your feelings of bereavement. You can get access to local NHS psychological services through your GP (family doctor) or practice nurse. Your local NHS psychological therapies service provides therapy and mental health services for people with mild to moderate mental health problems, including OCD, depression and anxiety, as well as feelings related to changes in your life, bereavement, and personal and family problems.

This programme makes it easier for people to access therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling.

Details for your local services are:-

Other sources of support

The Loss Foundation offers bereavement support to people grieving the loss of someone to cancer. They run bereavement support groups around London and monthly support events.
Email: info@thelossfoundation.org
Tel: 0300 200 4112

Carers Network provides a tailored service for unpaid carers
Telephone number: 020 8960 3033

Re – Engage provides telephone befriending service for over 75’s
Telephone: 020 7240 0630 or 0800 716543

Age UK provides companionship, advice and support through a wide range of services

Mencap support for those with Learning Disabilities.
Telephone: 020 7454 0454 (9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday)

The NHS website has information for people who are approaching the end of their life and people who want to plan for their end of life care

Government services has a wealth of information, including how to access bereavement support payment if your partner dies, how to claim Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave, the steps you must take when someone dies etc.

At a Loss help bereaved people find help and support by signposting them easily to support (national, specialist and local services) reliable information, resources and emergency support.

The Bereavement Journey is being run across  the UK in person and online.

Independent Age have bereavement experts, you can talk to by clicking on the GriefChat box, where you can chat directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor
Telephone: 0800 319 6789

Care for the family focus primarily on family life: marriage, parenting and bereavement.

Marie Curie bereavement support help with practical information and support on all aspects of life with terminal illness, dying and bereavement. 
Telephone:  0800 090 2309

The Silver Line is a National charity help line for loneliness in elderly. The Silver Line Helpline is a free, confidential telephone service just for older people.
Tel: 0800 4 70 80 90
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Cruse Bereavement Care specialise in making sure that everyone grieving gets the support they need, when they need it. 
Telephone: 0808 808 1677

Bereavement Advice Centre have list of services to the bereaved, that are provided by the statutory, commercial and voluntary sectors.
Self-referral Free helpline: 0800 634 9494
Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm, 

The Good Grief Trust exists to help all those affected by grief in the UK. They aim to find the bereaved, acknowledge their grief and provide reassurance, a virtual hand of friendship and ongoing support. They hold a bereavement services map to facilitate local access to services.
Email: hello@thegoodgrieftrust.org

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide exist to meet the needs and to break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend. They aim to provide a safe, confidential environment, in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings.

Age UK has useful information and advice on coping with bereavement and how to get support, including personal stories from other people who have experienced the death of a loved which may help you feel to feel that you are not alone.

Child Bereavement UK supports families and educates professionals when a baby or child of any age dies or is dying, or when a child is facing bereavement.
National helpline: 0800 02 888 40 or local support: Beethoven Centre, Third Avenue, W10 4JL, on 020 8960 9476 or westlondonsupport@childbereavementuk.org

The Royal College of Psychiatrists website has sensitive and useful information, and links to other sources of support.

Muslim Bereavement Support Service are a non-profit organisation serving the Muslim community by supporting bereaved women who have lost a loved one.
Self-referral Telephone: 020 3468 7333
Email infor@mbss.org.uk

Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service provide counselling services to people facing bereavement in Jewish community.
Self-referral Telephone: 020 8951 3881
Email enquiries@jbcs.org.uk

Synagogues are a warm and welcoming independent community for those of the Jewish faith
West London Synagogue: 020 7723 4404

CCIWBS Bereavement and Loss Counselling in North London offer confidential counselling for everyone. In particular, they are keen to support people who would not normally seek help through counselling. They welcome clients from every section of society: minority ethnic, different cultures, LGBTQ+, religious groups and older people.
Self-referral Telephone: 020 7284 0090
Monday to Friday from 9.30 am to 5 pm
email: admin@cciwbs.org.uk
email: referrals@cciwbs.org.uk

Khalsa Jatha British Isles offer Sikh spirituality and support to the Sikh community 
Tel: 0207 603 2789
Email: gen.sec@khalsajatha.com

Aashna Counselling and Psychotherapy offer counselling and therapy specialising in supporting people for whom culture, faith, colour, sexuality, gender and disability impacts on their lived experience of bereavement
Self-referral Telephone: 07976 164833
Address:1 Castle Mews, North Finchley
London N12 9EH

End of Life Doula provide non-medical support to a person, and those important to them, with a terminal diagnosis.
Telephone: 01137339100   

The Bahai Community of Kensington & Chelsea
Self-referral Telephone: 020 7584 2566 

Roman Catholic Churches, Diocese of London, Church of England and Other churches
People are encouraged to contact their own 
local parish priest for advice and support. 
Self-referral You can use the find a church link below to 
get the contact details of a local church

Jain Centre supports the Jain Community
Tel: 020 8200 0828

The Healthwatch Kensington and Chelsea and Healthwatch Westminster websites provides a list of organisations which can give advice on what to do after someone has died, or can provide counselling and support to someone who has lost a loved one.

The Dying Matters website provides advice and information on coping with bereavement.

Independent Age has a booklet on Coping with bereavement.

ACAS provide advice to employees on their right to take time off work following a bereavement.

The Counselling Directory website provides advice on grieving and bereavement, and on what to look out for if you want to arrange bereavement counselling.

The NHS website provides information on bereavement and arranging bereavement support.

If you want advice on what needs to be done after a loved one dies (arranging the funeral, sorting out their estate etc) then have a look at our page on What to do when someone dies.

Age UK offer information on accessing counselling and talking therapies, and have produced a factsheet called You are not alone.

Easy Read The Easy Health website has gathered together various easy-read leaflets which will help people with learning disabilities to understand more about death and bereavement.

Good Thinking is an online wellbeing website which provides a range of resources to help Londoners improve their mental wellbeing, including dealing bereavement with free NHS-approved apps, articles, blogs, podcasts, self-assessments, videos and workbooks.

The Carers Trust offers advice on practical issues following a bereavement.

The Campaign To End Loneliness website has advice on what to do if you are feeling lonely in later life.

Last updated: 30/09/2024
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