Bereavement and loss affect people in many different ways and can lead to a whole range of emotions, from depression to anger. Talking about your grief can help to make you feel less alone in your loss and help you to begin growing around your grief.
However, it can be difficult to speak openly about your grief - you may not know what to say or you may be worried about what other people will think. Here are some suggestions on where to seek help when you are grieving.
Grief counselling
You may be able to lean on family or friends to support you through your grief. They can empathise with your loss, listen to how you feel and offer practical help. However, they may also be grieving and you might worry about upsetting them.
If you can’t turn to friends or family when you are grieving then a bereavement or grief counsellor could be a good alternative.
A grief counsellor will help you to explore your feelings and thoughts and help you to make sense of the world after your loss. You can talk to them about the person who has died, how their death is affecting you and how you are coping.
Counselling services are provided by a range of organisations and can take place in person, online or over the phone. You may be able to find support near you through your local authority or search the AtaLoss website, a bereavement information service that lets people search for all types of bereavement support across the UK.
Help lines and support groups
Not everyone needs or wants to commit to regular grief counselling. It may be that a call to a support or helpline will be enough to help you cope with your feelings. Calls made to support lines are typically answered by volunteers, trained to help you make sense of how you are feeling. Cruse Bereavement Support, Marie Curie and the mental health charity Mind are just some of the organisations that run free, confidential support lines.
If you feel that you want more than a phone call, but don’t want to take on counselling, a grief support group may be useful. Grief support groups bring together people who have experienced bereavement so that they can share how they are feeling.
If you would prefer to meet people in person, groups meet locally weekly or monthly. If you can’t or don’t want to meet in person, online support groups provide a good alternative. Cancer bereavement charity, the Loss Foundation, holds online support group meetings for people who have lost a loved one to cancer.
Online communities
Online communities are another place where people can seek support when they are grieving. In these online groups, members can share their experiences and emotions or respond to messages from others, offering support and advice.
Many UK health charities, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Sue Ryder and Mind host active online support communities.
Beyond seeking support from counsellors or others with shared experiences, some people find comfort in the huge store of information that is available for people that are grieving. There are websites, books, podcasts and videos offering help on every aspect of bereavement and loss.
Wherever you decide to seek help when you are grieving, the most important thing is to remember that you are not alone and there is help available.
