15/09/2022
At a time of collective mourning it can help to validate your personal emotional state.
Human beings are individuals, each of us with unique set of personal experiences that inform how we adapt to loss and change. Therefore, if we respond differently to the expectation of a wider society then our reactions can be dismissed as inappropriate or out of the ‘normal’ way of being.
Grief is not a linear process. It can be as messy, haphazard and unpredictable.
How you feel is the right way to feel. Try not to compare or contrast the behaviour of others with your emotions. This can be difficult when caught up in a collective tide of feelings that may be explicit or implicit, conscious or unconscious.
You may not be able to feel anything. That’s all you need to validate. You are paying attention to your emotional state.
The most important gift that you can give yourself or another human is non judgmental attention to emotions. Grief can be isolating and we need to have our experiences witnessed. If you are feeling emotionally overwhelmed then talking can help.
BEAD (Bereaved through Alcohol and Drugs)
beadproject.org.uk
Provides information and support for anyone bereaved through drug or alcohol use.
The Blue Cross
bluecross.org.uk Provides support around the time of a pet's death.
Child Bereavement UK
0800 028 8840 childbereavementuk.org
Runs a national helpline and local support groups for parents and families following the loss of a child.
The Compassionate Friends
0345 123 2304 tcf.org.uk Provides support to bereaved families after the death of a child.
Cruse Bereavement Care
0808 808 1677 cruse.org.uk
Provides information and face-to-face support for anyone who has experienced a bereavement. Support available across England and Wales.
Dying Matters
dyingmatters.org
Coalition of individual and organisational members across England and Wales, aiming to help people talk more openly about dying, death and bereavement, and to make plans for the end of life.
Moodjuice
moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk Online self-help guides on topics such as bereavement, depression, anxiety and stress.
MoodPanda
moodpanda.com Online app to help you track your mood.
Samaritans
116 123 (freephone) [email protected]
samaritans.org Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK PO Box 90 90 Stirling FK8 2SA 24-hour emotional support for anyone who needs to talk.
Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity
0808 164 3332 [email protected] sands.org.uk Supports anyone who has been affected by the death of a baby.
Survivors of Bereavement by Su***de (SOBS)
0300 111 5065 uksobs.org Provides support to people over 18 who are bereaved by su***de.
Widowed and Young (WAY)
widowedandyoung.org.uk
Offers a peer-to-peer support network to anyone whose partner died young (aged 50 or under).
