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Grief and Bereavement

Commonly known as: loss, death, bereavement, grief

Grief and Bereavement

Explore grief and bereavement by scrolling through the page or simply select an option from the drop down if you wish to jump to the relevant section of the page:

Bereavement is the experience of losing some close to us.  Feeling lost after a breakdown of a relationship, the death of a loved one, family member, friend or a pet is a normal way to feel.

It is natural to express a range of physical and emotional feelings after a loss. Grief is a normal and natural response to a loss. We can also feel grief when our personal circumstances change, such as losing a job or moving to a different area.

It is important to remember that bereavement affects people in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to feel.

When we are bereaved, we can feel:

  • Sad
  • Depressed
  • Anxious
  • Overwhelmed
  • Lost and alone
  • Lonely
  • Guilty
  • Like crying all the time
  • Empty
  • Angry

These are all a reaction to your loss. There is no exact time when these feelings are going to go away or get easier. They are your feelings.

 

Self-help advice

  • Find out more about grief and how it can be managed. See our self-help resources below.
  • Find support, reassurance and information on how to manage your grief by attending a course. See our self-help courses below.
  • Try talking about your feelings to a friend or family member. Or you may find it helpful to get involved in activities going on in your local area. There may be a support group nearby. Find out what’s going on in your area by visiting our ‘in your area’ page.
  • Make sure you are looking after yourself. There are simple things we can all do to help look after our mental health. Visit our ‘looking after yourself’ section for more information and advice.
  • You don’t need to experiences these feelings alone. Talk to someone you trust or see our ‘if you need further help’ section below. There are many free services who can offer support or a listening ear.
  • If you have been bereaved by suicide, we have a free support service in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area. See details on the 2Wish service below.
  • If you or someone you know need urgent help – go to our ‘urgent help’ page immediately.

 

If you need further help managing grief

If the information, advice, resources and courses on this page have not been helpful and/or you think you need more help, there are many free support services available.

If you live in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, and are aged over 18, you can make an appointment with a Psychological Health Practitioner (PHP) or GP by contacting your local GP surgery. PHPs are NHS mental health practitioners who provide a free service for people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.

If you are under 18 or worried about someone aged under 18 and need advice/self-referral to local mental health and wellbeing services in the Aneurin Bevan University Health Board area, contact SPACE-Wellbeing.

Or alternatively contact another approved helpline. Some services are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Last updated: 25.09.2023
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Self-help resources to help with grief

Browse our free self-help resources for grief, approved by mental health experts.

Type Title Related to… Provider
Reading Reading

Bereavement – NHS Self-help Guide

Grief and Bereavement mind
Reading Reading

Bereavement – NHS Easy Read Guide: When Someone Dies

Grief and Bereavement mind
Websites Websites

What is bereavement? – Mind

Grief and Bereavement mind
Websites Websites

Young Person’s Mental Health Toolkit – Loss

Children's Mental Wellbeing, Grief and Bereavement, Students' Mental Health, Young Person's Mental Health mind
Reading Reading

Lost for words – e-book for bereaved children by Benjamin Brooks-Dutton

Grief and Bereavement, Young Person's Mental Health mind
Websites Websites

The Good Grief Trust – Run by the breaved for the bereaved

Grief and Bereavement mind
Reading Reading

An Introduction to Coping with Grief, Sue Morris – Reading Well

Grief and Bereavement mind
Reading Reading

Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death and Surviving, Julia Samuel – Reading Well

Grief and Bereavement mind
Reading Reading

The Essential Guide to Life After Bereavement: Beyond Tomorrow, Judy Carole Kauffmann, Mary Jordan – Reading Well

Grief and Bereavement mind
Showing 9 out of 27 results View all

If you need further help

See below for helplines for grief and bereavement. To see our full list of helplines, visit our helplines page.

2Wish Logo

2Wish – Support for anyone affected by suicide or sudden death of someone aged 25 years and under

Supporting those affected by sudden death in young people aged under 25

2Wish are a charity who provide bereavement support for anyone affected by the sudden and traumatic death or a young adult aged 25 or under throughout Wales.

Visit 2Wish website ➝
Cruse Bereavement Support Logo

Cruse Bereavement Support

Cruse Bereavement Support Helpline is run by trained bereavement volunteers, who offer emotional support to anyone affected by grief.

We’ll give you space to talk about your feelings and how you’ve been coping.

Visit Cruse Bereavement Support website ➝
Showing 2 out of 17 results View all
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