Support with grief and bereavement

There are resources and support groups that can help if you are struggling with your grief.

Grief resources

These resources may help you while you are grieving.

• Cruse’s collection of grief booklets, including booklets in languages other than English
• Marie Curie’s recommended apps and podcasts for when you’re grieving
• Penny McCanny reflects on the power of hope during dark times 
• Cruse’s recommended books about grief
• Compassionate Communities NI has curated resources about death in libraries in Omagh, Newry and Derry/Londonderry

National support agencies

• Cruse Bereavement Support
• National Bereavement Service
• Child Bereavement UK
• The Lullaby Trust
• SANDS– stillbirth and neonatal death charity
• Anam Cara – supporting parents after bereavement
• Marie Curie Bereavement Support
• Winston’s Wish – supporting grieving children and young people
• Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
• At a Loss – helping bereaved young people find support and wellbeing
• Widowed and young – for anyone who’s lost a partner under the age of 51
• Blue Cross Pet Bereavement Support

Online support networks

Some people find support on websites or through social media groups and accounts. You might find these options helpful

• The Compassionate Friends Facebook groups for bereaved parents
• Winston’s Wish hosts Zoom grief support groups for bereaved children and young people
• Untangle Grief is a peer support app that hosts online support groups for members – some of its services require a paid plan, but many of its sessions are available to watch online
• Sue Ryder bereavement support charity provides a personalized grief support text service
• Sue Ryder bereavement support charity provides an online grief support forum
• Macmillan provides a support forum for people who have lost their partners or spouses to cancer
• Let’s talk about loss has online meet-ups for people aged 18-35 who have been bereaved and hosts an in-person meet-up in Belfast

Ask your GP about local grief support groups if you would prefer meeting people in real life to getting support online.

Self-care

It’s important to be kind and patient with yourself when you are grieving. Making time for self-care is part of that process. Here are some ways you can look after your wellbeing

• Don’t isolate yourself – spend time with others
• Do what your body needs – in the immediate aftermath of a loss you may find that you sleep a lot or that you’re particularly teary. Allow your body the time to recover from the trauma you’ve been through
• Be gentle with yourself – allow yourself the time you need to recover. Don’t expect that you’ll be able simply to pick up your old life back again after an arbitrary amount of time
• Remember your loved one – find ways to connect with the memory of your loved one, whether that’s talking or writing to them, looking at photographs or talking about them with others
• Treat yourself – good, old-fashioned self-care rituals like massage, hair and beauty appointments can take your mind off your loss – let yourself be pampered
• Integrate the 5 steps to wellbeing into your daily routine – here are some ways you can do this

Always get help if you are struggling. You can speak to your GP or to a support agency.

Want to find support? 

Click here for information on support services across Northern Ireland.