Introduction
Please work through this guide at your own pace - there is no time limit. Click on the ‘Next’ and ‘Previous’ buttons to navigate through the pages.
Throughout the guide there will be exercises where you will be able to type in your answers. Once the page is complete you will have the option to print out your answers, or to download them as a PDF file, for future reference.
- This guide is for anyone who has experienced a bereavement either recent or in the past.
- It may also be useful to people facing the certain loss of a loved one. Although it is sometimes hard to face these issues in advance, this can be helpful.
- Relatives or friends of a bereaved person may also find this guide useful.
There is a lot of information in this guide and it may be helpful to read it several times, or to read it a bit at a time, to get the most from it.
Print or download as a PDF
Coping with bereavement, grief and certain loss
“We really didn’t believe it when we found out the diagnosis. I thought these things only happened to other people, but the time we had to come to terms with it was really precious. We were able to think and plan together. “
“My father died six weeks ago after an 18 month struggle with cancer. Now I can’t get the picture of him at his worst out of my mind. I wish I could remember him as he was when he was well, but I can’t. I feel so guilty; I wish I could have done more...”
“I lost my wife six months ago after 45 years of marriage. She only had a short period of illness during which she never regained consciousness. It was so sudden I don’t seem to be able to cope with it. I keep expecting her to walk through the door. I sometimes feel she is present during the night but I always wake up disappointed...”
“My husband died by suicide earlier this year, and I am left on my own to bring up my two small children. I feel so lonely and isolated. Sleeping is a big problem. At times I feel angry with my husband for leaving me to cope on my own even though I know it wasn’t his fault. Other times I feel completely numb and still can’t believe it. I find it so hard to help the children deal with their sadness when I am grieving too.”
“I don’t think people understand how upset I am about losing my dog. Bobby has been part of our family for 16 years and has seen us through so many ups and downs. It was awful to make the decision to have him put to sleep but I couldn’t bear to see him in such pain.”
These are the experiences of some people who have suffered bereavement.
As you can see, people can have quite different experiences when they lose someone close to them. This guide gives some basic details of what needs to be done when there is a death. It aims to help you understand some of the emotions which may be faced during a bereavement or loss. It also makes some practical suggestions which may help you begin to get through this difficult time. At the back of the guide there are some addresses and telephone numbers of organisations which may be helpful to you and some suggestions of books for further reading.
What practical things need to be done if there is a death?
- When someone dies at home a doctor must be called to sign a medical certificate. You should telephone your local surgery to inform the GP that the death has occurred. If the death happens when the surgery is not open then you can call 111.
- When someone dies in a hospital or hospice, the doctor there will give you a medical certificate.
- If the death has been sudden, the doctor may have to talk to the police who will report it to the coroner. A post mortem examination may be arranged. This may also be the case if the cause of death is unknown or if no doctor is available who is certain of the actual cause of death.
- Once you have the medical certificate, you must take it to the register office and register the death within five days. You may need to make an appointment to do this. The registrar will issue a death certificate and a certificate for burial or cremation (often called the green certificate). Ask for quite a few copies (at least 6-10) of the death certificate. You will have to pay for these extra copies but you may need these for pension and insurance purposes. The registrar may give you details of the ‘Tell us once facility’, if it is available in your area. This really helpful service informs all government departments of the death to save contacting each separately. Details of this and other useful information about registering a death can be found on the government website www.
gov.uk/ after-a-death
What happens next?
- Before you make any funeral arrangements, check if the person who has died has made a will or left a signed and dated note or ‘Letter of Wishes’. You might find these among personal papers, or you may know that they used a particular solicitor. If there is a will, then the will should name the ‘Executors’, who are the people responsible for carrying out their wishes after their death. The executors are legally responsible for the funeral, though if a will (or a note or letter signed by the person who has died) lists the person’s desires for their funeral, it is obviously helpful to the executors in deciding what sort of a funeral to arrange. Even in a will, the funeral wishes are not legally binding, and by law the executors are the decision-makers as to what form the funeral will take. Executors usually also take advice from close family (or friends if there is no family) of the person who has died. If the executors named in a will are not able to act (due to unwillingness, illness or their own death since the will was written) then there is a legal process to follow and you need to ask for legal advice. Your local Citizens' Advice Bureau can help you if you are not sure - www.
citizensadvice.org.uk/ family/
If there is no will, Citizens Advice can also advise you how to contact the Probate Registry for an application to administer the ‘estate’.
- There may also have been a pre-paid funeral arranged with a particular funeral director. Often the person who has died has also expressed their preferences for what funeral arrangements they would like. In the case of a pre-paid funeral, you will usually have to use that funeral director to benefit from the pre-paid plan.
If the person who died left no guidance about their funeral, and if there is no pre-paid plan requiring you to use a particular funeral director, then you do not have to use a funeral director to arrange a funeral. The Natural Death Centre have a very helpful website with a frequently asked questions section that we would recommend you have a look at to help you think this through. www.naturaldeath.org.uk/ . We also recommend that you look at the website of Quaker Social Action - quakersocialaction.org.uk who will offer practical help with funeral costs and advice on how to keep the costs down,. If you have yet to arrange the funeral and are on benefits or low income, phone the helpline 020 8983 5055. You can also find help on the Quaker Social Action website if the funeral has already taken place and you are struggling to pay for it. You may be entitled to financial support to help you pay for the costs of a funeral.index.php? page=frequently-asked-questions
Please see the following link for further information.
www.gov.uk/ funeral-payments
- If you wish to choose a funeral director you can do this before or after you have registered the death. Many people obtain a name through recommendation or word of mouth. You can also look in the telephone directory for local funeral directors. You may also wish to look at the following websites to find out more about funeral directors:
www.nafd.org.uk/
www.saif.org.uk/
Funeral directors can usually be contacted 24 hours a day and will advise on all aspects of the funeral. They will also care for the body before a funeral. It is important to choose a funeral director you feel comfortable with. Many people find the support provided by funeral directors to be among the most useful. You should take your time and ask as many questions as you need to about arrangements, for example, when they will collect your loved one, where you can visit the body, as well as funeral costs. They are very used to talking to people in your situation and should be able to help you with any questions or concerns you have.
- Please remember you do have choices, for example using a cardboard coffin rather than a wooden one, or sourcing a coffin from an alternative source other than a funeral director, or using an everyday vehicle rather than a hearse. These might help to manage the costs and be a cheaper way to provide a funeral which is still dignified and respectful without breaking the bank or going into debt. Most funeral directors will have ‘simple’ or ‘basic’ plans that are still dignified and respectful. You should ask for a written estimate of costs, with a breakdown of those costs which might allow you to see what you do not need to pay for. Do not forget that as with other areas of life where you would compare costs, you do not have to immediately sign a contract with a funeral director before you have had a chance to ask for prices from another funeral director or look at standard costs provided by your local council for burials and cremations.
- We recommend as part of the bereavement process that you hold a ceremony for the person who has died, either at the time of the burial or cremation, or later. If you wish to use a particular celebrant and are using a funeral director, simply inform them who you would like to take the funeral. If you do not know who to ask, funeral directors can also arrange celebrants from particular religious traditions, or will engage the services of a non-religious celebrant, and will usually arrange the fees for them.
- Contact your local Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) to arrange pension and other entitlements. You may be eligible for Bereavement Allowance. The Direct.gov website provides information about benefit entitlement www.
gov.uk/ bereavement-support-payment - Inform the tax office about your change in circumstances if necessary.
- You may want to put a death notice in the local or national papers.
Understanding grief
Serious loss is something which we will all face at some time in our lives. This may be because of the death of someone close to us including a much loved pet. Or it may be because of other circumstances such as the loss of a relationship, our health or our home.
Many of us will not experience bereavement or loss until later in life and may have little opportunity to learn about death and about how people are affected by grief. It can be difficult to know what is “normal” and to understand how we or our families respond when we face a loss.
You may think you are the only person who has felt the way you do. Whilst everyone’s response to a loss is a very individual experience, there are some common experiences that many people will share.
People often describe the symptoms of shock soon after the death of a loved one. For example, they may feel numb, panicky, very weepy or unable to cry at all. Some people find it difficult to sleep, others may have physical symptoms such as heart palpitations. Some people find they calmly go through the practical tasks surrounding the death, and worry that they may be seen as uncaring. This might be a helpful coping mechanism as strong emotions might make it harder to get on with what you need to do; sometimes these emotions that we have ‘stowed’ need to ‘come home to roost’ and we might feel them much later. Some people find that they are unable to cope and need a lot of practical and emotional support from those around them at this point.
Please remember that everyone is different. There really are no ‘rights’ or ‘wrongs’ when people experience grief in the early stages.
Some people feel a sense of agitation for quite a long time after the death. They may become very active at this time, doing things like cleaning out the whole house, or going straight back to work when not really ready. This agitation can sometimes amount to anxiety and panic, with symptoms such as breathlessness, palpitations, heavy chest, dry mouth, and dizziness being common.
People may feel they are “going mad” because they have such odd experiences. People often report seeing, hearing or feeling the dead person near them or in the distance. These experiences are not unusual following a death. These feelings may alternate with depression, weepiness, tiredness and low mood.
People may start to wonder “what’s the point in going on?” They may feel guilt, and review the circumstances of the death, and their relationship with the person who died. They may wonder what they could have done differently which might have helped the situation. Guilt is common and this can arrive from different places. For instance, when there has been relief at someone's death following a painful and prolonged illness. It is worth remembering that many people feel relief when suffering ends. Or, we might worry that we did not do or say enough when the person was alive.
People also often feel angry after a death. This can be directed at the dead person; “why has he left me?”, or at those around. Family members or people involved in caring for the dying person may be the target for the bereaved person's anger. They might think or ask, “Why didn't you do more?”
Other people’s reactions may be difficult for the bereaved person. Sometimes people will be clumsy in what they say or do. Occasionally they will avoid contact with the bereaved person. These reactions are usually because people do not know what to do or say in the face of someone’s grief. Sometimes other people do not realise that it can take a long time to begin to recover from a death.
It can be particularly difficult for a bereaved person to help others struggling with the same loss, for example looking after children who have lost a parent, when struggling to cope with the loss of a partner.
Coming to terms with a death is a very individual and gradual process which can take a long time. People usually find that gradually they are able to get on with their lives and think a little less about the person they have lost. Most people begin to feel like this within one or two years of the death of someone close to them, but this depends on many factors. It may be difficult to accept the death of a loved one but still be possible to move on with life in spite of this.
Sometimes bereavement can be more complicated, particularly in a situation where there has been a difficult relationship. Sometimes we don’t feel what people expect us to feel because they don’t know about the nature of our relationship with the deceased. For example, if the person who died was abusive or nasty to you when they were alive. Its ok to feel what you feel.
Bereavement by suicide or homicide are particularly hard to come to terms with, and for this reason people often find it most helpful to turn to others who have had a similar experience for support (see contacts at the end of this guide).
Some bereavements are particularly traumatic, for example where death is very sudden and unexpected, or involves the loss of a child. Sometimes we experience memories or pictures of what happened to our loved ones that jump into our mind out of the blue. Often with a felt sense of ‘being back there’. In the early days of loss, and particularly with traumatic loss this is a normal response and will get better over time. However, if these distressing images stay with you and don’t seem to be moving on then you may wish to look at the guide on Post Traumatic Stress and follow the advice there or talk to your GP.
Sometimes we are bereaved but do not have the evidence of a body to help us with this. This happens for example, if someone dies at sea, is killed in a terrorist attack, or is involved in a natural disaster. Or, if someone has died and we were not able to be there with them or to see their body or go through some of the helpful rituals of dying; this happened during the pandemic.
We may know that the person is dead but we are also left with terrific uncertainty, perhaps even expecting them to walk back into our lives. This is called ambiguous loss. This is what we experience when a loss remains unclear and undefined, and thus lingers. Linked to this idea is the importance of knowing that uncertainty and ambiguity in loss are normal and if we can accept this then we might find a way to move on.
The idea of closure can be unhelpful when used to think about human relationships, that somehow death and bereavement are tied off with a neat bow and ‘sorted’. Grief and loss might be best considered as a wound that opens and closes, sometimes predictably (on birthdays or special days) and sometimes unpredictably (triggered by the smell of their perfume or aftershave). We might not feel upset for years and then while watching TV, something might remind us of our loved one and we well up. It’s ok, because it will close again and perhaps later, open again; this is nature of loss. Over time the wound might feel less intense or less upsetting.
If you feel you are stuck or not coping at all well with your grief, then contact your doctor to discuss this. Counselling can be helpful for many people who are bereaved, although it is usually worth waiting a few months. Other organisations which may help are listed at the back of this guide.
Moving on
It is important not to feel guilty if you are beginning to build a life for yourself following a death. It is quite normal to begin to recover and start to rebuild your life, and is not in any way disloyal to the memory of the person who has died.
Can tablets help?
Your doctor may offer tranquillisers, to help through the early phase following the death. They can make you feel calmer and may help in the short term but are not helpful for longer term use. Some people find that the numbing effect of tranquillisers does not allow them to experience grief during this time, and grief is an important part of healing. Antidepressants can be helpful if depression following bereavement becomes severe or prolonged.
What can a bereaved person or someone facing certain loss of a loved one do to help themselves?
Bereavement is always a difficult time, but there are things you can do to help yourself through it.
- If you have the opportunity, prepare for the death of someone you are close to. It is important emotionally and practically to talk things over. If you are preparing for the death of your partner and it is ok with them, discuss such things as the jobs they do that you will need to take over, finances, wills, funeral wishes etc. Try if you can to say all the things you would want to say.
- Accept practical help if offered. It is sometimes hard to look after yourself when you are caring for someone else. So, if friends offer to shop, cook, clean for you – say yes!
- Don’t be afraid to ask for support... People are usually only too glad to help.
- Carefully consider whether you want to see the body of the dead person. Some people may feel this is too distressing but can regret it later on if they have not done this. Follow your own feelings. There is no right or wrong thing to do, but do think it through.
- Funeral arrangements should be considered carefully. Try to have someone with you. Don’t feel pressured into a funeral that is too expensive for your budget. Try and think about what you really want. Think carefully when choosing music for the funeral. It may change your feelings about a special song, so make sure you are ok with this.
- Many people find the support of funeral directors or spiritual leaders useful at this time.
- Do make sure you look after your own health. This is a time when you may become prone to illness including depression. Eat well, rest properly, exercise and take extra care of yourself, for example treating yourself to favourite foods, warm baths etc. This is particularly true if you are bereaved and at the same time supporting others with their loss. You may want to take vitamin supplements if your appetite is very poor. Visit your doctor if your health is not good or you feel your mood is consistently low after some time has passed.
- Do give yourself time to grieve and feel emotions. Its ok to cry and feel sad. This is normal. Try to be kind and patient with yourself and accept your feelings, even if you don’t like them. Don’t add pressure by comparing self with others. No-one else can tell you how to grieve or when to stop.
- Do forgive yourself for anything you feel bad about in relation to your loss. It is normal following a bereavement to have regrets about things that could have been done or said differently, but try to let this go if you can. Compassion and acceptance help our emotional wellbeing.
- Do talk to people about how you feel. Family and friends have been found to be by far the most helpful form of support following a bereavement, although sometimes they will be grieving too. Religious or spiritual support for some people can also be helpful. Keeping a diary of your feelings day to day may also help. Go to your doctor if you feel you have no one you can talk to. There may be support groups locally or online. Mindfulness, a form of meditation, has been found to be helpful for emotional wellbeing. It is likely that classes may be available locally. Your GP may be able to advise. If your symptoms do not start to improve with time your GP may suggest speaking to a counsellor.
- Do ask for help if you feel you are not coping. People often ask if there is anything they can do to help but unless you tell them, they are unlikely to know what would be most useful.
- Do keep up activities and relationships. Accept invitations, invite people to visit, keep in touch with family and friends, get out for a walk if you feel able. Find out about local events, clubs and classes. It is important to have things going on that can distract you from the pain of grieving and give you a break. Simple things like watching a film or reading a book can help, although it may take some time to be able to concentrate enough to read after a bereavement. It is also worth choosing carefully, try to steer clear of books and films that relate too closely to your own situation.
- Do plan what you will do on anniversaries such as birthdays, religious or spiritual festivals, or on the anniversary of the death. It will help if you decide in advance how you want to spend these occasions, which are likely to be emotional times.
- Do think about ways of keeping memories of your loved one alive if this is a comfort. People have found many ways of doing this: memory boxes, bespoke jewellery, memorial fund raising, memorial benches are a few examples.
- Don’t make major changes in your life, such as selling your house, moving areas, jobs, etc. until you have had time to adjust to the death. This is a time when people may make changes they can regret.
- Don’t enter into new financial arrangements without proper advice. Talk to a friend, family member or an advice organisation such as Citizens Advice.
- Don’t turn to alcohol or other drugs at this difficult time. This can be harmful to your body, affect your emotions and slow down your recovery.
- Don’t bottle things up. Talking can really help.
What can family and friends do to help?
Family and friends can help at this difficult time.
- Spend time with the bereaved person if that is what they want.
- Talk and listen to the bereaved person. Don’t be afraid of saying the wrong thing - this is a situation many of us feel awkward about. It may help to admit that you don’t know what to say if that is how you feel.
- Don’t be surprised if the bereaved person wants to talk and go over the same ground again and again, this is quite usual.
- Don’t take anger or irritability personally, it's part of the bereavement reaction.
- Talking about the dead person can be helpful for the grieving person. Don’t try and avoid mentioning them in everyday conversation.
- Offer practical help if the bereaved person wants this. Caring for children, help with shopping etc. may be useful, especially in the early days following a death.
- Don’t expect too much of the bereaved person initially even if they look as if they are coping.
- Include your relative/friend in social events.
- Support your relative/friend in building new links, social contacts and interests.
- Try to discourage the bereaved person from making any major decisions, such as moving home soon after the death. Support them in thinking through the options and implications of this.
- If your friend or relative seems ‘stuck’ and not coping at all well, encourage them to seek help. The family doctor is a good place to start. Other organisations that may help are listed at the back of this guide.
Useful organisations
- Bereavement Advice Centre
Advice Line: 0800 634 9494
www.bereavementadvice.org
Offers advice on all aspects of bereavement from registering the death and finding a funeral director through to probate, tax and benefit queries. - The Blue Cross – Pet Bereavement Support
Helpline: Tel: 0800 096 6606
Email: pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk
www.bluecross.org.uk/ pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss - British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy
Tel: 01455 883 300
Email: bacp@bacp.com
www.bacp.co.uk
Offers an information service providing contacts for counselling in England and Wales. - Carers UK
Tel: 0808 808 7777
www.carersuk.org
Email: advice@carersuk.org
Provides information, advice, and support to carers and their families, with useful information for carers who have suffered a bereavement. - Child Death Helpline
Freephone Helplines: 0800 282 986
www.childdeathhelpline.org.uk
Freephone service for anyone affected by the death of a child. - Compassionate Friends
Tel: 0345 123 2304
Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk
www.tcf.org.uk
Support for parents following the death of a child at any age. - CRUSE Bereavement Support
Helpline: 0808 808 1677
www.cruse.org.uk
Offers advice and support for those affected by bereavement. Helpline for bereaved people and carers offering support from trained volunteers. - Facing the Future
Tel: 0208 939 9560
Email: info@facingthefuturegroups.org
The Facing the Future service has been developed by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care to help support people who have been bereaved by suicide. Our support groups will give you the opportunity to meet others who have lost someone to suicide and share your experiences and feelings. You may attend our support groups even if you are already receiving other types of support. - GOV.UK
What to do when someone dies
www.gov.uk/ when-someone-dies - Healthwatch
www.healthwatch.co.uk
If you use GPs and hospitals, dentists, pharmacies, care homes or other support services, we want to hear about your experiences. As an independent statutory body, we have the power to make sure NHS leaders and other decision makers listen to your feedback and improve standards of care. - The Lullaby Trust
Bereavement Support Tel: 0808 802 6868
Email: support@lullabytrust.org.uk
Information and advice Tel: 0808 802 6869
Email: info@lullabytrust.org.uk
www.lullabytrust.org.uk
Offers confidential support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young toddler. This is available immediately or at any later time. This support is for families, friends, carers and professionals. - Mental Health Matters
Tel: 0191 516 3500
Email: info@mhm.org.uk
www.mhm.org.uk
A national organisation which provides support and information on employment, housing, community support and psychological services. - Mind Infoline
Tel: 0300 123 3393
Email: info@mind.org.uk
www.mind.org.uk
Provides information on a range of topics including types of mental distress, where to get help, drug and alternative treatments and advocacy. Also provides details of help and support for people in their own area.
Helpline available Mon - Fri, 9am - 6pm. - Miscarriage Association
Tel: 01924 200 799
Email: info@miscarriageassociation.org.uk
www.miscarriageassociation.org.uk
Provides support and information for those suffering the effects of pregnancy loss.
Helpline available Mon - Fri, 9am - 4pm. - National Debt Line
Tel: 0808 808 4000
www.nationaldebtline.org
Help for anyone in debt or concerned they may fall into debt. - NHS Talking Therapies
www.nhs.uk/ mental-health/ talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/ talking-therapies-and-counselling/ nhs-talking-therapies/
Provides details on how to access local talking therapies services across England. - The Natural Death Centre
This is a social, entrepreneurial, educational charity that gives free, impartial advice on all aspects of dying, bereavement and consumer rights.
www.naturaldeath.org.uk/ index.php? page=the-anbg - Rethink
Advice service: 0808 801 0525
Email: advice@rethink.org.uk
www.rethink.org
Provides information and a helpline for anyone affected by mental health problems. - Samaritans
Tel: 116 123
www.samaritans.org
Email: jo@samaritans.org
Post: Freepost SAMARITANS LETTERS
Confidential support for anyone in a crisis. - Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)
Helpline: 0300 111 5065
Email: support@uksobs.org
www.uksobs.org.uk
Provides helpline and support for people affected by suicide. - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society
Helpline: 0808 164 3332
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
www.sands.org.uk
Supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and promotes research in reducing the loss of babies’ lives. - Terence Higgins Trust
Helpline: 0808 802 1221
Email: info@tht.org.uk
www.tht.org.uk
Website promoting good health, sexual health and mental wellbeing for those affected by HIV and AIDS. - UK Trauma Council
https://uktraumacouncil.org/ resources/ traumatic-bereavement
Free, evidence-based resources to support schools, colleges and practitioners working with traumatically bereaved children and young people. - Victim Support
Support line: 0808 1689 111
www.victimsupport.org.uk
Victim Support is an organisation which offers support and practical help for people who have experienced trauma. - WAY Widowed and Young
www.widowedandyoung.org.uk
A national charity in the UK for men and women aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group run by a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through.
Support groups
- The NHS website
Find bereavement support services near you.
www.nhs.uk/ Service-Search/ other-services/ Bereavement%20support/ LocationSearch/ 314 - The Compassionate Friends
www.tcf.org.uk/ in-your-area/ - The Good Grief Trust
www.thegoodgrieft.org/find-supportrust/ - Cruse Bereavement Support
www.cruse.org.uk/ - Mind
www.mind.org.uk/ information-support/ guides-to-support-and-services/ bereavement/ useful-contacts/
Useful books
- Ambiguous Loss; Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief
Pauline Boss
Harvard University Press 2000
Boss helps us to consider and acknowledge the uncertainty experienced in grief and loss. - A grief observed
C S Lewis
Faber 1961
C.S. Lewis's honest reflection on the fundamental issues of life, death, and faith in the midst of loss. - An introduction to coping with grief (2nd edition)
Sue Morris
Robinson 2017
This fully updated self-help guide offers an examination and explanation of the grieving process and outlines clinically-proven strategies, based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), to help you adjust to life without a loved one. - Bereavement; Coping with the death of a loved one
Age UKIG32
Age UK 2023
Available at: www.ageuk.org.uk/ (Accessed: 21 November 2023)Documents/ EN-GB/ Information-guides/ AgeUKIG32_bereavement_inf.pdf? epslanguage=en-GB? dtrk=true - Facing grief: bereavement and the young adult
Susan Wallbank
James Clark 1991
This frank, sensible and compassionate book examines in detail the particular needs and experiences of young adults. - Grief works: stories of life, death and surviving
Julia Samuel
Penguin Life 2017
Grief Works is a compassionate guide that will inform and engage anyone who is grieving, from the 'expected' death of a parent to the sudden unexpected death of a small child, and provide clear advice for those seeking to comfort the bereaved. - The early days of grieving (Revised edition)
Derek Nuttall
Darton, Longman and Todd 2006
This self-help book covers the practical, emotional and social aspects of bereavement when a loved person has died. - The essential guide to life after bereavement: beyond tomorrow
Judy Carole Kaufmann
Jessica Kingsley 2013
This sensitive book acts as a helpful and supportive road map through the initial period of loss, and through the weeks and months that follow. They offer advice on coping with negative emotions, as well as unique and helpful guidance on breaking bad news to children, people with a learning disability and people with dementia. - Tips from Widows
Jan Robinson
Bloomsbury Publishing 2015
A short and useful book of tips which come directly from people who have experienced bereavement. - Tips from widowers
Jan Robinson
Bloomsbury Publishing 2016
A short and useful book of tips which come directly from people who have experienced bereavement. - Widow to widow: thoughtful, practical ideas for rebuilding your life (Revised edition)
Genevieve Davis Ginsburg
Da Capo Press 2004
In this guide, widow, author, and therapist Genevieve Davis Ginsburg offers fellow widows - as well as their family and friends - sage advice for coping with the loss of a husband. From learning to travel and eat alone to creating new routines to surviving the holidays and anniversaries that reopen emotional wounds.
References
A full list of references is available on request by emailing pic
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Acknowledgement
Written by Dr Lesley Maunder and Lorna Cameron, Consultant Clinical Psychologists
Many thanks to Dr Kevin Meares, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust, who has contributed to the review of this guide.
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust has developed this resource with the support of NHS healthcare staff, service users and local voluntary sector groups.
Published by Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
2024 Copyright PIC/87/0324 March 2024 V5
Review date 2027