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Support for people bereaved or affected by someone’s suicide
To be bereaved by suicide is devastating. There is support out there for people bereaved or impacted by someone’s suicide.
Some of the support is aimed specifically at suicide bereavement while some is more generalist. This resource is divided into bereavement support for adults, support for parents facing the death of a child and support for children and young people facing bereavement.
A good place to start is Help is at Hand which lists organisations which provide information and support. It also goes through what to expect in the period after a suicide such as what happens in a coroner’s court. It also gives information about how to look after yourself through the shock and trauma following suicide of a family member or friend.
Help is at Hand (PDF, 2.8MB)
The information below is largely summarised from Help is at Hand. Most of the organisations listed below are national but have support groups reasonably close to Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge. Some offer online and/or telephone contact. If you require specialist mental health help during this difficult time have a chat with GP who will be able to refer you to services that can support you.
The main aim of this information page is to underline the fact that you need not journey alone, others can befriend and help support you during bereavement. Please do not be afraid to ask for help.
While this page is accurate at time of development please check with the organisations listed for updated information.
Organisations offering bereavement support including bereavement by suicide
| Organisation | What it does | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Support After Suicide | Website with general information with list of organisations that can help support people who are bereaved or affected by suicide. | Support After Suicide website. |
| Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS) | National support organisation with local support groups. SOBS also offers support via email. Check website for details of available groups. The helpline is staffed by trained volunteers who themselves have been bereaved by suicide. |
Helpline: 0300 111 5065 |
| Cruse Bereavement Care | Offers support for the bereaved. Trained volunteers offer support face to face, by telephone, email and website. Cruse Bereavement Care with the Samaritans have set up a new local support group service called Facing the Future. The nearest support groups are in central London. To join a group, you need to be over 18 and have lost someone over 3 months ago. |
Helpline: 0844 477 9400 Cruse Bereavement Care website. Facing the Future website. |
| Samaritans |
Available 24/7. All calls are free. Provides listening support. You can also write a letter to the Samaritans – they aim to answer you within 7 days Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK |
Samaritans Helpline: 116 123 SMS: 07725 909090 Email: jo@samaritians.org |
| London Friend | Offers counselling for bereaved in the LGBTI+ community. Some concessionary rates available of people on low income. The initial assessment is free. | London Friend website. |
| Age UK | Supports older people including advice and information on money, care or health, social activities and a befriending service. | Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering: 020 8220 6000 Email: admin@ageukrbh.org.uk Age UK website. |
| Jewish Bereavement Counselling Service | Face-to-face bereavement counselling for people of the Jewish community. Also runs bereavement support groups. | Phone: 020 8951 3881 Email: enquires@jbcs.org.uk |
Support for bereaved parents
| Organisation | What it does | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| The Compassionate Friends (TFC) | TFC offers support after the death of a child of any age, through any cause. TFC provides online support, a helpline, email support and groups. | Helpline: 0345 123 2304 (open every day of the year 10am to 4pm and 7pm to 10pm) Email: helpline@tcf.org.uk |
| The Child Death Helpline | Provides a free phone helpline staffed by trained volunteers who have experienced the death of a child. It offers support in relation to the death of a child of any age, regardless of cause and distance in time. | Helpline: 0800 282 986 or 0808 800 6019 (if calling from a mobile) Child Death Helpline website. |
| Muslim Bereavement Support Services (MBSS) | Offers face-to-face and telephone support for bereaved women of the Muslim community. Can be contacted by phone, email and letter. Based in Ilford. |
Phone: 020 3468 7333 |
Bereavement support for children and young people
| Organisation | What it does | Contact |
|---|---|---|
| Winston’s Wish | Supports children and young people following the death of a parent or sibling. Also provides support to adults who were bereaved as children. Telephone helpline, the Ask Email Service which offers support and information. |
Free helpline: 0800 020 021 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Email: info@winstonswish.org Ask Email Service: ask@wintonswish.org |
| Child Bereavement UK (CBUK) | CBUK supports young people in bereavement or when a significant other is seriously ill. | Helpline: 01494 568900 (Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm) Email: support@childbereavementuk.org CBUK website. |
| Hope Again | Hope Again is the web based resource for young people experiencing bereavement from Cruse Bereavement Care. | Email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk Free phone helpline: 0808 808 1677 (Monday to Friday 9.30am to 5pm) Hope Again website. |