Bereavement Support

The death of a close relative or friend can be devastating and can bring about very strong emotions. For some people, grieving starts at the time of death and for others it starts at the time of diagnosis. The grieving process affects people in different ways. That’s why we treat you as an individual and provide the support most suitable for you.

If you’ve experienced the expected death of a relative, friend or partner or you’ve been affected by a palliative diagnosis, and your GP is in Nottingham or Nottinghamshire, our Pre & Post Bereavement Services are here to help you.

Our care is person-centred and non-judgemental – it’s simply a safe space to be heard. There’s no right or wrong way to approach grief, and everyone deals with things differently. After a bereavement, you may feel a need to talk and will find that helpful. You may well have friends or family you can talk to but being able to talk to someone entirely outside the situation is important.

Free bereavement and emotional support

All our services are free. You may be referred by a healthcare professional, or you can refer yourself by phoning 0115 962 1222 where our Care Coordination Team will take the details. Our Bereavement Team will then contact you.

After referral you’ll have your first appointment with an experienced member of our team. This gives you an opportunity to talk through what is going on for you and get an idea of the type and level of support you might find helpful. If you then decide you’d like ongoing support, we’ll arrange this as soon as possible, at a time convenient to you.

I’d been a 24-hour carer for at least two years. I was so busy doing everything I didn’t realise I was neglecting myself and a couple of months after my husband died I hit a brick wall. It really helped to have someone unrelated to talk to where there was no pressure to keep everything in. Counselling was the answer, I’d recommend it to anyone.

Emotional Support

Support is given by trained volunteers who have experience of working with bereaved people. They offer a listening ear and an understanding of the ways bereavement may affect you. They may also offer practical advice and information. There’s no expectation that you will talk about anything in particular – it’s about responding to what you bring to the session.
Emotional support is initially for eight sessions, with the possibility of extending this if required. We can provide support at the hospice or over the telephone.

Emotional Support over the Telephone

You may prefer to access support over the phone, and this can be given on a regular basis, usually once a month, or as a one-off. Again, what we offer you depends on what your preference is, and what you find easiest to access.

Counselling

Counselling is provided by fully qualified counsellors, and those in training. The difference between counselling and emotional support is not always obvious, but if you are feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or are dealing with more complex or difficult issues, you will usually be offered counselling. This does still depend on your own sense of what will be most helpful to you. Counselling is time-limited and usually takes place at the hospice.

Peer Support through Bereavement and Friendship Groups

A bereavement support group and a friendship group meet monthly. The staff who facilitate these groups encourage those attending to support each other.

You can attend the bereavement group at any stage of your grief journey. You may be over the worst or near the beginning. The friendship group is for people who have moved through the worst of their grief but still meet as friends to support each other.

Groups may meet virtually via Zoom or face to face at the hospice building.

For details about when these groups are meeting or about groups in other locations please contact the Support Services Team on 0115 962 1222.