Grief, Loss & Bereavement

Grief affects us all in many different ways, but it can help to read about bereavement to know what to expect and to see how others have been able to overcome it.There are a number of fantastic charities and professionals who work with people experiencing bereavement, many of whom we've collaborated with to create this selection of articles, which we hope will help you to feel even a little less helpless, and even a bit more reassured.
Grief, Loss & Bereavement
  2. Grief, Loss & Bereavement
How to Help a Grieving Friend
It’s difficult and painful to see someone you care about suffering after a loss. We can feel helpless at these times, but the good news is that there are ways we can make a difference. Here’s some advice on how to ...
How to Cope with the Loss of a Dog
Pets are a source of simple joy in our lives, and it can be very emotionally difficult when they’re not there any more. It can be even harder if it feels like people don’t understand how much our pets meant to ...
What to Say When Someone Dies
Wanting to comfort someone who is hurting is the most natural thing in the world. But it can be hard to know what to say when someone dies. That all-too-familiar worry ⁠— what if you say the wrong thing? 
How to Cope with a Death Anniversary
Grief is full of painful milestones. The first birthday after your person dies. The first Christmas. Father’s Day. All these occasions remind us of what we’ve lost. So, it’s no wonder that many of us dread a death anniversary. How do you get ...
How Long Does Grief Last After a Death?
How long does grief last, after a death? This is a bit of a how long is a piece of string question. People grieve differently; there’s no answer that would be true for everyone. And there’s no right or wrong way to feel after losing ...
What are the 5 Stages of Grief and Loss?
Everyone who grieves, grieves differently. There is no right or wrong way to cope with a devastating loss. But for some, the five stages of grief are a useful way of understanding the storm of emotions that we all experience after a death. Here, ...
What is Delayed Grief?
Grief can take many forms. And for some of us, it can take a while to truly settle in, sometimes even surprising us years later. This is delayed grief – and if it sounds familiar, don’t worry: it’s a natural reaction that many people go ...
What is Complicated Grief?
The grief you feel after losing someone close to you can be intense and overwhelming. Shock, profound sadness, guilt, deep longing, anger – bereaved people often describe these emotions as a thick fog that descends over their lives, keeping them ...
How to Get Bereavement or Compassionate Leave in the UK
When someone close to you dies, there’s often a lot to take care of. Arranging the funeral, supporting your family, coping with grief – these things take time, and you might find you need some leave from ...
The Grieving Process: What You Might Experience
The grieving process was first outlined by Dr. Kubler-Ross in 1969, from observing people experiencing grief. It was never intended to be a one-size-fits-all prescription for grief, but do show common stages of grief. The five stages of grief are ...
How to Cope With Grief
There’s no single right way to cope with grief, but there are methods that work for some people. When dealing with grief and loss, it can be difficult to know whose advice to trust, and many people might try and tell you what worked for them. ...
How to Help Someone Through a Bereavement
The death of a loved one is something that happens to almost all of us, eventually. Despite this, it’s not always obvious how to help someone experiencing grief. Some people feel uncomfortable around the subject of death, and don’t know what to ...
What is Grief?
Grief is defined as intense sorrow, usually caused by someone’s death. It’s a natural reaction to the loss of something or someone we love, or care for dearly. Grief can be completely overwhelming – it’s not something you can control or ...
How to Maintain a Beautiful Grave
Once the funeral service and wake are over, one way of paying your respects to a deceased loved one and to cope with their loss is to maintain a clean and beautiful grave that honours their memory. Cleaning the headstone and surrounding area is also ...
How to Explain Death to a Child
Talking to a child about death can be difficult. Children see the world very differently to adults, and it can be difficult to gauge what their level of understanding is. Naturally, children look to the adults in their life for guidance and support. ...
How to Tell Someone a Loved One Has Died
When a loved one dies, you may be left with the task of breaking the news to other people. What you say in that moment is likely to stay with them for a long time, so consider carefully how you will deliver the news. ...
How to Be Around Someone When They are Dying
Being with someone when they are dying is a profound experience – you are sharing a very intimate moment in that person’s life. Most people have no idea how they should act or what they should say at this moment. ...