Bereavement Support South Worcestershire
Bereavement Support South Worcestershire, hosted by St Richard’s Hospice, offers emotional support and signposting to practical help for those who have experienced bereavement from a sudden death.
Set up in 2012, the service has been granted funding from South Worcestershire CCG until July 2017 to offer bereavement support to those registered with a South Worcestershire GP who are finding it difficult to cope with a sudden death, including suicide and accidents, which has left them no time to prepare for their loss.
The service’s bereavement specialists can offer a telephone helpline for those who want to talk to someone, group support opportunities or one-to-one counselling for those encountering complex grief. The service also provides people with free information and links to other organisations which may be able to offer practical help or emotional support.
In addition, the service offers education and training for a wide range of organisations to help health, social care and education professionals develop the skills they need to recognise indications of grief and be able to offer support to the bereaved.
Since its inception, the service has received over 900 referrals and each year has helped around 300 bereaved adults, young people and children to manage their grief following the death of a loved one. The service is currently supporting around 80 adults and children each month, providing one-to-one, telephone or group support.
One person who used the service said; “Thank you very much. You were incredibly helpful when I was in a very bad place, and you have also enabled me to see that my life can go on and that I deserve to enjoy it.”
South Worcestershire GPs can refer patients to the service by calling 01905 760934. Alternatively families can be signposted to the service website at www.bereavementsupportworcestershire.org.uk