Bereavement Support UK: A Complete Guide to Grief Help and Where to Find It
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If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. For emotional support or trusted bereavement information, contact a recognised helpline or visit the GOV.UK website. You can return to this guide when you feel ready.
What is bereavement and how does grief begin?
Bereavement is what happens when someone dies. It can also describe the period after a death, as a person adjusts to life without a loved one. Every bereavement is different, and support may be helpful whether the loss happened recently or some time ago.
Grief is the emotional, physical and social response to loss. It may affect sleep, concentration, appetite, work and everyday routines. Mourning is how grief is expressed through memories, faith, conversation, rituals or other parts of family and cultural life. There is no single correct response.
A person may feel sadness, anger, relief, guilt, numbness or calm, sometimes changing from hour to hour. The death of a parent, partner, child, friend or baby can affect identity, relationships and practical responsibilities. Grief after losing a child or baby may benefit from specialist support, including help from relevant organisations.
Common stages of grief
The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptanceare a model, not a timetable. People may experience them in a different order, return to earlier feelings or not experience every stage. Good Grief Trust and The Good Grief Trust provide information about grief and bereavement support.
Gentle self-care can help you get through difficult moments. Eat when you can, drink water, rest and accept practical help from family and friends. Keep tasks simple and ask for advice when needed. Talking with trusted people can make grief less lonely, but it does not need to be rushed or fixed.
Read guidance on grief
Cruse offers clear information about grief, loss and ways to cope at different points after a death. Its support can help you understand what you are experiencing.
Visit Cruse Bereavement Support
What to do when someone dies
When someone dies, practical tasks can feel overwhelming. A trusted friend, family member, hospice worker or funeral director can help you make a list and decide what needs attention first. You do not have to organise everything alone while coping with loss.
- Tell a few trusted people who can offer immediate support and practical help.
- Ask a GP, hospice worker, funeral director or other professional what must happen next, and write down their advice.
- Check official information about registering the death, arranging a funeral and managing end-of-life arrangements.
- Keep important documents together and postpone major decisions where possible. Ask for suitable legal or financial advice before acting.
- Look for bereavement care through a hospice, charity, faith community or local service, including support for a child or other family member.
Advice and services can vary across England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. GOV.UK is a useful starting point for official information, but it does not replace individual legal, financial or medical advice. Local organisations may also explain what support is available and what to expect at the end of the process.
Bereavement counselling and professional support
Bereavement counselling gives a person time to talk about death and loss with a trained professional. It may help someone understand difficult feelings, manage changes and find ways to live with grief. Counselling is different from peer support, where people share their experience in a group, and from specialist mental-health treatment, which may be needed when symptoms are severe or risks are present.
A bereavement counsellor will usually ask what has happened, how daily life and work are affected and what support you would like. Sessions may be in person, by phone or online. The first meeting is an opportunity to discuss confidentiality, qualifications, accessibility and whether the service feels suitable. You can ask about fees, cancellation policies and waiting times before agreeing to continue.
To search for bereavement counselling near me, try a local hospice, charity directory, GP practice or professional register. A newly bereaved person may also find help through a helpline, community organisation or specialist bereavement care service. Cruse Bereavement Support and other charities can explain available support services.
NHS grief counselling pathways vary by area. A GP may discuss local services, talking therapies or a referral, while some services accept self-referrals. Eligibility, availability and waiting times differ across the UK, so ask the service what applies in your area. Friends, family and community organisations may also help you find appropriate grief support.
Explore trusted counselling options
Ask what the service offers, whether it is free and how long a referral may take before you agree to an appointment. A service can also explain what help and support are available if counselling is not the right option.
Free bereavement support, groups and online help
Free bereavement support may be available through a charity, hospice, the NHS, local councils, faith communities and community organisations. Funded or low-cost services may have eligibility rules, referral requirements or waiting lists, so ask what applies before you book. Newly bereaved people can also ask about bereavement care for a child or baby.
Searches for grief support groups near me or bereavement support groups near me can lead to local meetings, online groups and peer support. A bereavement cafe may offer an informal place to talk over tea. Ask whether the group welcomes friends and family, people after a particular type of death or those at any stage of grief.
At a first group meeting, you may listen without speaking. Ask about confidentiality, accessibility, age eligibility, group size and the type of loss discussed. Check whether the service is moderated and whether a helpline or other support services are available. If a group does not feel right, it is reasonable to try another way.
Online bereavement support and grief chat
Online bereavement support can help people who cannot travel or prefer private contact. Options include moderated communities, helplines, email support and grief chat. Check who runs the service, when it is available, how information is handled and whether the service supports others beyond the end of life.
Online support can complement, but not replace, urgent or clinical care. Do not share personal details in public forums. If a conversation makes you feel unsafe, leave it and contact a trusted service or helpline. Check the relevant page for current 0808 802 contact information before calling.
Find local and online support
The Good Grief Trust brings together information, helplines and organisations across the UK. AtaLoss helps people search for services by need and location, while Cruse Bereavement Support offers grief support and practical information. Visit each website to check current eligibility and availability.
Visit The Good Grief TrustSearch AtaLoss services
How to support someone who is bereaved
Friends, family members, colleagues and employers can offer support without trying to remove grief. Say, “I am sorry. I am here to listen. You do not need to reply.” Give the person space to respond in their own way.
Offer specific help, such as collecting shopping, preparing food, taking children to school or attending an appointment. Keep checking in after the funeral, when other people may have returned to normal life. Small, practical things can make difficult days easier.
Avoid saying that the person should be strong, move on or look on the bright side. Do not compare their loss with your own unless they invite that conversation. Ask what help would be useful and remember that bereavement support may be needed for some time.
When to seek further help
Consider professional help if grief makes it difficult to manage basic tasks, mental health is worsening, isolation is severe or alcohol and drugs are being used to cope. Experiences after a traumatic death may need specialist assessment. A GP, counsellor or trusted organisation can explain the next steps.
Thoughts of suicide or self-harm need urgent attention. If there is immediate danger, call 999 or go to A&E. You can also contact NHS 111 for urgent mental health advice where available. Stay with the person, if it is safe to do so, while help is arranged. Check the relevant website or service page for current guidance.
Speak with a trusted helpline
Cruse Bereavement Support provides information and helpline assistance. Check the current opening times before calling.
Bereavement support frequently asked questions
What is bereavement?
Bereavement is the experience of losing someone through death. It can include the period that follows and the changes a person faces afterwards.
What is the difference between bereavement and grief?
Bereavement describes the loss, while grief is the emotional, physical and social response to it. Mourning is how grief may be expressed.
How long does grief last?
There is no fixed timeline. Grief may change over time and return around anniversaries, events or reminders of someone who has died.
What are the stages of grief?
The commonly known model includes denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. These stages are not linear, compulsory or a measure of how someone should grieve.
Where can I find bereavement support near me?
Search The Good Grief Trust, AtaLoss, Cruse Bereavement Support, your GP practice, a local hospice or community organisations. Check each service page for current eligibility and availability.
How can I find free bereavement support?
Ask a charity, hospice, the NHS or local group whether support is free, whether you need a referral and how long you may wait. Some services have age or location criteria.
Can the NHS provide grief counselling?
The NHS may offer talking therapies or refer people to suitable services. Self-referral and eligibility vary by location and individual need, so ask your GP or local NHS service.
What happens in bereavement counselling?
A counsellor listens, asks about your experience and discusses support that fits your needs. You can ask about confidentiality, qualifications, fees and what happens after the first appointment.
Are bereavement support groups helpful?
Many people value shared understanding and reduced isolation. You may be able to listen without speaking, and the right group depends on your loss, preferences and comfort, including support after the death of a baby.
Is online bereavement support effective?
Online bereavement support can provide connection and information when attending in person is difficult. It may offer useful grief support, but it does not replace urgent help or professional care.
A place to be after bereavement or divorce
AtDusk is a companion, community and video messaging app for adults navigating life after bereavement or divorce. It is for the quieter hours, when support from friends and family may have become less frequent but everyday life still feels unfamiliar.
You may be missing a loved one while managing the practical things they once shared, from household tasks to decisions that used to feel automatic. The experience can be especially difficult after the death of a parent, partner, friend or baby.
People around you may want to help, but may not know what to say or how to support you on an ordinary evening. AtDusk offers a way to connect with others who understand that grief does not follow a timetable.
Dusk also has therapists, counsellors and specialists available to talk to you. Avril, our specialist, will run a weekly discussion where you can take part, ask questions or simply sit and listen. This support is designed to complement, not replace, urgent help or specialist care.
AtDusk is not a crisis line or a dating app. It is a community built with real people rather than algorithms. Before joining, check the website for information about availability, privacy, costs and what happens next. Charities and other organisations can still provide practical advice and urgent help where needed.
Whether you are newly bereaved or further along your journey, you can choose the level of contact that feels right for you.
Find a place to be
AtDusk offers companionship and community for the quieter hours after loss. Visit the service to find out whether it is right for you.