frequently asked questions

Here is a useful article with practical advice from The Good Grief Trust on what to do when someone dies

As well as being painful, some aspects of grief mirror the symptoms of mental health problems. This can be frightening. You might be surprised but it is normal to sometimes lose your temper, experience sleep problems and even forget your own phone number.

Some bereavement charities will not offer counselling to anyone in the first three to six months following a bereavement. This is partly because it is normal to experience a whole range of extreme emotions during this time. At space2grieve we will talk through the pros and cons of early support with you.

If you were bereaved 6 months ago or less:
An article with information for the newly bereaved by The Good Grief Trust

General information on the impact of grief:
CRUSE article on the effects of grief

Has someone died? Restoring Hope – Cruse booklet which also includes a section for those supporting someone who is bereaved and information for parents about how children grieve.

Information on how to help yourself at this time:
An article from Sue Ryder on how to cope with bereavement

Compassionate cuppa – if you live in Richmond borough and are not currently having one to to one support with space2grieve.

Churches often run bereavement support meetings so it is worth checking with your local church – the groups are not necessarily religious in nature.

See also under FAQs below which deal with specific losses for other support groups, for example, those bereaved through suicide, those whose child has died, those whose partner has died.

The Loss Foundation run support groups and offer specific cancer and Covid-19 loss support.

Links for children and young people:

Grief Encounter workshops
A Part of Me Grief Guides  – Groups for those aged 15 to 18.
The Student Grief Network – For university students and recent graduates
Winston’s Wish – grief support for young people  Call on 0808 802 0021
Child Bereavement UK run facilitated groups for young people age 11-25 via Zoom. Email helpline@childbereavement.org or call 0800 028 8840 

Sadly not, however, you can visit The Good Grief Trust to find out what support is available to you in your area. We have listed some agencies below which offer bereavement support to those living in the surrounding boroughs:

• Kingston Bereavement Service – bereavement counselling for adults, children and young people in Kingston upon Thames
• Wandsworth Bereavement Service – one-to-one bereavement counselling
• The Mulberry Centre – for anyone affected by cancer and free psychological support for bereaved residents of Hounslow – whatever the cause of death.
• Bereft for Ealing residents – bereavement counselling and support for adults in the London Borough of Ealing

Visit the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) where you can search for those with a specialism in bereavement.

Yes – if you live in the Richmond borough – we can help. Sadly, our volunteers have lots of experience supporting those bereaved in difficult circumstances such as through suicide.

The Cruse booklet Coping with trauma and loss includes information for those supporting someone bereaved in this way, information about inquests and information about children. 

Maytree For those aged 18 and over who are feeling suicidal. Offers a four night stay – once in a person’s lifetime – following befriending calls, however, not open to those currently experiencing psychotic episode or who are currently homeless. No drugs or alcohol allowed.

Tel: 020 7263 7070

Other local services:

Richmond Borough Mind Recovery Hubs: Out-of-hours crisis support supporting people to prevent imminent mental health crisis. Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday (6-10pm) and Saturday (2-10pm) at the Alfriston Centre, 3 Berrylands Road, Surbiton, KT5 8RB and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday (6-10pm) and Sunday (2-8pm) at 32 Hampton Road, Twickenham, TW2 5QB

24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line. If you live in Kingston, Merton, Richmond, Sutton and Wandsworth and you need mental health support in a crisis you can call the 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line on 0800 028 8000.

The CDARS (Community Drugs & Alchohol Recovery) Saving Lives Programme is to support residents in the five London Boroughs of Richmond, Kingston, Sutton, Merton and Wandsworth who are at risk of suicide or suicide ideation to reduce numbers of suicide attempts among people with mental health problems from these Boroughs.

Speak to/leave a message for one of our Suicide Prevention Specialist Counsellors:

Lucinda (Wed-Fri) 07398 590706

Anna (Thurs) 07944 506066

All other hours: 0203 872 8217

Email: savinglives@cdars.org.uk

The Listening Place
By appointment only. You can self refer via website.
For those aged 18 and over.

Tel: 020 3906 7676

National Helplines SHOUT: Free text service for anyone in crisis – you can text SHOUT to 85258 or visit Samaritans provide a free 24/7 365 days a year anonymous help line – you can call 116 123.

We can help you if you live in the Richmond borough. 

Here is a helpful NHS guide Help is at Hand

Information, helpline and drop in support group:

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide 

For those bereaved through suicide 3 months ago or more:

Facing the Future, Cruse Suicide Zoom Bereavement Support Groups run in conjunction with Samaritans