frequently asked questions

what can we help you with…

where do i find practical information about what to do after a death?
am i developing a mental health problem following my bereavement?

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

how can i connect with others who have been bereaved?

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.

how can i connect with others bereaved through cancer or Covid-19?

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 

i don’t live in Richmond but i live nearby/work in Richmond – can you support me?

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:

i don’t want to have to wait for support – where can i find a private counsellor or therapist?

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

my bereavement was sudden/traumatic – can you still help me and where can i find information about that?

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. 

i am feeling suicidal where can i get help?

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.

my loved one took their own life – can you still help me and where can i find information and peer support about that?

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 

my baby died – can you still help me and where can i find information about counselling and peer support?

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

Petals charity  – free of charge counselling support for parents who have suffered miscarriage, TFMR, stillbirth, neonatal death and support with pregnancy after loss

Teddy’s Wish – free support with specialist bereavement counsellors for parents who have lost a baby to stillbirth, neonatal death or SIDS

Aching Arms – helpline support and advice for parents who have lost a baby before birth, during birth or shortly after birth.  

SANDS – – supporting parents who have suffered the death of a baby with support groups, a helpline and support for siblings

Mariposa Trust  and Saying Goodbye – support and networks for parents who have lost a baby at any point during pregnancy or infancy. 

my child/sibling died – where can i find specific information and peer support about that?

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

SLOW offer support for bereaved parents and siblings and an archive of articles and resources on bereavement.

Child Death helpline 

Compassionate Friends support grandparents as well as parents and siblings.

my grandchild died – where can i find support?

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

Compassionate Friends support grandparents as well as parents and siblings

my loved one is dying – can you support me?

Unfortunately our support is only available once a death has occurred as that is where our expertise lies. If your loved one has cancer The Mulberry Centre may be able to help.

my partner died – where can i find information and peer support about that?

We can help you if you live in the Richmond borough. Peer support:

For those aged under 50:

WAY – Widowed and Young

For those aged 50 and above:

WAY up 

how do i support someone who is bereaved?

If they live in the Richmond borough and are nervous about reaching out to us, you could call us and ask us any questions they may have. In addition you could  accompany them to compassionate cuppa, our drop -in grief cafe.

Sue Ryder booklet on what to say  to support someone who is grieving.

This Cruse booklet includes a section for those supporting someone who is bereaved.

how can i help myself at this time?
how can i support my grieving child?

If you live in Richmond click here to find out about our service for children and young people.

Here is a Sue Ryder article on how to support a bereaved child

You can also find support at Winstons Wish a charity that helps children, teenagers and young adults (up to the age of 25) process their grief.

 

i am looking for a group for my teenage bereaved child?

Here are some useful links to support your teenager:

Grief Encounter 

Child Bereavement UK 
Email: helpline@childbereavement.org
Tel: 08000288840
They run facilitated groups for young people age 11-25 via Zoom.

Winstons Wish   
Email: ask@winstonswish.org
Tel: 08088020021

Apartofme.app 
Groups for those aged 15 to 18

i am worried my child young person is self harming or might take their own life- where do I go for support and advice?

For support if you are worried that your child/young person may be self-harming visit:

PORTUS – understanding self-harm

how do i find information about bereavement in other languages?

The National Bereavement Alliance has produced a Grief Support Guide which has been translated into the following languages.

Please click to download.

Bengali

Chinese

French

Gujarati

Polish

Portuguese

Romanian

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