End of life and bereavement support
The death of a loved one is something that,
very sadly, we all have to go through at some point in
our lives.
It's also very common to experience feelings of grief and
loss if someone you care about becomes terminally
ill.
How will I feel?
I feel the absolute devastation of my loss one moment and can be crying tears of laughter over some wonderful memory the next
When
someone close to you dies, it is an intensely
personal experience and although there are some common aspects of
bereavement, there is no ‘normal’ reaction. How
you feel and react will be completely unique to
you.
You may experience any one of a wide range of
emotions, which may change in nature and intensity without any
sense of pattern.
There is no right or wrong way of grieving and there is no set
time for the grief itself to last - it could be weeks, months or
even years. Your feelings will be a natural reaction to losing
someone who is close and dear to you.
Where can I go for support?
Talking to someone about your feelings can be one of
the most important ways to help you cope with your
grief.
We're here for anyone who
needs to talk about their loss and how they are
feeling. To talk to our bereavement support
officer please call our Heart Helpline on 0300 330
3311. The helpline is open 9am
to 5pm, Monday to
Friday (similar cost to 01 or 02
numbers).
More ways to get the support you need
Our booklet, Losing someone
to heart disease, can offer you help and support with the loss
of a loved one to heart disease. It aims to:
- help you understand the ways in which grief and bereavement
might affect you
- offer guidance in coping with the complex and sometimes
overwhelming collection of emotions you may feel
- provide guidance on legal procedures and practical and
financial matters that you may have to deal with.
It includes contact details of organisations that will be
able to offer you further support, both in coping with your
loss and in handling the various procedures that need to be
followed when someone dies.
Support for children
We have a special set of resources for children who are dealing
with the loss of a loved one. To receive a set, please give
our Heart Helpline
bereavement support officer a
call on 0300 330 3311.
