Bereavement is a very individual experience and there is no right or wrong way to grieve. Coping with the death of a loved one can be painful and difficult. You may experience unexpected thoughts and feelings, feel overwhelmed or find it harder to cope with everyday life. You may also experience no particular feelings at all.
Following a death, the support of friends and family is often all that is needed, but sometimes additional support can help.
Some bereaved people find they particularly miss the support they received while their loved one was being cared for, either at home or in the hospice.
Our Bereavement Team offers a safe, confidential space to talk about your experiences, explore your feelings and discuss any concerns you may have. Our aim is to help you find a way forward following your loss.
How we can support you
We offer a range of bereavement support services for people whose loved one received care from St Margaret’s.
Depending on your individual needs, support may include:
- telephone support – support over the phone for anyone affected by the death of a patient
- individual appointments – talking with one of the team in confidence can help you find your way through the grieving process
- bereavement counselling – available on telephone, online, or in person
- group support – opportunities to receive support alongside others experiencing bereavement
- family support – emotional and practical support for families navigating grief and loss.
Our team can help you explore which type of support may be most appropriate for you.
01935 709497
Bereavement information and advice
Our specialist bereavement enquiry line is available to anyone in Somerset who has been affected by bereavement of any kind.
Our Bereavement Services Support Team can listen to your experiences and concerns, offer information and advice, and help you find the support you need.
You do not need to know exactly what support you need before contacting us.
Support for children, young people and families
We understand that bereavement can affect everyone in a family differently.
Our Family, Patient & Carer Support Team provides psychological and emotional support to patients, carers and families, including those adjusting to life after a loss.
We offer guidance to parents on having open and honest conversations with children about illness, death and bereavement.
Children and young people can also receive support in a safe, nurturing environment where they can explore their feelings. In some circumstances, support may begin before a bereavement and continue afterwards.
We also provide one-to-one support for carers, helping them balance their caring responsibilities with their own emotional wellbeing.
Bereavement support for professionals
Our bereavement service also provides specialist support and resources for health, education and social care professionals working with bereaved people across Somerset.
We offer information and resources; professional support and clinical supervision; consultancy, and training.
This service is designed to help professionals support bereaved individuals, families, children and organisations.