Grief affects people in very different ways. Family and friends may provide all the support someone needs, but sometimes it helps to speak to somebody who understands bereavement or has experience of a particular type of loss.
The organisations below provide national support across the UK. Most are charities and many of their services are free.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you need someone to talk to urgently, Samaritans can be contacted free at any time on 116 123.
On this page
- General bereavement support
- Children and young people
- When a child has died
- Pregnancy and baby loss
- Bereavement by suicide
- Loss of a partner
- Urgent emotional support
General bereavement support
Cruse Bereavement Support
Cruse supports people affected by bereavement, whatever their relationship to the person who died and however long ago the death occurred.
Its trained bereavement volunteers provide confidential emotional support and can also help people find further support.
Free helpline: 0808 808 1677
Visit Cruse Bereavement Support
Children and young people
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK supports children and young people up to age 25 when someone important to them has died or is expected to die. It also supports parents and families when a baby or child of any age dies.
Support is available nationally by telephone and online.
Helpline: 0800 02 888 40
When a child has died
Child Death Helpline
The Child Death Helpline provides support to anyone affected by the death of a child of any age, however recently or long ago the death occurred.
Calls are answered by trained volunteers who are themselves bereaved parents.
Free helpline: 0800 282 986
Visit the Child Death Helpline
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends provides peer support for bereaved parents, adult siblings and grandparents.
Its national helpline is staffed by bereaved parent volunteers who understand the particular impact of the death of a child.
Helpline: 0345 123 2304
Visit The Compassionate Friends
Pregnancy and baby loss
Sands
Sands supports people affected by pregnancy loss and the death of a baby, including parents, grandparents, relatives, friends and professionals.
Its national helpline offers confidential bereavement support and practical information.
Free helpline: 0808 164 3332
Bereavement by suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) provides support for adults who have been affected by suicide.
Support includes a national telephone helpline, local and online support groups, email support and an online community.
National helpline: 0300 111 5065
Visit Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
If your partner has died
WAY – Widowed and Young
WAY is a national charity offering peer-to-peer support to people who were aged 50 or under when their husband, wife or partner died.
Members can connect with other people who have experienced the loss of a partner at a younger age, both online and through local activities and groups.
General enquiries: 0300 201 0051
If you need someone to talk to now
Samaritans
Samaritans provides confidential emotional support to anyone who is struggling or needs somebody to talk to. You do not have to be suicidal to contact them.
Freephone: 116 123
Calls are free and the service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
Choosing the right support
There is no single type of bereavement support that suits everybody. Some people want to speak privately to a trained volunteer, while others find it more helpful to talk to people who have experienced a similar loss.
If one organisation does not feel right for you, another organisation or type of support may suit you better.
If grief is seriously affecting your health or your ability to cope with everyday life, you can also speak to your GP about support available through the NHS.