Your mental health
Suicide and bereavement
What emotions to expect
Grieving is a natural part of recovering from a bereavement. Everyone's experience of grief is different. There are no rules about what we should feel, and for how long.
Many people find they feel a mixture of the following:
- sadness
- shock, particularly if the death was unexpected
- relief, if the death followed a long period of illness
- guilt and regret
- anger
- anxiety
- despair and helplessness
- depression
These feelings may be very intense, particularly in the early days and weeks. Time can help these intense emotions subside. There's no need to feel guilty about starting to feel better. It doesn't mean you're not respecting the person's memory or forgetting about them.
Bereavement support
Here you can find information and support if you or a loved one are experiencing bereavement. You can find information on what to do in the event of someone's death at Deaths and inquests.
Search for support services
Bereavement support services offer different levels of care should you need that extra bit of support during your bereavement journey.
You can search our directory to find several bereavement support services in Buckinghamshire.
Other national organisations that can help
Child Bereavement UK
Child Bereavement UK offers support to families where a baby or child has died or where children and young people, up to the age of 25, are bereaved
The Lullaby Trust
The Lullaby Trust offers confidential bereavement support to anyone affected by the sudden and unexpected death of a baby or young child.
Children's Funeral Fund
The Children’s Funeral Fund for England can help to pay for some of the costs of a funeral for a child under 18 or a baby stillborn after the 24th week of pregnancy.
Winston's Wish
Winston's Wish provides support for children and young people following the death of a parent or sibling.
The Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP)
The Support After Suicide Partnership provides individuals who have been bereaved by suicide with appropriate and timely support.
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide
Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide are a source of support for people who have been bereaved by suicide. Visit the website for their helpline, local support groups, and more practical resources.
The Tomorrow Project
The Tomorrow Project are a suicide prevention project set up to support individuals and communities to prevent suicide. Visit the website for their helpline, more information, and resources.
Adfam
Adfam provides information, support, and hope for anyone whose loved one has died as a result of drug or alcohol use.
Addiction Family Support
Addiction Family Support provides support to families, friends, and partners affected or bereaved by a loved one's harmful use of drugs, alcohol, and gambling.
The Compassionate Friends
The Compassionate Friends supports bereaved parents and their families.
NHS support and advice
The NHS has a lot of information and advice if you or someone you know is experiencing grief.
Coping with grief or loss includes symptoms of bereavement, grief and loss, the stages you may go through and ways to help you cope.
Bereavement and Young People supports young people with what to expect when dealing with grief, the support that is available and how to look after themselves.
If you're struggling to cope with stress, anxiety or a low mood, visit your GP. If you don't have a GP, find a GP near you.