Grief Awareness Week – support for colleagues

Support is on hand for colleagues who need help and advice this National Grief Awareness Week (2-8 December 2022).

After losing a loved one,it can be hard to find the right support. The Good Grief Trust launched National Grief Awareness Week in 2019 to encourage conversations about grief and bereavement, and to signpost advice on coping with loss.

There is no ‘right’ way to grieve, and bereavement can affect people in different ways and at different times. Here are some resources for colleagues who may need support in dealing with grief.

The University’s Wellbeing Peer Support Network is on hand to help. This network of trained University staff can offer confidential initial support and advice on issues that can have an impact on mental health and wellbeing, and can help guide colleagues to the right support services.

Our Employee Assistance Programme, Confidential Care, has published a blog post on dealing with grief at Christmas, and developed a series of help sheets that address coping with grief and loss. Themes they address include understanding grief and loss, dealing with grief following a miscarriage, and helping children to grieve. (Login required for some Confidential Care resources, username: URlogin password: wellbeing).

As well as the information offered by the University and the Good Grief Trust, colleagues may also find some of the following advice helpful:

• Cruse is a national charity that helps people cope after someone close to them has died. The charity provides free support and offers information, advice, education and training services. Their blog also has some advice on coping with grief at Christmas.
• ataloss.org signposts a range of bereavement support from charities and other networks across the UK.
• Peace of Mind Matters is a free service run by Citizen Advice Bureau, with guidance for the recently bereaved to help with practical arrangements when a loved one has died.
• The mental health charity Mind offers information on bereavement, where to go for support, and suggestions for helping others through grief.