A range of bereavement support

Losing someone we love is probably one of the hardest experiences many of us will ever go through. The death of someone close to you can be overwhelming, and you may feel a mixture of emotions.

It is important to know that there is no ‘standard’ way of experiencing loss and no ‘right’ way to grieve. Sue Ryder provides a range of bereavement support that aims to help you as an individual.

If your loved one is receiving care at one of our hospices

All our hospices offer bereavement support to the families and friends of the people we care for. Our social workers can make sure loved ones and carers receive emotional, practical and financial support, and put them in touch with other services that can help too. Our bereavement support workers and trained counsellors help families and friends emotionally in coming to terms with a diagnosis or the loss of a loved one. If you’d like to know more about the support available at the hospice you are visiting, just ask any member of staff and they will be happy to assist you.

If you have not used Sue Ryder services before, but are looking for support

You do not have to have used or had contact with a Sue Ryder hospice or neurological care centre before in order to find support with us. The following support is available for anyone, whether you have used a Sue Ryder hospice or centre before or not. 

Our Online Community

Our Online Community is a safe space to talk for people who are dealing with the loss of someone they care about. It’s a place where people can talk honestly about terminal illness and bereavement, and connect with others who are going through similar experiences. It’s anonymous so people can be open about what they really feel.

The site is monitored by Sue Ryder to make sure it stays a safe and supportive environment. It's free to use, open to anyone over the age of 18, available any time of the day or night, and from anywhere you can get online.

Our Online Bereavement Counselling Service

We know how difficult it can be to access the support you need when you need it, so we have developed an Online Bereavement Counselling Service, staffed by trained counsellors, to help fill that gap.

This service is free to use and the sessions are held over secure video chat, meaning that you can access support from the comfort and safety of your own home.

To access the service you just need to register, provide us with a few details about your current situation, and book your initial assessment with a trained counsellor. After your assessment, if our service is right for you, then you will be able to have up to 6 weekly support sessions via video chat.

Our Grief Guide Service 

Find the information and advice that's right for you using our Grief Guide Service, a new site dedicated to helping you learn about the grieving process, and help you find new ways to understand and cope with your bereavement.

You can access exclusive features by creating a free account, or head straight to our collection of expert information, personal stories and interactive coping tools.

Leaflets about bereavement

We know that sometimes you need information in print to help people who may not be online, or if you just want to read something at your own pace. We have a number of publications about end of life and bereavement.

You can download these for free to print at home, or order printed copies for free.

Further advice and resources

We have additional advice and resources online regarding how to provide the best support to someone you know who is bereaved, as well as information and guidance for people who are struggling with their own grief.