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Immediate Support Resources

Resources For Those Bereaved or Affected by Suicide and For Professionals Supporting Them

Emergency Contacts

– If you have an emergency and a life is in danger contact the emergency services on 999
– Samaritans is available 24/7 and can be called free on 116 123

The following resources have been written for those bereaved by suicide. These resources describe the common grief responses when someone is bereaved by suicide. They also provide contact details of organisations that provide guidance and support. They are free to download. Some provide printed copies free of charge.

Key Resources If You Are Bereaved By Suicide

Help is at Hand – England

This booklet has been published by Public Health England and is written by people bereaved by suicide. The booklet can be read or downloaded here or ?order a free printed copy telephone: 0300 123 1002 quoting ‘2901502/Help is at Hand

Wales – Help is at Hand

This is the Welsh version of the Help is at Hand booklet and provides contact details of organisations in Wales. This booklet is supported by Public Health Wales can be read or downloaded here  You can also order a copy by telephone 0029 2022 7744

Northern Ireland – Help is at Hand

This is a revised version of England’s Help is at Hand booklet providing contact details of organisations in Northern Ireland. This booklet is supported by the Public Health Agency and can be read or downloaded here A hard copy can also be ordered by contacting 0300 555 0114

Scotland – After a Suicide

The Scottish Association for Mental Health (SAMH) provides this booklet, which is funded by Choose Life, Scotland’s national strategy and action plan to help prevent suicide. This booklet pro-vides contact details of relevant organisations in Scotland and can be read or downloaded here. To order a free copy telephone: 0800 917 3466.

Walk With Us

A toolkit for supporting Children, Young People and Families affected or bereaved by suicide.

You can read or downloadfrom HERE

Beyond the Rough Rock

You can order a copy form Winston's Wish website

Laura Hyde Foundation

The Laura Hyde Foudation can be accessed from HERE

First Hand Booklet

First Hand - making sense of lasting memories and emotions after the suicide of somebody you didn't know.

You can read or download from here

Support After Sudden Bereavement During the Covid-19 Pandemic

This booklet has been written by Thrive LDN, for those who experience a sudden bereavement during COVID-19.  Whilst it has not been specifically written for people bereaved by suicide, it is relevant, if you have been bereaved by suicide, during the pandemic.   Please note, it has been designed for  people living in London.  However, it signposts to many national organisations.

You can read or download HERE

Key Resources If You Come Into Contact With Someone Bereaved By Suicide

Finding the Words

This booklet is relevant to anyone who comes into contact with those bereaved by suicide in either a personal or professional capacity. The booklet guides the reader on how to reach out to someone who has been bereaved or affected by suicide. It was written in collaboration between University College London and Support After Suicide Partnership.

The booklet can be read or downloaded here

UK Organisations That Provide Help And Support To Those Bereaved By Suicide

Finding support in your area

At A Loss

‘At a Loss’ is a website that signposts to information and services in your area for anyone who is bereaved (from all causes), or for those supporting a bereaved person.  There is a specific section for those bereaved by suicide. To identify support click HERE

Hub Of Hope

The Hub of Hope is a national mental health database, which signposts you to relevant organisations in your area offering mental health advice and support on a wide range of mental health-related issues.  If someone is very distressed, there is a button to immediately link to the Samaritans. This app can be uploaded onto a mobile phone or computer and is relevant both to those seeking support and professionals who wish to signpost their clients.  To identify support in your area click HERE

Informing agencies of the death

Organisations and Professions to Inform

Possible organisations/professionals to inform
Suicide Bereavement UK has compiled a list of organisations/professionals that, when someone has died, may need to be informed. It is a valuable resource for those bereaved by suicide or those who are supporting them. It is designed so that you can download the form and use it as a tick list. CLICK HERE to download

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a government service which enables a bereaved person to report the death of a loved one to most government services in one go, rather than having to contact multiple departments separately. Please note this service is not available in Northern Ireland. For more information click HERE

Dealing with the inquest

The Coroners Courts Support Service

http://www.coronerscourtssupportservice.org.uk
The Coroners’ Courts Support Service is an independent voluntary organisation whose trained volunteers offer emotional support and practical help to bereaved families and witnesses attending an inquest at a coroner’s court in England and Wales. (To our knowledge there is no similar service in Scotland or Northern Ireland).

Helpline: 0300 111 2141 (Monday – Friday, 09.0019.00; Saturday 09.0014.00)
Email: helpline@ccss.org.uk

INQUEST

http://www.inquest.org.uk
INQUEST provides expertise on state-related deaths (i.e. deaths in police and prison or mental health settings and deaths involving multi-agency failings, or where wider issues of state and corporate accountability are in question) in England and Wales.

The INQUEST handbook is free to download for bereaved families and friends affected by a sudden death that involves an inquest. (Please note the information is only relevant for the inquest process in England and Wales.  We are not aware of a similar service in Scotland and Northern Ireland). 

The handbook can be read or downloaded here or to order a printed copy, telephone: 020 7263 1111

Finding support nationally

Samaritans

https://www.samaritans.org
Samaritans provide confidential support, every day of the year through a 24-hour helpline, to those who are struggling to cope and need someone to listen. Please note this helpline is for anyone who is struggling, not just those who are feeling suicidal.  You can contact Samaritans by telephone, email, text, letter or, during the day, in person by visiting a local branch. 

Free Helpline116 123 (available 24/7; N.B. your telephone number will not be recorded on your phone bill. You can also use your mobile, even if you do not have credit).

Emailjo@samaritans.org (response time within 24 hours)

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)

https://uksobs.org
SOBS is a national charity and offers free support to adults (aged 18+) bereaved by suicide. SOBS provides:

  • a helpline answered by trained volunteers, most of whom  have been personally bereaved by suicide
  • SOBS self-help groups, which are facilitated by trained volunteers who have been bereaved by suicide
  • An online forum that offers peer-to-peer support for those bereaved by suicide.

To identify a SOBS group in your area click HERE
Helpline (Freephone):  0300 111 5065 (Monday – Friday 9.00-21.00)
Email: sobs.support@hotmail.com

CRUSE Bereavement Support

https://www.cruse.org.uk
Cruse Bereavement Support provides free emotional support for anyone who is bereaved. Their trained volunteers offer free, confidential, face-to-face support, by telephone, over a ZOOM call, email and through the website (both national and local services are available). They also have services specifically for bereaved children and young people.

Helpline (Freephone):  0808 808 1677 available:

  • Monday and Friday: 9.30 -17.00
  • Tuesday to Thursday: 9.30 -20.00
  • Saturday and Sunday: 10.00 -14.00

Email: helpline@cruse.org.uk

CALM

https://www.thecalmzone.net
CALM is a male suicide prevention charity who provide confidential support for men in the UK. They provide a helpline as well as a webchat service, offering help, advice and information to anyone who is struggling or in crisis. Their website provides a range of resources, especially for men.

Helpline (Freephone): 0800 58 58 58 / London 080 802 58 58 (Open 7 days a week 17.00 to midnight)
Email: info@thecalmzone.net
Webchat: https://www.thecalmzone.net/help/webchat

Support for children and young people

Winstons Wish

https://www.winstonswish.org
Winston’s Wish charity provides a wide range of professional therapeutic support services via their national helpline, interactive website and publications. Their services are offered to:

  • children and their families bereaved by suicide
  • professionals seeking advice on how to respond to bereaved children (e.g. school staff)

They have also produced a booklet entitled ‘Beyond the Rough Rock’ which focuses on children’s grief responses when bereaved by suicide. It provides practical advice for families in the days/weeks after the death (e.g. focussing on what to say, seeing the body and attending the funeral).  This resource is free-of-charge to parents bereaved by suicide.

National helpline (Freephone):  08088 020 021, Monday – Friday: 9.00 -17.00.  The helpline offers therapeutic advice to parents, carers and professionals looking for childhood bereavement advice and support.
Email: ask@winstonswish.org

Child Bereavement UK

https://childbereavementuk.org
Child Bereavement UK supports children and young people up to the age of 25 who are facing bereavement, and anyone affected by the death of a child of any age. They provide various types of confidential support. Examples include a national helpline, responding to emails and live chat via their website.

Helpline (Freephone): 0800 02 888 40 (Monday – Friday, 9.00 -17.00, except Bank Holidays).
Email: support@childbereavementuk.org

PAPYRUS Prevention of Young Suicide

https://www.papyrus-uk.org
PAPYRUS  provides a confidential support and advice service to young people, up to the age of 35 years, who may be at risk of suicide and to those concerned about a vulnerable young person. Support can be accessed via their confidential helpline (HOPELINEUK), by email and text:

Helpline (Freephone): 0800 068 4141 (Monday – Friday 9.00 - 22.00, Weekends and Bank Holidays 14.00 - 22.00)
Text: 07860039967
Email: pat@papyrus-uk.org

Support After Suicide

The Support After Suicide Partnership website provides information about suicide bereavement and signposts the user to key resources and information.

For more information click here

International Organisations That Provide Help And Support To Those Bereaved By Suicide

International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)

International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) - Resources: Crisis Centers

Browse to find Crisis Centres throughout the world.
Disclaimer: Views expressed in the websites below do not necessarily represent the views of IASP.

Informing Agencies of The Death

Organisations and Professions to Inform

Possible organisations/professionals to inform
Suicide Bereavement UK has compiled a list of organisations/professionals that, when someone has died, may need to be informed. It is a valuable resource for those bereaved by suicide or those who are supporting them. It is designed so that you can download the form and use it as a tick list. CLICK HERE to download

Tell Us Once

Tell Us Once is a government service which enables a bereaved person to report the death of a loved one to most government services in one go, rather than having to contact multiple departments separately. Please note this service is not available in Northern Ireland. For more information click HERE

General Information

A Guide to Managing Anxiety in Uncertain and Challenging Times

There are times when everyone’s life is challenging and uncertain. This might be because of a range of things, such as; a pandemic, flood warning, illness, exams or a range of other factors. Download our free guide to managing anxiety here.

Managing Anxiety in Uncertain Times