Bereavement support

Bereavement is a personal experience. It can often affect people in different ways. Sometimes it can be hard to see these feelings in ourselves.

Grief is not always felt as sadness and loneliness. It may feel like a general feeling of discomfort and things ‘not being right’. 

Grieving takes time. Sometimes the grief can be overwhelming over a long period of time. It can be necessary to have specialist support.

Your GP or the organisations below can help you. For support about dealing with sudden loss, see Thrive LDN.

Bereavement support services

NHS support

Harrow Talking Therapies (IAPT)

Harrow IAPT is a free service provided by the NHS. It provides individual and group bereavement counselling. The counselling is provided by accredited counsellors.

They provide care for traumatic bereavement. They also treat prolonged grief disorder. This is provided by CBT therapists. Sessions are can be by video conferencing or by telephone.

Children and young adults' support

In times of grief children can react differently to adults. It is important to be guided by their questions. They may not need to know details. But, be honest with them, in a way that is suitable to their age.

Creating routines and giving them clear and simple jobs can help. It is very important to think about your own support and well-being, as well as that of the child.

CAMHS (for children and young people up to 18 years old)

CAMHS support is available if there's a mental health diagnosis. This includes anxiety, depression or PTSD.

The learning disability team can help those with a moderate to severe learning disability. This is for those with mental health difficulties. It is also for those with significant challenging behaviour.

You can access all CAMHS  teams through a referral from a health worker. This can be a school nurse, GP, school or social worker. They will arrange a 30-minute appointment to see if they can help.

Harrow Horizons (children and young people up to the age of 18 or 25 for young people with SEND)

Harrow Horizons offers short-term focused therapeutic interventions. It can either be for individual or small groups. The service deals with a range of issues, not just bereavement.

The Wish Centre (for children and young people between the ages of 10-25)

A free therapy and counselling service.

Diwa Asian Women’s Network (DAWN)

DAWN offers counselling for all Harrow residents. This includes children aged 13 and over. There is a sliding scale of fees depending on ability to pay. The service is offered in a range of different languages.

Need to Talk

Need to Talk offers counselling to Harrow residents. There is a sliding scale of fees depending on ability to pay.

Books you can read with children

  • The Day the Sea Went Out and Never Came Back. Margot Sunderland and Nicky Armstrong.
  • Someone has died suddenly. Mary Williams.
  • Muddles, Puddles, and Sunshine. Diana Crossley.

Books for younger children

  • Goodbye Mousie. Robie H. Harris
  • When Uncle Bob Died. Althea
  • Dear Grandma Bunny. Dick Bruna
  • Are You Sad, Little Bear? A Book about Learning To Say Goodbye. Rachel Rivett
  • Cry, Heart, But Never Break: Talking to children about life, love and loss. Glenn Ringtved 

Books for older children

  • Flamingo Dream. Donna Jo Napoli
  • Fred. Posy Simmonds
  • Granpa. John Burningham

Support for child loss

Tommy's - The pregnancy baby charity

Information and support for anyone who has experienced the loss of a baby, whether through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death, or termination for medical reasons.

Sands - Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Charity

Sands exists to reduce the number of babies dying and to ensure that anyone affected by the death of a baby receives the best possible care and support for as long as they need it.

Child Death Helpline

A helpline operated by a dedicated team of volunteers who are all bereaved parents.

Online support