“Everyone grieves very differently. It varies from person to person” – Salford Royal Bereavement Team offers support to mark Grief Awareness Week

Salford Royal is playing its part in raising awareness in the community for National Grief Awareness Week.

The process of losing a loved one can often bring feelings of shock, sadness, anger and confusion. And that’s why the Bereavement team at Salford Royal are offering all the support they can to anyone who has been affected.

It is natural to feel anxiety after the death of a loved one ?

Grief and anxiety are intrinsically linked. It can make us feel physically ill, question our existance and future, affect our sleep and appetite and knock our confidence and relationships. #AnxietyFeelsLike pic.twitter.com/sAmtB3CBzY

— Cruse Bereavement Care (@CruseCare) December 6, 2019

This week of the 2nd-8th December marks the UK’s first ever National Grief Awareness Week.

Natalie Clough, an End of Life Bereavement Specialist Nurse at Salford Royal Hospital believes that seeking help is crucial although everybody reacts differently in such circumstances.

“It’s very important to know what’s available out there and that people come forward so that they can go through their own grieving process,” she said.

“Everyone grieves very differently. It’s about finding what is the best coping mechanisms for that individual. This can be very different within each family.

“Every family is completely different and it depends on the circumstances around the person who’s died and their relationship to them. This varies a lot from person to person.”

Natalie says that with all kinds of challenges facing people experiencing grief, having a strong support network can often help individuals overcome such obstacles.

It's National Grief Awareness Week and the theme is #OpenUpToGrief. We are all affected by grief in different ways so let’s raise awareness and show support! For further information on bereavement services in Salford visit https://t.co/rcnoWmSqYv? #NGAW19 pic.twitter.com/s2ehiOZSiM

— NHS Salford CCG (@SalfordCCG) December 6, 2019

“It varies because not everybody needs help as they have good support networks within family and close friends. But others choose to come to us,” she said.

“This might be weeks down the line if they need a little bit of guidance as well or it might just be that immediate support which is predominantly our role as well.”

Natalie says that Salford Royal Hospital has the necessary services and support so no one need feel alone or isolated when facing grief.

“We have a bereavement team here at Salford Royal which we cover across the Northern Care Alliance including Pennine Hospital Trust as well. We’ve got a broad team. So we have a hospital based person on each site to offer that immediate support to families. That might be questions that they have, guidance through the next steps and what happens. And to be there as that emotional support for families and loved ones.”

For more information on tackling grief and bereavement visit the NHS website and The Good Grief Trust.

(Image credit: Abdul Shikhmous) (Info graphics credit: Chloe Deakin)