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  • Bereavement

    • What is bereavement? 

      Bereavement is the experience of losing someone important to us. It is characterised by grief, which is the process and the range of emotions we go through as we gradually adjust to the loss. Losing someone important to us can be emotionally devastating, whether that be a partner, family member, friend or pet (Mind, 2020).
      Bereavement affects everyone in different ways, and it's possible to experience any range of emotions. There is no right or wrong way to feel. Feelings of grief can also happen because of other types of loss or changes in circumstances, for example:
      - The end of a relationship
      - The loss of a job
      - Moving away to a new location
      - A decline in the physical or mental health of someone we care about.


    • What does grief feel like?

      Grief can be difficult and stressful and nearly everybody goes through it at some point in their lives. Despite this, it can be very difficult to predict how we might react to a loss, as it is a very individual process. After a loss you may experience any of the following:
      - Sadness or depression
      - Shock, denial or disbelief
       - Numbness and denial
      - Panic and confusion
      - Anger or hostility
      - Feeling overwhelmed
      - Mixed feelings

      We can feel all, none or some of these things. There is no right or wrong way to feel following a loss. Some people seek help immediately by showing their emotions and talking to people, others prefer to deal with things slowly, quietly or by themselves.


    • Suggested Stages of Grief 

    • Where can I get support?

      In College support:

      Personal Tutor: Speak to your Personal Tutor in your weekly 1:1 discussions. They are there to support you and can offer you a constant listening ear, along with further help, guidance and advice. 

      Senior Tutor: Speak to your Senior Tutor. Book an appointment with them by sending them a TEAMS message. Senior Tutors will listen, advise and support you. They will also be able to offer you external agency support.  

      Counselling: Refer yourself to the College Counselling service and receive weekly Counselling sessions. Via email, send your name with a brief outline as to why you would like counselling. Send this to counselling@godalming.ac.uk

      Counselling drop in sessions: Every Monday - Wednesday 10:00-12:15 the College offer a drop in Counselling service in the First Aid room. Please use this service whenever needed. 


      External Agency support:

      Cruse Bereavement Care - Home - Cruse Bereavement Support - offers face-to-face, telephone, email and online support for anyone who has experienced a loss.

      Hope again - Hope Again- this is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Support. It is where you can learn from other young people in how to cope with grief and feel less alone. 

      Sudden - Support for suddenly bereaved people and those who care for them- helps people who have experienced a sudden bereavement to access specialist information and advice

      At a loss - AtaLoss: What we do- The UK's signposting website for the bereaved. They can help you find bereavement services and counselling


      Understanding Children, Young People and Grief:

      Children and young people experience the same sorts of feelings as adults when someone dies. But they may express them differently. Cruse explain in further detail how children and young people may experience grief, differently to adults. 

      https://www.cruse.org.uk/understanding-grief/grief-experiences/children-young-people/


    • Hope again- Young people living after their loss