Grief Awareness Week 2020

It’s Grief Awareness Week and we’re working with The Good Grief Trust to try and normalise grief and get people talking about this typically uncomfortable subject. Bereavement is one of the most devastating things any of us will ever go through. This week in particular we’d like to remind you that we can help you if you need support.

At GOSH our Bereavement Team offer face-to-face sessions, telephone support, debriefs in groups or individuals. Get in touch with the team or learn more about their services here.

If you or a family you’re supporting at GOSH have been affected by the death of a child of any age, from pre-birth to adult, under any circumstances, however recently or long ago, you can also find support online at childdeathhelpline.org.uk or simply call the free helpline on 0800 282 986 / 0808 800 6019.

Our Chaplaincy and Support Team are also available to support you, and our free Staff Counselling Service via CareFirst is also available 24/7 on 0800 174319.

This year during the COVID-19 pandemic, we know that those grieving at home, have endured a myriad of restrictions and limitations that have profoundly affected their grief. The bereaved have not been able to reach out to family and friends for a much-needed hug and human connection has been incredibly difficult. This has caused a great deal of trauma and distress. However, distance should not prevent us from reaching out to others and sharing our grief wherever and whenever we can.

Please also take the opportunity to remember loved ones who have died and if you can, try to talk to those around you about your grief – your story could become someone else’s hope.

Below are some ways you can pay tribute or learning more about coping with grief as part of nation Grief Awareness Week 2020.

Create your own personalised and free online tribute in memory of a loved one that has died using through The MuchLoved Charitable Trust. You can share memories, thoughts and stories with family and friends as well as light a virtual candle, and even fundraise in their honour. It’s simple, quick and free to set up.

Write the name of a loved one on our yellow tags in their memory which will then be placed on tribute branches in their memory.

You’ll find our team in main reception on Tuesday 8 December (10am-4pm) with yellow tags you can use to write the name of a loved one on directly. We know that during the current pandemic not all staff will be onsite so if you would like to commemorate someone in this way, please email their name to comms@gosh.nhs.uk by 8 December and we’ll prepare the physical memory tag on your behalf.

If you happen to be visiting GOSH on Tuesday, come and see some of our lovely team in main reception. You’ll also be able to sign a physical yellow tag there in memory of a loved one for our GOSH memory branches.

2020 – #SHAREYOURSTORY

Get involved on social media by using this year’s hashtags #ShareYourStory and #NGAW20.