Coronavirus: Helping bereaved families during Covid-19
We are here if you need to talk. Run by Shropshire Council with support from Samaritans, Severn Hospice, Cruse Bereavement Care and Crane Quality Counselling, the Bereavement Support Service offers one to one personalised counselling for people across the county.
Many people have turned to the service during the pandemic. Richard Dunhill of Samaritans is one of the many local volunteers who are supporting people who have suffered bereavement.
He spoke to us about some of the cases he has come across in recent months.
“The caller’s husband of many years had died the previous week. His illness and subsequent death had been a hugely traumatic time for her. Taking place in lockdown, the funeral had been limited to very few people and there had been no get together afterwards. Her family and neighbours were very supportive, but she felt unable to open up fully to them for fear of upsetting them with her deepest fears and feelings.
“She wanted to be able to talk in confidence and for as long as she needed to someone who was not known to her and who would respect all she wanted to say. The marriage had been long but not always happy – something she had never talked about before. Her children were loving but unaware of these issues. She had kept them to herself for years.
“Over the course of several lengthy conversations (always in the evening and she like Samaritans to call her…it felt reassuring…) with different Samaritans, she was able to be sorrowful and sad, angry and resentful, guilty and regretful, worried and fearful….all these feelings and more…..and to begin to reflect on all this and see her forward, slowly and carefully but more positively.
“After a few weeks of these conversations, she felt strong enough to say thank you for the support and end the arrangement. She knew she could call Samaritans and the Bereavement Service whenever she wanted, but for the moment, she was ready to try to get on with her life.”
You can access the bereavement service by calling the Shropshire Council COVID-19 Helpline number on 0345 678 9028.
The line is available for anyone with questions or queries or looking for support and guidance. By ringing you can find out about the free and confidential bereavement services available, and you will receive support to arrange an appointment or get in touch directly. They can provide you with a one-off conversation or a number of more in-depth sessions over a period of time
For further information about bereavement support, click here
For any other coronavirus information visit https://shropshire.gov.uk/coronavirus/information-for-the-public/
