Why we need to talk about grief

IT’S THE LAST TABOO, BUT BEING OPEN ABOUT DEATH COULD HELP US ALL

Losing someone close is, sadly, something we’ll all experience. It’s also something over which we have no control - and this can complicate the way we cope with grief. It isn’t made any easier by the uncertain world we’re currently living in. That’s why we must learn to speak openly about grief, and why Co-op Funeralcare is here to help you access any mental health support you need.

There is no such thing as the “right” way to feel when someone close dies, so the way we choose to remember them will be individual to each and every one of us.

As a nation, we’ve traditionally struggled to talk openly about death. But for much of 2020, a topic that we tend to “brush under the carpet” has dominated headlines and in many ways, has brought the conversation of death out more into the open. However, social distancing rules and restrictions have also meant it has been impossible for people to attend funerals in the usual way.

Co-op Funeralcare’s “A Nation in Mourning” report, published in July, revealed that 9.7million British mourners had been unable to attend a loved one’s funeral, and that grief is something that people struggle to cope with long after that person

When grieving, it’s important to take the time to look after your physical and emotional wellbeing, as well as finding a balance between keeping busy and focusing on your grief. Andy Langford, clinical director at Cruse

with partners including Cruse Bereavement Care, to offer help to those of us affected by grief. Andy Langford, clinical director at Cruse, explains that when it comes to coping with bereavement, there’s no “one size fits all” approach that works. It’s just about taking the time to look after our physical and emotional wellbeing, and finding a balance between keeping busy and focusing on our grief. “We should be giving ourselves time and space,” he advises.

If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, visit coop.co.uk/bereavement advice for advice and links to our partner charities.