THE PROFESSIONALS

Matt Williams, head of information and support at Marie Curie, says the need for the charity’s bereavement services has never been greater

DEATH, dying and bereavement are at the forefront of all our minds while the coronavirus pandemic continues.

And this is no more evident than in the increase in calls to our new national telephone Bereavement Support service.

As the UK’s leading end-of-life charity, we have recently expanded our services to provide a national telephone-based Bereavement Support service which enables people to access free emotional support from a dedicated volunteer, by phone, for up to six sessions.

Over one million people have been bereaved since lockdown began, whether as a result of coronavirus or another cause.

Many of those people will be grieving in isolation, unable to use their usual support networks, and may be dealing with the additional psychological and emotional impact of not being able to properly say goodbye.

We have trained 53 new volunteers in the past few months to provide support to people at this vital time.

During June we saw a 145% increase in referrals to our bereavement service compared to the previous month, and we are already planning to train more volunteers to support this service.

We have seen a number of people get in touch who are grieving in isolation. They’ve told us that they wouldn’t normally feel the need to access support but being in lockdown means they have been unable to lean on their usual support networks and friends for help.

The telephone bereavement service is in addition to Marie Curie’s telephone support line which is available for anyone, including health and social care professionals, to call for practical information and emotional support as well as clinical guidance on care for the dying.

There is also a Bereavement Companion service available across Wales, which has recently expanded to the Vale of Glamorgan.

People signing up to the service will receive three phone calls from a trained volunteer following their bereavement, and if they need further support will be referred on to our national bereavement programme mentioned above.

Meanwhile, our Check In and Chat befriending service has also seen an increase in activity during this time, here for people living with or caring for someone at end of life, who might be finding it harder than ever to get the vital support needed or feeling lonely and isolated.

Check In and Chat is a call-back service where you’ll be matched with one of our volunteers.

They will be able to give you ongoing support and be a friendly ear when you just need to talk.

In this time of grief and loss, having your friends and family around you is a huge source of comfort.

But right now, even the smallest of gestures, like giving someone a hug, are impossible.

We need time together to reflect on our collective sense of loss and to remember and celebrate the lives of the people who have died as we begin to heal from the trauma of this national crisis.

That’s why Marie Curie is also calling for the UK Government to recognise this tragic loss with a national day to reflect, grieve and remember.

The pandemic is forcing everyone to confront death in ways we never could have comprehended just a few months ago, but we’re here, on the other end of the phone, to support anyone who needs us and to ensure the nation has time to remember everyone who has died during this time, whether from coronavirus or another cause.

To access Marie Curie’s national bereavement service, or for a chat with one of our trained information and support team, please call our support line on 0800 090 2309.

This service is available to anyone affected by the death of a loved one.