Grief and mental health
Grief can impact our mental health and overall wellbeing.
It is normal to feel intense emotions when you are grieving, including sadness, anger, guilt, confusion. For some people these feelings can trigger or worsen mental health conditions such as anxiety or depression.
Looking after your mental health when grieving
Here are some ways to care for your mental wellbeing after a bereavement:
- Be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to feel what you’re feeling and try not to judge your emotions- there’s no ‘right’ way to grieve’.
- Express your feelings. Finding ways to safely channel how you’re feeling- such as journaling or creative outlets (like art or music)- can help you process.
- Talk to someone. Whether it’s a friend, family member, or a bereavement volunteer, talking can help you feel less alone.
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Keep a routine. Even small acts—getting dressed, having regular meals, going for a walk—can help bring a sense of normality to your day.
- Find your community. Joining a social media group, a hobby or connecting with people can help you make sense of what you are going through.
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Seek professional help if needed. If your grief feels overwhelming or affects your daily life for a long time, you may benefit from extra support.
When is it time to ask for help?
We experience a wide range of feelings and physical experiences after someone dies. Usually these feelings do change over time and slowly become more manageable. If our feelings don’t change and we start to feel ‘stuck,’ it can be useful to get support. If you notice that it’s affecting large parts of your life – for example you can’t get to work or can’t get out of bed – it might be time to reach out for help.
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Grief and depression
Feelings of sadness and hopelessness are really common after someone dies. It's important to recognise when you might need some extra support.
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Grief and anxiety
While anxiety isn’t often recognised as a common reaction to grief, it's normal to find yourself feeling anxious or worried after a death.
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Grief and suicidal thoughts
Suicidal thoughts during grief are more common than people realise.
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Grief and loneliness
Millions of people in the UK report regularly feeling lonely. Grief is often one of the reasons why.
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Complicated and prolonged grief
Over time most people start to adapt and feel better after someone dies. When someone becomes stuck or is still unable to cope after many months it is sometimes known as complicated grief or prolonged grief disorder.
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