With support from the people in your life and maybe with a little help from other sources, such as the resources on this website, you’ll most likely find ways to cope with your loss and move forward.
However, grief takes time - usually much longer than you expect and certainly longer than many of the people around you expect. However, if you’re worried about the way that you’re coping, or if you have concerns about your mental health more generally and need further support, please get in touch with your GP in the first instance.
See the Lothian Health and Social Care partnership’s sites for locally available support:

The ‘iThrive’ website focuses on support available Edinburgh wide – search for what local support is available to meet your needs here

‘midspace’ is Midlothian’s online source of mental health and wellbeing information – search for what local support is available to meet your needs here

‘eastspace’ is East Lothian’s online source of mental health and wellbeing information – search for what local support is available to meet your needs here

‘westspace’ is West Lothian’s online source of mental health and wellbeing information – search for what local support is available to meet your needs here
The following National organisations specifically focus on loss and bereavement and may also be helpful:
Most of the organisations below are able to provide support relating to loss during the Covid-19 pandemic. Contact them or look at their website to find out more.
- NHS Bereavement HelpLine
Free Helpline: 0800 2600 400
The helpline can offer guidance and advice on dealing with grief and loss and is staffed by trained nurses who are highly skilled and experienced in working with bereaved families.
- CHILD BEREAVEMENT UK
Freephone helpline: 0800 02 888 40
Provides helpful support and advice about supporting bereaved children.
- WINSTON’S WISH
Freephone helpline: 08088 020 021
Offers advice on how to help bereaved children: how to tell them someone has died, how to talk to them about the pandemic and also a helpline if you need to ask for advice.
- Facing the Future
Freephone helpline: 0208 939 9560
Email: info@facingthefuturegroups.org
The Facing the Future service has been developed by Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care to help support people who have been bereaved by suicide. Our support groups will give you the opportunity to meet others who have lost someone to suicide and share your experiences and feelings. You may attend our support groups even if you are already receiving other types of support.
- Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society
Freephone helpline: 0808 164 3332
Email: helpline@sands.org.uk
Supports anyone affected by the death of a baby and promotes research in reducing the loss of babies’ lives.
- Held in Our Hearts (formerly SANDS Lothian) An Edinburgh based charity providing baby loss counselling and support to families, with over 40 years’ experience of offering compassionate bereavement care in the community.
- WAY Widowed and Young
A national charity in the UK for men and women aged 50 or under when their partner died. It’s a peer-to-peer support group run by a network of volunteers who have been bereaved at a young age themselves, so they understand exactly what other members are going through.
- Samaritans helpline: Phone 116123. Available any time of the day or night. The Samaritans website also has advice and resources for looking after your mental health during the Coronavirus pandemic and other ways to get help.
- Childline on 0800 11 11 for 24-hour confidential support to children and young people up to their 19th birthday.
- OUR FRONTLINE for Key Workers, Emergency Services, Care workers, Health workers. Partnership between Shout, Mind, Hospice UK and The Royal Foundation to provide ‘Frontline’ which offers round-the-clock one-to-one support, by call or text, from trained volunteers, plus resources, tips and ideas to look after your mental health. For more information visit the website.
- Dying Matters have also launched the #BeforeTheirTime campaign, to enable people to share experiences, talk through concerns and share social media messages of solidarity at this difficult time.