Bereavement is the loss of someone close to you while grief is the response to bereavement. The loss may be a boyfriend, partner, husband, pet, or family member. However, mourning the loss of an LGBT+ partner can carry additional burdens:
- if there is little family or community support
- if family and friends have not approved or been supportive of the relationship
- if the relationship is secret
However, there are other types of loss such as the end of a job, a home, or a relationship. Some of the most common responses include1:
- Feeling overwhelmed, sadness and/ or depression
- Shock, numbness, denial and/ or disbelief
- Panic and/ or confusion
- Anger, guilt and/ or hostility
- Tearfulness and/ or crying
- Tiredness and/ or exhaustion
- Loss of appetite
- Mixed feelings and/ or relief
These feelings may not be there all the time and/ or may come on or disappear unexpectedly. There’s no right or wrong way to feel and grieving is a process (a journey) not a task to tick off. For some, grief may last for several years, for others, it may last for the rest of their life.
Bereavement and grief
Bereavement and grief | MINDCoronavirus, bereavement and grief | Cruse
Compassion in Dying
About grief | Cruse
Grief after bereavement or loss | NHS
Grief | Wikipedia
Support around death | NHS Scotland
Helpful contacts | Beravement Advice Centre
Helplines
0300 330 0630 | Switchboard+0808 808 1677 | Cruse
116 123 | Samaritans Helplines | MEN R US
More
Mental health matters | MEN R USFaith and religion | MEN R US
HIV and AIDS History | MEN R US
Films
The Phases of Grief: Understanding Bereavement | The Loss Foundation UK | 21 Jul 2017 | 4m 37sHow to Deal With Loss or Grief of Love Ones | psych2go | 20 Dec 2019 | 5m 11s
1 Adapted from NHS and MIND
