Dealing with loss

NHS Bereavement support line

The NHS have set up a confidential support line in partnership with Hospice UK. Fully qualified bereavement specialists are available to provide you support around bereavement and wellbeing issues relating to loss experienced through your work. The line is free to access 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Phone: 0300 303 4434

CRUSE

CRUSE have both national and local branches that are able to provide support and resources around bereavement and loss. They can provide 1:1 counselling sessions and friendship groups for those who are trying to come to terms with the death of others. Their bereavement support volunteers are specially trained to listen and help you work through your grief.

Website: www.cruse.org.uk

Their national helpline is open 9.30am-5pm Monday-Friday, 9.30am-8pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and 10am-2pm Saturday and Sunday.

Phone: 0808 808 1677

Grief after bereavement or loss

NHS England have put together a page which provides information and advice around dealing with after a loss.

Website: Get help with grief after bereavement or loss – NHS 

Death and grieving in a care home

Pennine care NHS trust have put together a helpful guide with advice that can support you, care home residents and their families after a bereavement.

Death_and_grieving_in_a_care_home.pdf

Mindfulness and relaxation

Movement for Modern Life

Movement for Modern Life is a British online yoga platform that brings together world class yoga teachers, inspired movement and mindfulness into your home or a place of comfort. NHS staff are being offered free access to a range of resources, including breathwork sessions and stress reduction classes.

Website: Sign up – Movement for Modern Life

Finding Peace in a Frantic World

A book based on Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy. MBCT revolves around a simple form of meditation for a few minutes a day. More information can be found on their website.

Website: franticworld.com

NHS Mindfulness information

For information about what Mindfulness is and how it could help you, NHS England has produced a guide.

Website: Mindfulness – NHS

Headspace

Website and app that aims to help individuals to learn to meditate and live mindfully. Contains hundreds of themed sessions on everything from stress and sleep to focus and anxiety.

Website: www.headspace.com

Insight Timer

A meditation timer that doubles as a mindfulness guide. Users can share their meditation times with their friends and check in on others users meditating in the area.
available for iPhone and Android

Website: Insight Timer 

Support Staff from Ethnic Minority Groups

Bereavement and trauma support for Filipino colleagues

A team of fully qualified professionals, all of whom are Tagalog speakers, ready to help support you if you have experienced a bereavement, had your wellbeing affected by witnessing traumatic deaths at work, or need to discuss any other anxiety or emotional issues that you may be experiencing as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

This service is confidential and available 8am-8pm seven days a week.

Phone: 0300 303 1115

Chinese Mental Health Association

Provide a diverse range of services with the aim of serving Chinese people who are dealing with mental health related issues and problems.

Phone: 020 7613 1008

JAMI

Provides mental health support for individuals within the Jewish community.

Website: https://jamiuk.org/
Phone: 020 8458 2223
Email: info@jamiuk.org

Muslim Community Helpline

Provides a confidential, non-judgemental and emotional support service for individuals within the Muslim community. Their website also has links to information and articles on a variety of related subjects. The helpline is open 10am-1pm Monday-Thursday, 10am-4pm Friday.

Website: www.muslimcommunityhelpline.org.uk
Helpline:0208 904 8193
Phone: 0208 908 6715

Black women’s health and family support

Aims to empower Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic women to live healthier lives, form stronger communities and pave the way for a better future.

Phone: 020 8980 3503

Friends, families and travellers

They have created a page which brings together resources for gypsy, traveller and boater communities relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Website: Friends, Families and Travellers (gypsy-traveller.org)

Resources for managers to support their staff

Looking after your team

Coaching support for those who lead, manage or organise a team or group in primary care. Coaching is centred around compassionate and collaborative team leadership. The aim is to encourage psychological wellbeing and resilience in teams while supporting them to continue to deliver projects, services and high-quality care to patients.

Website: NHS England » Looking after your team

Coaching and mentoring for leaders

NHS England have partnered with coaching providers to provide free, confidential 1:1 coaching or mentoring support sessions for all NHS and social care leaders.

Website: Coaching and mentoring for leaders – Leadership Academy

Drug and alcohol support

Alcohol Change UK

Information and advice on alcohol during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – including tips for managing your drinking, links to support you can access during lockdown and beyond, and guidance for professionals.

Website: Coronavirus: information and advice hub | Alcohol Change UK

Turning Point

Turning Point Roads to Recovery is an all-purpose drug and alcohol treatment service located in Oxfordshire & commissioned by Oxfordshire County Council. They are dedicated to promoting wellbeing and recovery from addiction when you feel ready to take those steps. Oxfordshire services offer a variety of treatment options; they will support you to find the right treatment for you to make positive changes.

Website: Oxfordshire Roads to Recovery | Turning Point

One Recovery Bucks

One Recovery Bucks provide a confidential, free and easy-to-access service to anyone living in Buckinghamshire impacted by their own or someone else’s use of alcohol and drugs.

Website: Home – One Recovery Bucks

Domestic abuse support

National Domestic Abuse Helpline

The National domestic violence helpline is a national service for women experiencing domestic violence, their family, friends, colleagues, and others calling on their behalf.

Website: Home | Refuge National Domestic Abuse Helpline 
Phone: 0808 2000 247

Victim Support

Victim Support is an independent charity that helps people cope with the effects of crime. They provide free and confidential support and information.

Website: www.victimsupport.org.uk
Phone: 0808 1689 111 (24/7 Helpline)

They also offer a live chat service.

Men’s Advice Line

For men experiencing domestic abuse and violence, offering phone, email and webchat support, along with guidance to family and friends.

Website: www.mensadviceline.org.uk
Phone: 0808 8010 327
Email: info@mensadviceline.org.uk

Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Services (ODAS)

Oxfordshire Domestic Abuse Services (ODAS) run by A2Dominion offer emotional and practical support to victims suffering or fleeing domestic abuse

Website: Domestic abuse services | A2Dominion
Oxfordshire Helpline: 0800 731 0055
National Helpline: 0808 200 0247
Email: adas@a2dominion.co.uk

Wycombe Women’s Aid (WWA)

WWA covers Wycombe, Chiltern and South Bucks. They provide support to women and children experiencing the effects of domestic abuse by offering safe, practical and emotional support.

Website: Wycombe Womens Aid | Women supporting women against domestic violence
Helpline: 01494 461367
Email: enquiries@wycombewomensaid.org.uk

Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes Sexual Assault and Abuse Support Services (AVMKSAASS)

AVMKSAASS provides support to females and males aged 16 and over living in Aylesbury Vale and Milton Keynes who have experienced sexual assault and abuse, and males living in Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes who have experienced domestic abuse, with the aim of enabling survivors to live fulfilling lives.

Website: www.avmksaass.org.uk
Email: admin@saassbmk.org.uk
Buckinghamshire Phone: 01296 392468
Milton Keynes Phone: 01908 201971

Money support and advice

The Money Advice Service

The Money Advice Service is an organisation that works to improve peoples financial wellbeing across the UK, providing provide free and independent support.

Website: https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/
Web Form: Money guidance enquiry form 
Phone: 0800 138 7777
WhatsApp: 07701 342 744

Citizen Advice

Free, confidential and impartial debt advice service. Citizens Advice staff get specialist training on how to deal with individuals with mental health problems.

Website: Citizens Advice
Helpline: 0800 702 2020

Step Change

Step Change are a debt help service that also provide extra support in completing forms or benefits checks.

Website: https://www.stepchange.org/
Phone: 0800 138 1111

Self-help guides

Sleepio

The NHS have produced a guide to good sleep in partnership with Sleepio that provides tips and advice around sleeping well. You can also download the sleepio app to get a personalised sleep programme.

Website: Sleep Guide for NHS Workers v2 052820 (oxfordshiremind.org.uk)

Get Self-Help

Get Self-Help is a website based on CBT techniques and information. It has a wide range of downloadable worksheets and information on a range of disorders such as anxiety, depression, eating disorders, self-esteem and anger. It also has links to other useful websites.

Website: www.getselfhelp.co.uk

Living Life To The Full

An online course that aims to help you to identify and overcome emotional problems. The course, which you can complete at your own pace, helps you to develop good coping skills.

Website: www.llttf.com
Helpline: 01360 661 078

MIND

Information which may be beneficial if you’re living with a mental health problem, or supporting someone who is. A range of different areas are covered helping you to access the right information and to answer any questions you may have.

Website: www.mind.org.uk/information-support

Northumberland guides

This website offers self-help literature to download in several formats. Information available on topics such as abuse, alcohol, anxiety, bereavement, controlling anger, depression, health anxiety, panic, postnatal depression, self-harm, sleep problems and stress.

Website: web.ntw.nhs.uk/selfhelp

Reconnect2Life

A free online, user friendly self-help guide to living with and managing chronic pain. Reconnect2Life is an interactive programme to help you look at your pain and how it affects you. It consists of a number of different modules which you can work through and complete.

Website: www.torbayandsouthdevon.nhs.uk/services/pain-service/reconnect2life

Turn2us

A useful website which allows you to check your eligibility for benefits and grants. You put in your details and the website will calculate what you are entitled to. A telephone service is available as well.

Website: www.turn2us.org.uk

Books on prescription

There are a range of self-help books which you can borrow from your local library for free. Reading these books can help you to better understand and manage your health and wellbeing.

The books are recommended by the Reading Well Books on Prescription scheme, approved by health professionals and supported by public libraries.

There are currently four book lists available:

  • Reading Well Books on Prescription for common mental health conditions,
  • Reading Well Books on Prescription for dementia
  • Reading Well for young people

Reading Well for long term conditions.

For more information about Reading Well, please visit their website.

Website: Reading Well booklists | Books | Reading Well (reading-well.org.uk)

Page last reviewed: 27 October, 2023