Every bereavement is different. It is important for employers to recognise that not every employee will be affected the same way by grief. Different circumstances and employees will require different levels and types of support.
Sometimes, however, certain circumstances call for specific types of help and support. This section aims to address some of these specific types of bereavement where targeted support may be useful.
UK government legislation entitles parents or primary carers two weeks leave after a stillbirth or the death of a child under 18.
But time off is merely a practical measure. The devastating loss of a child can affect all aspects of life and make returning to work particularly daunting. The resources below aim to offer some guidance and support for people facing this experience.
When someone dies by suicide, it can bring a range of different emotions that can be particularly difficult to process. This might not be easy to deal with in the workplace. Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland offers free facilitated support to workplaces affected by a suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Alliance offer specific advice on losing someone to suicide, as do SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).
Victim Support Scotland serves victims and witnesses in Scotland by campaigning for their rights and helping to improve their experiences of the criminal justice system. They have also launched a specialist service designed to support families who have been bereaved through murder or culpable homicide. Families that access the service will have a dedicated support worker who will provide assistance with immediate practical tasks such as going to court, accessing specialist services including counselling, arranging funerals, handling the media and finances.
Support for Families Bereaved by Crime [weblink] (Victim Support Scotland)
Brake is a road safety charity working with communities and organisations across the UK and can offer support to those who have been bereaved because of a road traffic accident.
Support following a death on the road [weblink] (Brake)
(Photo by Rémi Walle on Unsplash)
