Support for specific situations
Death of a child
The UK government has legislation in place which entitles parents or primary carers two weeks leave after the death of a child under 18 or a stillbirth. 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. Child Bereavement UK offer specific advice for people facing this experience:
- Returning to work after your baby or child has died: guidance for employees (Child Bereavement UK)
- Compassionate Friends [website]
- SANDS (Stillbirth and neonatal death charity [website]
Death by suicide
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. The National Suicide Prevention Alliance offer specific advice on losing someone to suicide, as do SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health).
- Help is at Hand (PHE / National Suicide Prevention Alliance)
- After A Suicide [pdf] (SAMH)
Murder and homicide
Victim Support Scotland serve 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)
Road traffic accidents
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 Kylli Kittus on Unsplash)
