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24 November, 2009

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Grief - support services

Grief is our response to loss. Everyone will experience loss at some stage in life. The death of a loved one is a particularly difficult experience for many people.

Grief support services provide counselling, support and education to bereaved individuals and families. The opportunity to talk things over with a trained counsellor can help you make sense of your feelings.

Grief can be triggered by different experiences
The death of a family member, friend or other close person can trigger grief.

A number of other experiences can also cause feelings of loss or bereavement. These experiences might include:

Separation, divorce or relationship breakdown
Loss of possessions through disaster or theft
Children leaving home
The adoption or relinquishment of children
Unemployment, retrenchment or retirement
Death of a pet
Infertility, stillbirth, miscarriage or abortion
The loss of a person who is missing.

Support from family and friends is important
People who have support from family and friends are less likely to suffer poor health as a consequence of bereavement and loss. However, some people may also benefit from support in the form of counselling.

Bereavement counselling
Grief support services provide counselling, support and education to bereaved individuals and families. The opportunity to talk things over with a trained counsellor can help you make sense of your feelings.

Counsellors can offer you encouragement, support and advice through the grieving process. They will not tell you what to do or how you should be feeling, but they may put forward ideas and strategies to help you cope.

Volunteer counsellors have often been through a similar experience. They can share their experiences and give practical advice and suggestions gained from their own bereavement journey.

Support can help you cope with grief
Grief support services aim to:

Help and guide people through the grieving process
Help with complicated grief issues to prevent physical and mental health problems occurring.

Support is available in most communities
Community organisations, agencies and groups are often involved in grief support services. These organisations may include:

Hospitals and community health centres
Palliative care agencies
Volunteer groups
Church and religious organisations.

Specialist services
There are a range of specialist grief support services available. For example, if you have experienced the death of a child or baby, assistance is available from SIDS and Kids or SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support). There are also grief support groups for families of people involved in industrial or workplace accidents, victims of homicide and people experiencing trauma as a result of road accidents. Sometime specialist services are established in response to a particular traumatic event or disaster such as a bushfire or flood.

Services for children
Children can experience loss and grief from a very young age. Their feelings might be triggered by the death of a parent or close relative, family separation, the death or loss of a pet or many other situations.

The Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement operates throughout Melbourne and provide a number of bereavement support programs for children. Kids Grieve Too is designed for children aged from four to 14 years who have experienced the death of anyone significant in their lives.

Kids Help Line offers a confidential 24-hour counselling service for children aged from five to 25 years. Children can call from anywhere in Australia for free on 1800 551 800.

Where to get help

Your doctor
Your local community health centre
A trained counselor
Nurse-on-Call Tel. 1300 606 024 – for expert health information and advice 24 hours, 7 days
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement – Bereavement Counselling and Support Service Tel. (03) 9265 2111
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement – Kids Grieve Too; Younger Bereaved Partners Tel. (03) 9543 9449
Mercy Grief Services Tel. (03) 9364 9838 – for people living in the western region of Melbourne
Kids Help Line Tel. 1800 551 800 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Compassionate Friends Victoria Tel. (03) 9888 4944 or 1800 641 091 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SIDS and Kids Victoria Tel. (03) 9822 9611 or 1800 240 400 – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
SANDS (Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Support) Tel. (03) 9899 0218
IDSA (Industrial Death Support and Advocacy) Tel. (03) 9309 4453
Victims of Crime Helpline Tel. 1800 819 817
Road Trauma Support Team Tel. (03) 9819 9922 or 1300 367 797
Solace for Bereaved Partners Tel. (03) 9384 1722

Things to remember

Everyone experiences the pain associated with grief at some time in their life.
Support from family and friends is important.
Contact grief support volunteer groups, community or religious organisations, hospitals and palliative care agencies to access services.

You might also be interested in:
Death in hospital.
Emergencies - who to call in a crisis.
Grief - everyone's response is different.

Want to know more?
Go to More information for support groups, related links and references.

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