74% did not receive formal bereavement or mental health support

Tuesday 15th June 2021 11:54 EDT
 

A survey, carried out by Cardiff University's Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Centre and the University of Bristol, found that of bereaved people demonstrating high or severe levels of vulnerability, three quarters (74 per cent) were not accessing formal bereavement services or mental health support. It signifies how many people struggling after a bereavement faced long waiting lists for support or were told they were not eligible. Others reported discomfort asking for help and were unsure how to access services, researchers found.

 

The survey, of 711 adults bereaved between March and December 2020, is believed to be the first to highlight the experiences of those trying to get support after the death of a loved one during the pandemic. It is published as a pre-print on the MedRxiv website and funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) as part of UK Research and Innovation’s rapid response to Covid-19.

 

As per the survey, most participants had not tried to access support, but more than half (56%) of those who did experienced difficulties. More than half (51%) of those surveyed were assessed as experiencing high or severe vulnerability. But almost three quarters (74%) of this group said they were not accessing formal bereavement or mental health support. And four in 10 respondents (39%) reported difficulties in getting support from friends and family.

 

Minister for Bereavement, Nadine Dorries, said: “Losing someone close to us is one of the most difficult things anyone can go through and behind every death are friends and families grieving their loss. Covid-19 has put pressure on bereavement services and I’m committed to ensuring grief issues get the attention they deserve so people can access the right support when they need it.Over the last year we have given more than £10 million to mental health charities, as well as those who support people dealing with bereavement. We will continue to work closely with the UK Commission on Covid-19 Bereavement, its Steering Group, and the Lived Experience Advisory Forum to ensure support is there where and when it is needed most.”

 

Meanwhile, founders of the Bereavement Standard Campaign have launched a customer survey to find out how firms across the UK have been treating grieving customers during the pandemic. The 2021 Bereavement Survey runs until the 30th June with the results outlined at the next meeting of the Bereavement Standard Working Group – which has been attended so far by a range of service providers, utility companies, regulators, financial institutions, charities, parliamentarians and other campaigners.


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