Bereavement leads to poor mental health, new research shows
The report comes as out of more than 28 million adults in the UK, 54% have experienced the loss of a loved one in the last five years
As many as 13 million UK adults that are battling grief following a recent bereavement experience feelings of loneliness or face challenges to their mental wellbeing this Christmas, according to new research conducted by YouGov on behalf of Co-op Funeralcare.
The research found that 49% of bereaved adults spend time with people who knew their loved one because it helped with the grief. Pointing to the need for workplace support, 15% of bereaved adults expressed the need for employers to act, as taking time off work has “helped them cope” with their sense of loss.
However, findings reveal that almost half of bereavements were sudden or unexpected, and that getting through the funeral (36%), clearing out belongings (25%) and breaking the news to others (22%) were amongst the most difficult challenges faced by those closest to someone who had died.
The report comes as out of more than 28 million adults in the UK, 54% have experienced the loss of a loved one in the last five years.
In response to the findings, the Co-op is reportedly focused on expanding its support to families after the funeral and in partnership with Cruse is bringing communities together to support the bereaved.
The partnership aims to empower individuals to provide everyday support to those in their communities who have experienced bereavement. Co-op in conjunction with Reach PLC has also in the last month launched a new podcast, ‘Let’s Talk About Grief’ where celebrities share their experience of grief and loss to help others going through similar feelings.
Gill Stewart, MD of Co-op Funeralcare, said: “Our colleagues throughout the country are continuously working with members of their local communities to ensure bereaved families are shown the utmost support during their time of grief.
“However, as the UK Bereavement Commission rightly pointed out, it takes a village to ensure those dealing with the loss of a loved one still feel included in community life. For many the sense of loss can be overwhelming, even more so at this time of year, and our research highlights the power of community being supported by others can make all the difference at a time of grief.”
