home
a-z of conditions
forums
news
about us
See all conditions
Dying & bereavement
Bereavement due to traumatic death
Forum
Resources & Information
Subject index
Credits
Full list of topics
Finding out about: :
Murder or manslaughter with a knife or a blunt instrument
Murder or manslaughter involving guns
Road and railway deaths
Killed by a bomb
Death due to an industrial explosion
Fire related deaths
Pedestrian deaths
Soon after the death took place :
Changing emotions and physical reactions
Identifying the body
Viewing the body
Organ donation
Telling others, and other people’s reactions
Media involvement
The Police Family Liaison Officer's role
Financial and practical matters
The funeral, burial or cremation :
The funeral or commemoration
The role of the funeral director
Burial or scattering ashes
Memorials, headstones and websites
The inquest and court cases :
The coroner’s inquest
The Victim Personal Statement
The court case
The Probation Victim Contact Scheme
Sources of help :
Informal support from family and friends
Professional counselling
Support from charities
Support for children and young people
Religion and spirituality
Life now and a message to others :
Adjusting to life without the deceased
Anniversaries and other special occasions
Messages to others
Messages to professionals and policy makers
Search the whole site
Search in this condition
Bereavement due to traumatic death
Subject index
Clip
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a child
>>
Pat - Interview 05
>>
A lovely wooden seat was placed by a lake in memory of Pat’s son Matthew. Pat goes there on the anniversary of his death and on his birthday and at ot
In 2007 Pat’s son, Matthew, was killed when his motorbike hit a car that was turning right. The coroner concluded that it had been an accident. Pat was devastated. She has found support from family, friends, and through Cruse Bereavement Care.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a brother or a sister
>>
Susanna - Interview 17
>>
Christmas is always a difficult time for Susanna, partly because her brother’s funeral was on 23rd December. She said that both Christmas and New Year
Susanna lost her brother in the terrorist bombings in Bali on 12th October 2002. Dan was killed instantly and his wife was badly burnt. With other bereaved relatives she started the UK Bali Bombing Victims Group.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a child
>>
Cynthia - Interview 02
>>
Since her daughter died Cynthia wants to have nothing to do with Christmas. On the anniversary of her death in June she always does something special.
In 2000 Cynthia’s 26 year old daughter was killed when she was knocked off her bicycle and run over by a lorry. The inquest verdict was “accidental death” and the driver was acquitted. Cynthia was devastated and now campaigns to prevent other road deaths.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a husband, wife or partner
>>
Martin - Interview 10
>>
Martin used to love Christmas with his wife, Steph. He doesn't feel celebratory now. Last year he took his daughter to Spain on Boxing Day and it felt
Martin’s wife had a part time job as a lollypop lady. When she was standing on the pavement, she was hit by a bus, and died instantly. Martin was shocked. He is bringing up two children, which is a heavy responsibility. Counselling has helped him.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a parent
>>
Michelle - Interview 41
>>
Anniversaries are hard for Michelle. It helps her to do something positive - she leaves flowers at the cemetery, lights a candle, talks to her mother
In 2005 Michelle’s mother was murdered. She was stabbed. Michelle was shocked and horrified. She has found help through friends, family, a community psychiatric nurse, a psychologist, a homeopath (privately), a medium and by writing about what happened.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a child
>>
Patsy - Interview 21
>>
Patsy said that she came to terms with her son’s death very quickly. She wept at Christmas the first year after his death, but now, over nine years la
In 1999 Patsy’s son, Dorrie, was shot. He died soon afterwards. Patsy was devastated, but through her belief in Jesus, her relationship with God, her work with Mothers Against Violence and other community work she has come to terms with Dorrie’s death.
Dying & bereavement
>>
Bereavement due to traumatic death
>>
Lost a husband, wife or partner
>>
Marcus - Interview 38
>>
Years ago Marcus found the anniversary of his fiancée's death heartbreaking. Now he goes to the cemetery in a more positive frame of mind. He lays his
Marcus’s fiancée, Louise, was murdered in 1987. Marcus was shocked and his life was shattered. He found help through friends, family, the police, psychiatrists and art therapy. Today he finds help by helping others who have been bereaved in this way.
Mail to a friend