• Topic
• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Informal support from family and friends >> Informal support from family and friends

Informal support from family and friends

• Clip
• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Rosemary - Interview 25 >> Rosemary was asked if she would like to identify James’ body after he was killed by the London bomb. She thinks she and her husband probably made the

Rosemary’s son, James, was killed in the 7th July bomb attack in London in 2005. The family was devastated. Rosemary found help via family, friends, and colleagues, and through a vicar and a psychotherapist, and by creating wonderful memorials for her son.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Michael - Interview 35 >> Michael decided to have some professional counselling because he found it hard to talk about Lewis. The counsellor helped him to express his feelings

In 2004 Michael’s son, Lewis, was badly burnt. At the time he was working at a garage. Lewis died three days later. Michael and the other members of the family were devastated. Michael found most support from family, friends and through counselling.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Ian - Interview 32 >> Ian and his family went to see Dorrie soon after he was shot. Ian was glad that his brother looked at peace. Seeing the body helped Ian to accept that

In 1999 Ian’s brother, Dorrie, was shot. He died soon afterwards. Ian was deeply shocked but he supported the rest of the family and kept his faith in God. Dorrie’s death made Ian reassess his life, and live not only for himself but also for Dorrie.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a parent >> Karen - Interview 04 >> Karen chose the undertaker and planned a simple funeral. She knew her mother did not want a lavish event. Karen also asked other family members to mak

In 2007 Karen’s mother died when her house caught fire. It is unclear how the fire started, but the coroner decided it was an accidental death. Karen was shocked by her mother’s death. She has been helped and supported by her husband and his family.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> William - Interview 18 >> William said that after bereavement it is important not to wallow in self pity and that other members of the family will be going through their own pa

In 2005 William’s 15 year old daughter, Lauren, was crossing a motorway and was hit by a lorry. She died almost immediately. William felt anger and guilt for not being able to protect her. He still misses her very much indeed.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Tamsin - Interview 06 >> After Matthew died Tamsin spent the first week with her mother. Later friends allowed her to talk at length about her brother, which helped her.

One day in 2007 Tamsin said goodbye to her brother. That evening Matthew died when his motorbike collided with a car. Tamsin was devastated. Her partner and her family support her but she misses Matthew dreadfully and the pain doesn’t get any easier.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Matthew - Interview 26 >> After Timothy died Matthew knew that if he needed any support his family would help him. He did not want to join a support group or have professional

Matthew’s brother, Timothy, was killed in the Bali bombing in 2002. He died instantly. His death was a terrible shock to the family. His body was brought back to the UK. Matthew is proud of the beautiful memorial that stands in London for those who died.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a husband, wife or partner >> Nina - Interview 37 >> Nina got most help and support from family and friends. She went to see a psychotherapist but decided she was wasting the therapist’s time.

In 2002 Nina’s husband, Autsen, was killed in the Potters Bar rail crash. She was seriously hurt. Nina campaigned for compensation for the families of those who died. Nina misses her husband. She wrote the book “Dear Austen” to tell him what happened.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a friend or distant relative >> Shazia - Interview 01 >> Shazia would have liked support from her parents after her friend was shot, but they offered her no comfort. She turned to a school friend for support

In 1993 Shazia’s friend was shot by her friend’s father because of “izzat” and honour. Shazia, then aged 13, was devastated. She has found help through counselling and by supporting others in similar situations.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Ann - Interview 24 >> Family members were all devastated and so found it hard to support each other in the way they would have done otherwise.

In 2005 Ann’s son, Westley, was murdered. He was attacked by a man with a knife. Ann and her family were devastated. Ann started the organisation KnifeCrimes.org which supports other victims of crime and which aims prevent other knife attacks.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Dorothy - Interview 28 >> Dorothy described what happened when her son, Mark, was fatally injured in a huge explosion in a recycling plant. The family went to the hospital to s

In 2005 Dorothy’s son, Mark, was killed in an industrial incident. He was working in a waste and recycling plant. Dorothy was shocked and angry. Counselling, hypnotherapy and Compassionate Friends have helped.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a brother or a sister >> Erykah - Interview 22 >> The liaison officers called at the house for three months and then suddenly disappeared. This distressed Erykah; she realised that the police had not

In 2002 Erykah’s brother was shot many times. His death was a terrible shock, and at first Erykah couldn’t believe it. Erykah’s faith keeps her strong. She has found support via the organisation, Mothers against Violence (MAV).

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> Lost a child >> Linda - Interview 15 >> Linda invited a newspaper and a magazine to write about her son, Kevin, and about his death; she was collecting money for the hospital and she wanted

In 2007 Linda’s son, Kevin, was murdered. He was 27 years old. He was stabbed and died 5 hours later. It was a terrific shock to all the family. Linda misses Kevin tremendously but her spiritual beliefs have helped her cope with her grief.

• Dying & bereavement >> Bereavement due to traumatic death >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role >> The Police Family Liaison Officer's role

The Police Family Liaison Officer's role