Bereavement

Mental health is one part of our overall health; it is something which we all have. It includes our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing and can affect the way we think, feel and behave. As with our physical health, we can at times experience difficulties and problems with our mental health, such as symptoms of anxiety and depression. (Please click the link to the NHS website for more information about mental health). Mental health – NHS (www.nhs.uk)

If you are experiencing difficulties or have any concerns regarding your mental health and wellbeing, it is important to seek support. 

If you need urgent physical health care or an urgent mental health assessment, then you should attend A&E

For any other concerns about your mental health and wellbeing there are a range of local options to choose from:

• Book an appointment with a GP or the Mental Health Practitioner
• Onepoint bereavement
• Cruse
• Samaritans

Contact Details:

Book an appointment with a GP or the Mental Health Practitioner:

To get help from a MH Practitioner you will need to complete an online consultation form or book an appointment online via the NHS App or the GP Practice website. You will expect to hear back from the surgery within x no days either by phone or text

One point bereavement: Can help people cope more effectively with the death of someone close, or to come to terms with the impact of a significant loss or a traumatic event. – Isaac will get link and details Bereavement & Loss Counselling – 1Point (1pointbolton.org.uk)

CRUSE bereavement: Our volunteers are trained in all types of bereavement and can help you make sense of how you’re feeling right now  Home – Cruse Bereavement Support  or Tel: 0808 808 1677

Samaritans [24hr]: 116 123 [free] or jo@samaritans.org

Online Chat: https://www.samaritans.org/how-we-can-help/contact-samaritan/chat-online/

In the unfortunate event that a person has passed away, there are three things that must be done in the first few days;

• Get a medical certificate from your GP or hospital doctor (this is necessary to register the death)
• Register the death within 5 days (8 days in Scotland). You will then receive the necessary documents for the funeral.
• Make the necessary funeral arrangements.

Register the death

If the death has been reported to the coroner (or Procurator Fiscal in Scotland) they must give permission before registering the death.

You can register the death if you are a relative, a witness to the death, a hospital administrator or the person making the arrangements with the funeral directors.

You can use the ‘Register a Death’ page on the gov.uk website that will guide you through the process. This will also explain the registration process for Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Arrange the funeral

The funeral can usually only take place after the death is registered. Most people use a funeral director, though you can arrange a funeral yourself.

Funeral directors

Choose a funeral director who’s a member of one of the following:

• National Association of Funeral Directors
• National Federation of Funeral Directors
• Society of Allied and Independent Funeral Directors

These organisations have codes of practice – they must give you a price list when asked.

Some local councils run their own funeral services, for example for non-religious burials. The British Humanist Association can also help with non-religious funerals.

Arranging the funeral yourself

Contact the Cemeteries and Crematorium Department of your local council to arrange a funeral yourself.

Funeral costs

Funeral costs can include:

• funeral director fees
• things the funeral director pays for on your behalf (called ‘disbursements’ or ‘third-party costs’), for example, crematorium or cemetery fees, or a newspaper announcement about the death
• local authority burial or cremation fees

Funeral directors may list all these costs in their quotes.