Best Online Grief Support Group for Young People - 2021

Here at Hope Again, we are very happy to announce that we have been recognised as the ‘Best Online Grief Support Group for Young People 2021’ by Very Well Mind!! This is really exciting news and it’s great to be recognised for the support we can offer to our online community.

We hope that recognition like this can help our services to reach more young people, their families and the professionals working alongside them.

You can find our feature below or read the article online here

A big thank-you to, VeryWell Mind.

One Day...

‘One day you will tell your story of how you overcame what you went through and it will be someone else’s survival guide’

- Brene Brown.

You’re overcoming what you’re going through - not what you went through, but what you are continuing to live through. Grief is forever and sometimes that is the heartbreaking truth. However, love is everlasting, no amount of space or time can break the bond held together by love.

One day, you will be able to share your grief journey and legacy of your loved one with others.

You will have no idea how much another young person may need your survival guide - wear your grief proudly, you can help someone without even knowing it.

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek

#MentalHealthAwarenessWeek and the theme this year is all things nature.

Why nature? Research has found a positive link between spending time outdoors and improved mental well-being. Also, more than 6 in 10 adults expressed that being in nature made them feel positive emotions. Due to the pandemic, as a society we were able to ‘slow down’. We were given the opportunity to spend more time outdoors which felt like a real treat - something we previously took for granted.

Grief and loss can majorly impact upon our mental health. It can make us feel anxious, lonely, deep sadness and utterly hopeless. Take time this week to re-connect with nature. Use your senses in the outdoors, look, smell, touch and truly listen to all the sounds around you - it’s amazing what you become aware of when we dedicate time to just being present in the moment. Grief becomes easier to manage when you give it space - associating with your grief feelings can be hard at the time, but it will help you on your grief journey.

Why not spend time in nature remembering your loved one? You could, take a walk and listen to the music they loved, visit a place that mattered to you both, journal your favourite memories whilst outdoors. Whatever you do, make sure it’s right for you.

If you’re struggling with your mental health this week, you’re not alone. Please reach out, there is always someone ready to listen. You can call the free Cruse helpline on: 0808 808 1677 or email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk.

Similarly, take a look at organisations such as the ‘Mental Health Foundation’ and ‘Mind’ on ways to manage your mental well-being.

No one gets us like us!

PSA - You can only ever truly understand grief when you've lived through it. For us young people, no one gets us quite like we do! It's the sad reality of loss at a young age. However, understanding bereavement creates unbreakable bonds between those who just 'get it'. It's like an instant connection, no words even need to be shared - its the unspoken commonality that creates a community of those who have loved and lost.

Take care of yourself this weekend - We hope this message reinforces that you are never, ever alone. There are other young people out there just like you - we stand together.

If you are struggling, send an email to: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk or, you can call the free national helpline on: 0808 808 1677.

You will find Hope Again

Bereavement is a very difficult and personal experience – one that no two people go through in the exact same way. All emotions and feelings are normal. So, you don’t need to question or try to justify why you are feeling a certain way. Whether you feel sad, angry, confused, resentful or anything else in between, allow yourself to feel those emotions.

The strong emotions you feel at this time highlight just how much that special person means to you and how much you love them. So, it is important to allow yourself to grieve in a way that is helpful to you, as this is what your loved one would want for you also.

Gaining some extra support with Hope Again is always an option and can be a good way to work through and manage your emotions, to make them feel less overwhelming over time.

Hope Again is the youth website of Cruse Bereavement Care who provide support solely online to children and young people in the form of their email service or online resources created and shared by other young people.

Cruse Bereavement Care offer 1-1 sessions, group sessions and support via email or the national helpline service. These resources can be a really helpful way to connect with other people that understand what you are going through and help you to feel less alone during a very difficult time.

So, this is your friendly reminder that there is no right or wrong way to grieve, but also remember that you don’t have to go through this alone. This is a very important time to be easy on yourself and reach out for extra support if you feel you may need it.

Sending you so much love.

With special thanks to Lauren McN for the creation of this blog post - A masters student who wanted to collaborate with Hope Again during her academic studies. We love your content and appreciate your time!