Marie Curie is expanding its bereavement services to help people struggling with grief during lockdown.

Scotland’s foremost end of life charity expects to double the number of volunteers working as part of a new national bereavement support service in the coming weeks.

As more than 12,000 people have died since the beginning of March this year – including a significant number from coronavirus – it’s estimated over 60,000 individuals have been left grieving over the loss of a loved one.

While the country continues in lockdown, many people grieving will be in isolation, unable to use their usual support networks, and many dealing with the additional psychological and emotional impact of not being able to properly say goodbye.

Marie Curie has trained up 30 volunteers to deliver the service – with plans in place to double that number – which is available to anyone affected by the death of a loved one, providing access to free emotional support from a dedicated volunteer, over the phone, for up to six weeks.

Gary Powell’s partner, Tina, died in February.

“It’s the isolation that makes grieving during a lockdown harder. It’s the perfect environment for overthinking,” he told the charity.

“Out of nowhere, grief can overwhelm me, and I just have to sit and have a cry. Normally I’d go for a walk to try and clear my head but that’s just not possible now.

“If I could sum up life during lockdown in one word, it would be strange. Everywhere is so quiet. The struggle is finding things to do to keep your mind occupied. To be able to speak to someone, fill that silence and not feel alone is a powerful thing.”

The bereavement service adds to the charity’s telephone support line which is already available for anyone, including health and social care professionals to call for practical information and emotional support as well as clinical guidance on care for people nearing the end of their lives.

Marie Curie Bereavement Services Coordinator, Angharad Burden, says they hope to reach people who have never asked for help before:

“We have seen a number of people get in touch with us who are grieving in isolation. They’ve told us that they wouldn’t normally feel the need to access support but being in lockdown means they have been unable to lean on their usual support networks for help.

“The pandemic is forcing everyone to confront death in ways we never could’ve comprehended just a few weeks ago, but we’re here, on the other end of the phone, to support anyone who needs us. I urge anyone who is struggling with any aspect of dying, death or bereavement to call our support line or to visit mariecurie.org.uk/support.”

In the middle of last month care representatives and medical royal colleges came together to urge the government to adopt recommendations to ensure dying patients could receive visits from family and friends despite the pandemic. 

UK Government guidance on travel from home during the pandemic previously did not explicitly state that visits to a dying family member were allowed.

As a consequence, and combined with concerns over infection control, different interpretations of the guidance meant some families were entirely excluded from their loved one’s last days.

Social distancing measures are in place for funerals in Scotland too, with many only able to access their loved one’s service via video link.

 

To access Marie Curie’s new bereavement service – available to anyone affected by the death of a loved one at any time of their life – call their support line free on 0800 090 2309.

 

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