Nurse-led health provider RedArc has reported a 30% rise in referrals to its bereavement support service in 2023.
This is higher than the previous year and highlights how an increasing number of people see the benefits of seeking help following the death of a loved one.
RedArc noted that grief can be complicated, multi-dimensional and its impact may not be felt for months or even years.
It can affect every aspect of a person’s life, including work, sleep and relationships, as well as physical and mental health.
RedArc said experience has shown that counselling is not always the best option.
However, it is the type of therapy that is most well-known, and often the only solution included by employee benefits providers and insurers.
Analysis of RedArc’s data shows that counselling was only relevant for 42% of the individuals it supported last year.
For the majority of people, other support was considered more appropriate including regular emotional support, complementary therapies, specialist support groups, advice on self-care activities and coping with sleep problems.
It added that all these interventions helped the bereaved individuals in a variety of ways.
RedArc said bereavement support that only offers bereavement counselling is falling short.
Grieving individuals need to be properly assessed by someone with experience, who can then offer them the most appropriate help at the right time or direct them to specialist support if needed.
For example, someone who has lost their life partner may struggle to socialise again but with the right encouragement and signposting to new social outlets they can meet new people, make new friends and start to rebuild their lives.
Or an individual who finds they are struggling to relax and get sufficient sleep may benefit from a course of acupuncture, meditation or yoga.
These types of issues, among others, are better addressed outside of traditional bereavement counselling.
Bereavement support for children
Thirty per cent of the support that RedArc provides to children is for bereavement, and the company stresses the importance of having a wide range of support options available for younger people too.
At the time of a death, children can be hugely resilient, sometimes more so than adults, but many need to be given the life skills and coping mechanisms to get through the period and to help them throughout their life.
Christine Husbands, commercial director, RedArc said: “Many people assume that counselling is the only option because that is what is most often offered, but there are plenty of other options that should be available for those who are finding it difficult to cope.
“Grief is a normal human reaction to a substantial loss, there is no easy fix, often people really value the reassurance from an experienced professional that what they are experiencing is normal. There is, of course, a place for counselling at the right point in time, and those who are specialists in providing bereavement support can play an effective role in helping someone who is struggling with grief.
“However, it’s important that those who are responsible for selecting a partner to deliver bereavement support look widely at all the options available, and ensure that the support is wide-ranging.”
