Norfolk and Waveney Mind announce new support groups for people bereaved by suicide
Local mental health charity, Norfolk and Waveney Mind, has announced a series of support groups for anyone over 18 who has been bereaved by suicide.
The Anchor Project, which is an 8-week support group is one of the projects provided by the Charity’s Complex Bereavement Service. This service is supported by Norfolk County Council’s Public Health Department and Norfolk Clinical Commissioning Group and has been created as a result of a great need for suicide prevention and complex bereavement support in Norfolk and Waveney.
Suicide is a complex and multi-faceted act shaped by many different factors. Those bereaved and affected by suicide who may face a host of conflicting feelings: anger mixed with sadness; love and hate for the person who died; guilt often alternating with anger and blame for self and others.
An attendee at a previous Anchor Group said: “Over the years I have had various forms of support and help, including long and short-term counselling and psychotherapy, but none of these have given me the insights I have gained through the Anchor Group. Perhaps one of the main factors for this is because of seeing and hearing others, where we all have that one key thing in common, a bereavement by suicide. I’m far from healed and, I probably never will be, some wounds are just far too deep but this new perspective and inner strength I have gained from the Anchor Project, has helped me to lay a new foundation in which to start rebuilding a part of my life which has been left broken for far too long.”
In addition to the Anchor support Groups, Norfolk and Waveney Mind also provide Support After Immediate Loss (SAIL). This service focuses on supporting individuals in the immediacy of loss. This can be emotional and practical weekly support, delivered face-to-face, virtually or over the telephone, for up to 12 weeks.
Paul Rowlands, Complex Bereavement Facilitator at Norfolk and Waveney Mind, said “We are delighted to be able to offer additional support groups both face-to-face and online (for those who unable to travel). We are also working on introducing more groups to ensure that we can support as many people as we can throughout Norfolk and Waveney.
“We know that those who have been bereaved by suicide are more at risk of dying by suicide compared to the general population. That’s why the SAIL early intervention is so important on a one-to-one basis. By following this up with support through our Anchor Groups, it helps our clients realise that they are not alone and helps them to build resilience, as well as giving them the opportunity to meet others who are going through similar experiences in a safe, confidential and non-judgemental environment.”
To find out more about Norfolk and Waveney Mind’s Complex Bereavement Service visit: https://www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk/complex-bereavement