GRIEF, IN PLAIN ENGLISH

When life is hard
after a loss.

There is no right or wrong way to grieve.

Grief can bring shock, sadness, tiredness, anger and guilt, sometimes all in one day. The NHS says these feelings usually ease with time, and that support is there if they don't. An independent informational guide, not a church, charity or health service.

116 123 Samaritans, free to call

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Two mugs of tea on a wooden kitchen table by a rain-streaked window, with soft grey morning light and an empty chair — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

Talk to someone
Small targets
Ask for help early
What the NHS suggests

THE SHORT ANSWER

Grief is normal.
Help is there.

Grief follows any big loss, not only a death.
The NHS describes what it can feel like and what may help.

WHAT IT FEELS LIKE

Many feelings at once

The NHS lists shock and numbness, overwhelming sadness, tiredness, anger and guilt. Powerful feelings may appear unexpectedly.

About the stages

WHAT MAY HELP

Small steps, shared

Talking to a friend or counsellor, peer support, regular exercise and regular meals. The NHS also says do not try to do everything at once.

The NHS list

WHERE TO TURN

Free people to talk to

Cruse Bereavement Support runs a free helpline on 0808 808 1677. Samaritans can be called free on 116 123.

Who to contact

General information only, not medical advice. For advice about your own health, speak to a doctor, pharmacist or other qualified health professional.

WHO TO CONTACT

Where does
it fit?

Pick the situation closest to yours to see where NHS guidance points. The bar shows how urgent the NHS treats it.

Support finder

Choose a situationI want to talk about the person I lostI need someone to listen, nowLow mood for more than 2 weeksI need urgent mental health helpSomeone's life is at risk

I want to talk about the person I lostBereavement helpline

Cruse's free helpline, 0808 808 1677, is run by trained bereavement volunteers who listen and can tell you about other support.

I need someone to listen, nowSamaritans 116 123

The NHS lists Samaritans on 116 123 as a free, confidential listening service run by trained volunteers. Under 19s can also call Childline on 0800 1111.

Low mood for more than 2 weeksSee a GP

The NHS suggests seeing a GP if low mood has lasted more than 2 weeks or things you are trying are not helping. Adults can also refer themselves to NHS talking therapies.

I need urgent mental health helpNHS 111

Use 111 online or call 111 and select the mental health option, or ask for an urgent GP appointment.

Someone's life is at riskCall 999

The NHS says call 999 or go to A&E if someone's life is at risk or you do not feel you can keep yourself or someone else safe.

Sources: NHS, Grief after bereavement or loss; NHS, Where to get urgent help for mental health; Cruse Bereavement Support helpline page.

General signposting from NHS and Cruse pages, not personal medical advice. If someone's life is at risk, call 999.

TWO NUMBERS WORTH KNOWING

Loss touches
almost everyone.

One figure on how many families are bereaved each year,
one on when the NHS suggests extra help.

568,613

Deaths registered in England and Wales, 2024

The Office for National Statistics recorded 568,613 deaths registered in England and Wales in 2024. Behind each one are partners, families, friends and colleagues who grieve.

DEATHS · ONS

2 weeks

When the NHS suggests seeing a GP

The NHS says to see a GP if you have had a low mood for more than 2 weeks, are struggling to cope, or the things you are trying yourself are not helping.

LOW MOOD · NHS

For most people grief becomes less intense over time. The NHS says that for some it lasts many months or years, known as prolonged grief disorder, and that it is more likely if a death was traumatic, sudden or unexpected.

WHAT THE NHS SUGGESTS

Gentle things
to try.

These come from the NHS page on grief after bereavement or loss. They are general ideas, not a checklist to complete.

Talk about how you feel
With a friend, family member, healthcare professional or counsellor, or through peer support with people who have been there.
Set small targets
Do not try to do everything at once. Small, achievable goals are easier to meet on hard days.
Look after the basics
Regular exercise can lift mood and may help sleep; regular meals keep energy levels steadier.
Avoid quick fixes
The NHS says try not to use alcohol, cigarettes, gambling or drugs to relieve grief, as they can all add to poor mental health.

A hand resting on a phone on a table beside a notebook and a small vase of wildflowers — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

An adult seen from behind walking alone along a quiet tree-lined path in autumn, leaves on the ground — AI-generated image, not a photograph of a real person or place.

THE STAGES OF GRIEF

Not a ladder,
not a timetable.

People often talk about grief in stages: denial, anger, depression, bargaining and acceptance. The NHS says you may not go through all of them, they may not come in order, and you may not move smoothly between them.

Grief is not only about death. The NHS says it can follow the end of a relationship, losing a job, moving home or someone close becoming seriously ill. Cruse adds that support from others often fades after the funeral, when grief may only just be starting.

Questions

Questions people ask

Is what I'm feeling normal?

The NHS says bereavement and grief affect people in different ways and there is no right or wrong way to feel. Shock, sadness, tiredness, anger and guilt are all common.

Do the stages of grief happen in order?

Not necessarily. The NHS says you may not experience all the stages, they may not happen in a particular order, and you may not move smoothly between them.

How long does grief last?

There is no set time. The NHS says feelings usually ease gradually, but for some people grief lasts many months or years; this is called prolonged grief disorder, and the NHS suggests seeing a GP if you have its symptoms.

Who can I talk to for free?

Cruse Bereavement Support has a free helpline on 0808 808 1677. Samaritans can be called free on 116 123. Adults can also refer themselves to NHS talking therapies.

Is this site connected to a church or charity?

No. It is an independent informational page that quotes NHS, Cruse and ONS sources. It is not a church, a charity or a health service, and it does not give medical advice.

When life is hard
after a loss.