South East London Suicide Bereavement Service Shortlisted for Prestigious Award
The Suicide Bereavement Service pictured outside Bethlem Gallery and Museum
Building on their recent success of winning Gold at the HSJ Awards for Best Not-for-Profit Working in Partnership with the NHS, the South East London Suicide Bereavement Service has been shortlisted for the Frontline Team of the Year award at the Third Sector Awards. This back-to-back recognition underscores the exceptional work of the team in providing vital support to individuals bereaved by suicide.
A collaborative effort between Mind in Bexley, local Minds in Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark, and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, the service offers person-centred support, flexibility, and a non-judgmental space for those grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide.
“We are incredibly honoured to be shortlisted for this award,” said Amy Kirk Smith, Service Manager, “Following our recent Gold win at the HSJ Awards, this is a testament to the unwavering dedication and compassion of our amazing staff and volunteers. We are committed to making a lasting difference in the lives of those affected by suicide bereavement.”
The service has already made a significant impact, providing over 2,000 hours of support to 234 people last year alone. Offering emotional and practical assistance, the team empowers people bereaved by suicide to cope with their grief and rebuild their lives.
People bereaved by suicide are up to three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population. This is therefore a preventative service: the team aims not only to help people cope with an incredibly painful experience, but ultimately to prevent further loss of life by suicide.
Chantel, who accessed the service, explained: “If they hadn’t been there for me, I’m not sure how I would have coped. My bereavement worker is a wonderful person, and the group facilitators were so supportive. Since the loss of my partner, I now realise how common suicide is. It is bereavement on a different scale. The service has been so important in helping me understand what I’m going through and that although life will never be the same, it does go on. It has to.”
For more information about the Suicide Bereavement Service, please visit our website at: mindinbexley.org.uk/suicide-bereavement-service
Special thanks to South East London Integrated Care Board who provide essential funding for this service to support people across Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark.
Watch this space for updates on the award outcome in September.
