South East London Suicide Bereavement Service

The South East London Suicide Bereavement Service supports people in the aftermath of suicide across the boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark. We are here for people who have lost someone to suicide or have witnessed a suicide.

We can support people who live or are registered with a GP in one of our boroughs. If you live elsewhere, we encourage you to get in touch so we can help connect you to support in your area.

The service is available for people of all ages, including children and young people who feel they may benefit from our support. When we receive a referral for a child, we will first assess their needs to make sure that the support we can offer is suitable.

The Suicide Bereavement Service is here to help you

In the aftermath of loss, the service can offer one-to-one emotional and practical help.

The support we provide is:

• non-judgemental
• confidential
• built around your individual needs.

We also run support groups and walks where you can connect with other people bereaved by suicide, and we offer bereavement counselling.

Our support team includes Support Workers, Bereavement Counsellors and Community Chaplains, who work with people of all faiths and none. Our staff are trained to take the impact of trauma into account in how we support you. We will also signpost you to other services that may be of benefit, depending on your needs.

The Suicide Bereavement Service was launched in July 2021 and is funded by NHS England through South East London Integrated Care System. It is delivered as a partnership between Mind in Bexley, South East London Mind and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust (SLaM).

Things the Suicide Bereavement Service can support you with include:

Emotional:

• Listening and understanding responses to grief
• Space to talk openly about the person you have lost
• Information and advice on managing your own wellbeing
• Check-ins at significant anniversaries, such as the person’s birthday
• Opportunity to connect with others who can relate to your experience

Practical:

• Help sorting through personal effects of the person who died
• Help dealing with the affairs of the person who died, such as bills and bank accounts
• Support with registering the death and planning a funeral
• Information and resources during the inquest process
• Support with any changes in your personal circumstances, such as finance or housing

For people who have witnessed the suicide of someone they didn’t know, or who have lost someone they were supporting in a professional capacity, we offer one-to-one emotional support to help you explore the impact this may have had and how to cope.

Get in touch

To access this service, please visit the South London and Maudsley NHS Suicide Bereavement Service page. We accept self-referrals, professional referrals, and referrals from family or friends.

If you prefer you can:
Email: suicidebereavement@selmind.org.uk
Call: 07933 393 397

Our normal service opening hours are 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday. Evening appointments are available if required.

For further information about suicide bereavement support please visit the Support After Suicide Partnership or search for services in your area on At a Loss.

Suicide Bereavement Leaflet