New service supports people through grief and loss in Harrogate and Craven
The free service, which launched yesterday (June 29), is open to people in West Yorkshire and Harrogate, including Craven. It is the first point of contact for anyone suffering any form of grief and loss – or those worried about losing someone, whether this relates to a family member, friend or member of their community.
The practical and emotional support and advice service will be available 7 days a week, from 8am to 8pm.
It is also available to those feeling affected by the deaths of public figures and/or the volume of deaths across the country.
Commissioned by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership, it will be delivered by West Yorkshire and Harrogate Independent Hospices Consortium, Bradford Bereavement Services Consortium and Leeds Mind.
People will be able to self-refer to the service or will be signposted by other agencies such as the police, hospital bereavement services, funeral directors, GPs, community and faith organisations and others. People will be signposted to further support where required, with the service well-connected to local place-based specialist bereavement support services.
Dr Sara Munro, CEO Lead for West Yorkshire and Harrogate Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and Autism Collaborative and CEO for Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It is sadly the case that many more people have suffered loss and grief throughout the past few months.
This can be made more distressing due to the restrictions that have been in place, which reduces access to the usual practical and emotional support we might usually receive from family and friends. That is why this additional service is so important and what makes it unique is the relationships it will have with specialist local organisations. This service will relieve some of the pressure on these valued local support networks and in doing so enable more people to get support with their grief and loss at a time when they need it.
