Victim Support has been commissioned by Slough and Wokingham Borough Councils and Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust to run a pilot advocacy service to support families bereaved by suicide. This project is part of the Berkshire Suicide Prevention Strategy and starts on 1st July 2019.
To help provide better support to those bereaved or affected, Victim Support has been commissioned to deliver the Bereaved by Suicide Service across Berkshire.
Under the new scheme, families will be provided with a specialist case worker who will work closely with them to provide practical help and emotional support.
This may include the following:
• Support to help families cope with the psychological effects of trauma
• Advocacy with housing services
• Advice around benefits or support to claim the correct benefits
• Support navigating the criminal justice system and Coroner’s Court
• Support with arranging the funeral and accessing funds for this, if eligible.
The aim of the Bereaved by Suicide Service (BBS) is to reduce the distress and improve the long-term outlook, resilience and wellbeing of people directly bereaved by suicide. The service will provide specialist, confidential support, tailored to the needs of individuals, for as long as it is needed.
To refer yourself or someone else, please email: BBS.support@victimsupport.org.uk. If you need to talk to someone now call their Supportline free on 0808 168 9111.
Connecting Communities in Berkshire 