Advice & Bereavement Support

Most people expect to be very upset or distressed when someone close to them has died. What takes many people by surprise is how strong the emotions can be, how they can change very quickly, and how long they last. People around you may seem to think you should be ‘back to normal’ after a few weeks or months. You might appear to be your usual self to other people, but you know that on the inside, you’re not even sure what normal is anymore.

Everyone grieves in a way that is unique to them and their relationship with the person who has died. Well-intentioned people may say to you, ‘Time is a great healer.’ Sometimes, however, it can seem that life is more difficult as the weeks and months go by. We know that no-one can understand exactly what your loss feels like to you. But we do understand that it’s sometimes easier to talk to someone outside of your friends and family about grief and the impact of bereavement of your life and this is why we offer the GriefChat service.

GriefChat was created by bereavement experts and by clicking on the GriefChat box below, you can chat directly to a specially trained bereavement counsellor. GriefChat counsellors are experienced in supporting bereaved people and will listen to your story, explore how your grief is affecting you and help you to find any additional support you might need.

GriefChat is a completely free service and is available Monday-Friday, 9am-9pm (except Bank Holidays).

GriefChat provides emotional support for bereaved people, access to trained bereavement counsellors and referral into other specialist bereavement services.

Support for children and young people

Experiencing the death of someone, particularly someone close, can be one of the most traumatic experiences a child or young person can face. How a child grieves is vital to their immediate and long-term future.

Sadness, anger, guilt, and confusion are all very natural feelings for children and young people experiencing bereavement and are a necessary part of coming to terms with what’s happened. Recognising that this is normal is very important – not just for children and young people, but for anyone close to them.

While we can’t make these feelings go away, we can encourage children and young people to express them and find healthy ways to live with them, however painful or difficult they are. Often it makes all the difference if they can talk with a counsellor who has experience in supporting with bereavement.

TACaccess was founded to help families and others caring for children and young people to find counsellors and therapists who can help with a range of concerns including bereavement.

TACaccess is a free directory where you can search for the right person to support your family. Most of the professionals listed have video profiles making it easy to involve your child or young person in choosing who helps them.

Register for your free account and find the help you need.

When a death occurs at home

1. Contact your local doctor
2. Call Chalcraft Funeral Directors at any time of the day or night for immediate help and assistance

When a death occurs in hospital

1. Call Chalcraft Funeral Directors on 01903 812656 for immediate help and assistance.

When a death occurs suddenly or unexpectedly

1. This may involve the police or a coroner
2. Call Chalcraft Funeral Directors who will liaise with the appropriate authority and give all the assistance that you require.

The death of someone you love or know can be a devastating experience, which can bring on stronger emotions than you have ever felt before.

In cases where the death was expected there can still be a sense of shock associated with the actual death. You may feel cold, numb, empty and unreal for a while. Following this, you may experience such emotions as anger, panic, guilt and ineffable sadness. This may also be accompanied by periods of restlessness, especially at night when it is difficult to sleep. You may also react by becoming irritable or critical of yourself and others, sometimes leading to feelings of despair. All these are natural reactions to bereavement and are not a sign that you are unable to cope.

During this time, you may need the support of others. Don’t be afraid to speak about your feelings to someone. Sometimes friends and or relatives find it difficult to talk about the death in case they upset you further. It may be necessary for you to broach the subject first. You might also want to seek the support of a minister, priest or grief counselor. Grief is a healthy, normal process and all of us may react differently. What is important is that you allow yourself to grieve and come to terms with your loss.

All deaths that occur must be registered, either at Worthing, Shoreham, Littlehampton or Storrington Registery Office.

The contact number is 01243 642122 or you can book an appointment online via https://eregistrar.westsussex.gov.uk/Bookings/

When you obtain the cause of death certificate you can make an appointment to register the death. It is the Registrar who will then make out the Death Certificate and ascertain how many copies each individual may need. Copies of the Death Certificate cost £11.00 each.

Should the death become a Coroner’s case, the Coroner’s Office will advise you when to telephone the Registrar to make an appointment to attend to register and collect the Death Certificate. It is advisable that you telephone the Registrar to ensure that they have received the relevant papers.

The Registrar will require some additional information i.e.: a birth of marriage certificate of the deceased. Where applicable, they may want the maiden name and occupation. Ideally, the deceased’s medical card should be taken with you. When the death is registered, the Registrar will issue a form (for burial or cremation) and this should be handed to the funeral company.

A Registration of Death form (BD8), issued for the purposes of the Department of Social Security (DSS), will also be given to you by the Registrar