Steve Bland shares his experience of grief following the death of his wife Rachael
Following the death of his wife, BBC presenter Rachael Bland, Steve Bland opens up about how he and son Freddie have been coping with their grief and hopes to encourage other men to speak up about how bereavement has affected them.
Matt Crow and Kieran Hewitt have had similar experiences to Steve. Both men lost their wives earlier this year and have been struggling to come to terms with their grief. The three men meet to share their stories and discuss how they've been learning to live with bereavement - 'Talking to people has been massively helpful.'
Steve also opens up about what he's learned about grief since Rachael's passing and hopes that he can help others by sharing his experience.
If you've been bereaved, use our helplines below to access help and support.
Adult bereavement
Cruse Bereavement CareDay by Day Helpline: 0808 808 1677www.cruse.org.ukHow to help someone bereavedCruse Bereavement Care exists to promote the well-being of bereaved people and to enable anyone bereaved by death to understand their grief and cope with their loss. The organisation provides counselling and support and offers information, advice, education and training services.
Hope Againwww.hopeagain.org.ukHope Again is Cruse Bereavement Care's website for young people. Cruse is a national charity that provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone close to them dies. We also work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.
The Compassionate FriendsHelpline: 0345 123 2304www.tcf.org.ukThe Compassionate Friends provide one-to-one support, local support groups and produce a range of publications for parents, children, grandparents and professionals, as well as a website specifically for people dealing with the death of a brother or sister.
WAY Widowed & Youngwww.widowedandyoung.org.ukWAY offers support and friendship to young bereaved people, whatever their circumstances, however long ago their partner died. We help men and women up to the age of 50, parents and those without children.
SOBS - Survivors of Bereavement by SuicideHelpline: 0300 111 5065www.uk-sobs.org.ukSOBS exists to meet the needs and break the isolation of those bereaved by the suicide of a close relative or friend, aiming to provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, so giving and gaining support from each other.
Support After Suicide Partnershipsupportaftersuicide.org.ukWe have developed this website to offer a network of support to our visitors. You are not alone. We work with over 100 organisations from across the UK to help you find support near to you. To find local support, you can use our interactive map page or you can download a list of support in your region. You can also find lots of information and support in one of the support guides.
Support after Murder and ManslaughterHelpline: 0121 451 1618 or 0845 872 3440www.samm.org.ukIf you have lost someone dear to you through murder or manslaughter you are not alone. SAMMS offers a confidential telephone help line where you can talk to someone who has experienced the devastating effects of this most distressing crime.
Brake – The Road Safety CharityVictim Helpline: 0808 0000 401www.brake.org.ukOur work for road crash victims includes a helpline, acclaimed support literature, and a pilot face to face support project., as well as public awareness. We particularly prioritise services for families and children.
RoadPeaceHelpline: 0845 4500 355 9am-9pm dailywww.roadpeace.orgNational charity for bereaved and injured road traffic victims, which provides information and support through its helpline, literature, local groups, and contact with people who have suffered a similar experience.
The Good Grief Trustwww.thegoodgrieftrust.org The Good Grief Trust exists to help all those suffering grief in the UK. We aim to find the bereaved, acknowledge their grief and provide reassurance, a virtual hand of friendship and ongoing support. Run by the bereaved, for the bereaved, we aim to bring bereavement into the 21st Century and offer a fresh new insight into the way grief is managed in our country.
Child Bereavement
Grief EncounterTel: 0808 802 0111www.griefencounter.org.ukWhen a child’s parent or significant loved one dies, their lives change forever. As well as the sadness they feel, they are often left confused and full of fear and anxiety. Grief Encounter helps families address difficult issues such as death and we help make sense of the hurt and confusion. Above all, we aim to help them find ways out of the abyss of grief.
Winston's Wish Helpline: 08088 020 021www.winstonswish.orgWinston’s Wish supports children and young people to rebuild their life after a family bereavement, the Winston's Wish family line offers practical support and guidance to anyone concerned about a grieving child.
Young MindsParent’s Helpline: 0808 802 5544 Child bereavementAre you worried about how bereavement is affecting your child? Young Minds is here to help and support you. We've put together information about bereavement, especially for parents and carers, with lots of links to organisations who can help. We're also here to listen. If you want to talk to someone in confidence about your worries, call the Parent’s Helpline.
Hope Againwww.hopeagain.org.ukHope Again is Cruse Bereavement Care's website for young people. Cruse is a national charity that provides support, advice and information to children, young people and adults when someone close to them dies. We also work to enhance society’s care of bereaved people.
Child Bereavement UKSupport & Information: 0800 02 888 40www.childbereavement.org.ukOur vision is that when a child dies or is bereaved, all grieving children, young people and families have access to quality support and information relevant to their individual needs from appropriately trained professionals and to make a real difference to bereaved families through providing accessible quality support and information to all affected by the death of a child or when children are bereaved, and accessible quality training for the professionals who work with these families and children.