Bereavement charity braces for increased demand this January

The start of a new year can be especially difficult if you’re grieving. The empty chair at the Christmas table, reminiscing about happier times and feelings of loneliness which can creep in after spending time with family, can all serve as reminders that the life you spent with your loved one is disappearing into the past.

Sue Ryder, the national bereavement charity, is preparing for an unprecedented surge in demand for its online bereavement support services. Considering the 146% increase in the number of visits to its services between January 2022 and January 2023, the charity anticipates that there will be over 273,000 visits to these services this month. This includes those signing up to the online bereavement community and bereavement counselling support or accessing resources and information on the charity’s website.

The charity released this research to encourage the nation to be Grief Kind this January and beyond, by creating a national movement of kindness, encouraging people to better support those around them who are grieving.

Aston spoke to Bianca Neumann, head of bereavement at Sue Ryder and Sarah McNeill.