What is grief?
Grief, or bereavement, is the experience of losing someone or something important to us. Losing something important to us can be as impactful as losing someone we love. When someone dies it can bring up a multitude of feelings. Whether it was unexpected or if they had been ill for a while, it will often feel like a shock and the feelings of loss will affect us in different ways.
It can be an emotionally painful time, and we encourage you to reach out for support, and talk to friends, family, or a member of the University’s Wellbeing Teams.
Things you may find helpful:
- Take one day at a time. Accept that you will have good days and bad days.
- Look after your own health through routine, eating well, staying hydrated, a regular sleeping pattern and regular light exercise. Support yourself emotionally by taking care of yourself physically.
- It’s important to talk either with family or friends or to professionals.
- Stay in touch with family and friends, they may help to distract you or offer emotional support.
- Consider ways to keep memories of your loved one. You could make a memory box or talk to others to hear how they remember them.
You can find more support and advice for grief in the University’s wellbeing guide to bereavement support.
Day or night there’s someone you can talk to
Our dedicated range Student Wellbeing Services are specialist support teams are here for you.
The Student Welfare Team is able to support you with grief, as well as any other worries or problems you might be experiencing throughout your time at the University of Reading. We encourage you to book an appointment to talk through the feelings of grief you are experiencing. To book an appointment, you can email studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk and ask to arrange an appointment with one of the Welfare Officers. Alternatively the Welfare Team offer a drop-in service , Monday to Friday 13:00 – 16:00. To access the drop-in session, go to the front desk reception of the Student Services building and ask to speak to the Welfare Team.
As a University of Reading student you also have access to the 24hr Student Support Helpline, available 24hrs a day, 7 days a week. You can call 0800 023 2466 to speak to someone in-person, or live chat via the Wisdom: Learn, grow, thrive app. The support line offers a confidential high quality interpreter and translation service in over 240 languages, so you can access support in your preferred language. The 24hr Student Support Line is completely confidential, and available to you whenever you need it.
If you are in need of urgent help and support, you can also find the contact details for emergency services, emergencies on campus, and urgent mental health support on Essentials.
If you are worried about someone else
If you are worried about a friend who is experiencing grief and you are concerned about someone’s welfare and think they need support, please encourage them to use the Student Wellness Check or come in to see the Welfare Team.
You can also call the Welfare Team on 0118 378 4777, or email studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk to refer a friend you are concerned about to our Student Welfare Team, who will be able to act on your concerns and reach out for support where necessary.
If they are living in halls, you can also contact the relevant Hall Warden by emailing wardens@reading.ac.uk. You can also call the Halls Hotline 0800 029 1984 or Security 0118 378 6300, who can make contact with the Warden team for ‘in the moment’ support requests.
We will always act upon concerns raised although sometimes we are unable to speak to you about concerns you have raised due to confidentiality.
Helpful resources to support you
- The Mental Health and Wellbeing webpages on Essentials have information about all of our Student Wellbeing Teams, as well as wellbeing resources and signposts to external support services.
- You may find that grief is affecting your studies, finances, mental health, or physical wellbeing. We encourage you to use the resources and services available from the University, to support you during a period. Our finding support when your circumstances have changed webpage can help signpost you to the support you need.
- The Student Grief Network support students who have lost someone, whether this was recently or years ago. They have webpages to help you understand grief, and hear from other people’s experiences. They also have workshops and groups that offer friendly, non-judgemental spaces that aim to build community and connect with others in the same boat. You can also check out their Eventbrite page to find upcoming events, from educational spaces to mindfulness groups and creative workshops.
- Grief can have physical symptoms and we encourage you to speak to your GP if you are worried about them. The NHS also have an online bereavement and grief self-help guide, that uses cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) techniques, and webpages with further information about the support services to help with bereavement, grief and loss.
- If you are in need of urgent help and support, you can also find the contact details for emergency services, emergencies on campus, and urgent mental health support on Essentials.