When someone dies, the people who loved them need understanding.
That includes children and young people whose mum or dad has died, and the evidence about them is scattered across reports, surveys and journals. We gather that research in one place, check every figure against its source, and give it away to the charities, schools and services who support bereaved families.
We publish research. We are not a support service.
If you, or a child you care for, are grieving, these organisations are there to help. We have no connection with them; we list them because they are where people are most often pointed.
- SamaritansFree to call on 116 123 in the UK and Ireland, day or night. samaritans.org
- Winston’s WishA charity for bereaved children and young people. winstonswish.org
- Child Bereavement UKA charity supporting bereaved children and families. childbereavementuk.org
- Cruse Bereavement SupportA bereavement charity for adults and children. cruse.org.uk
Evidence for the people who support bereaved children
Written for childhood bereavement charities, hospice family-support teams and the services that work with schools. Each study shows its sources, so every figure can be checked and reused.
Our first library, on children and young people whose parent has died, is being researched and written now. Nothing is published until every figure in it has been checked at its source.
Every number has a source you can open
- Published evidence, not estimates
- Figures come from official statistics, peer-reviewed research and the published reports of organisations working with bereaved families. Where a figure is contested or missing, we say so.
- Cited where it is used
- Each study lists its sources, so you can check a number against the original rather than taking our word for it.
- Plain, careful language
- We say “died” rather than reaching for euphemism, and we write about bereavement by suicide following the Samaritans’ media guidelines.
- Free to reuse
- Quote it, chart it, put it in a funding bid or a consultation response. A link back is welcome but not a condition.
Run by Rachael and Jamie
Understanding Bereavement is run by the two of us, Rachael and Jamie, from our cottage in Wales. We research and check what is published here ourselves, and if anything leaves you with a question, write to us and one of us will reply.
How the site is paid for is set out plainly at the foot of every page and on our about page.