Rethink Mental Illness - Black Country Support After Suicide

Yesterday (Tuesday 10 September) was World Suicide Prevention Day.

Anyone who has been affected by a suicide in their family, community or social network is reminded that support is available to them.

The Rethink Support After Suicide Bereavement service is based within the Black Country, providing a range of support to those affected by bereavement by suicide.

The service supports anyone bereaved by suicide in the Black Country of any age, including children and young people.

The service delivers 1:1 practical and emotional support, bereavement counselling and peer support groups. The team will work with bereaved individuals to provide the support that best meets their needs. It is important to recognise that individuals can access the service when they feel ready to do so. This could be days, weeks or months after a suicide.

Lindsey Gooding, Rethink's Head of Area for the West Midlands, said, "We know that people bereaved by suicide need support at the time that is right for them. Everyone's experience of grief is unique therefore - each individual who accesses our service is always treated with equal sensitivity, empathy and respect. We are here to support you at any stage of bereavement, including immediately after your loss or in the longer term when you feel ready to access support"

The staff and volunteer team is made up of people from a range of different and diverse backgrounds with a range of different personal and professional experiences. Some staff and volunteers have personal experience of bereavement by suicide, and this helps inform Rethink's approach and delivery of the service.

If you wish to access support, please call 01922 494479 or contact the Rethink Black Country 24/7 helpline on 0800 008 6516 to make a referral or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

More information about the service can be found at Black Country Support After Suicide: https://bit.ly/4eatKUq.

Other bereavement support organisations that can help:

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SOBS)0300 111 5065 (9am-9pm Mon-Fri)

Cruse Bereavement Care Helpline 0808 808 1677 Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm Weekends 10am – 2pm

The Support After Suicide Partnership (SASP) UK's national hub for organisations and individuals working across the UK to support people who have been bereaved or affected by suicide

Samaritans call 116 123