What is National Grief Awareness Week 2023? When and how to take part in bereavement initiative
National Grief Awareness Week 2023 is just around the corner and offers people the chance to share their feelings and talk about their experiences.
The Good Grief Trust is publicising the event and has created support packs to help people and businesses to spread awareness.
Linda Magistris, the trust’s chief executive, said the campaign for 2023 was based around the theme of ‘Better Together’.
She said: “The theme is to bring communities and connect us as a community.
“If you’ve experienced bereavement, you can go and have a chat with someone and feel less alone.”
If you need support for grief after bereavement or loss, follow this NHS guidance here or visit the Good Grief Trust here.
Here are all the details you need to know about the event.
When is National Grief Awareness Week 2023?
The event runs every year and takes place in 2023 from Monday, December 2 to Friday, December 8.
It follows the recently held Transgender Awareness Week and Addiction Awareness Week.
What is National Grief Awareness Week 2023?
Organisers say the event aims to “create a safe space for individuals to openly discuss their experiences with grief and loss”.
They say it encourages opening up with others to share the human emotions that everybody feels at various points.
Grief awareness peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic when the majority of people seeking help reportedly struggled to do so.
Tory MP Tobias Ellwood is chairman of an all-party Parliamentary group on bereavement and shared his thoughts with Ms Magistris on the yearly initiative.
“Bereavement is one of those things when you experience it you sometimes don’t want to talk about it,” he said.
“But it can be easier to talk about it with people who have experienced something very similar. There are locations where you can go to and share your thoughts but there are also experts who can help you with them.
“This is a fantastic initiative and I am delighted to be involved.”
What is happening during National Grief Awareness Week 2023?
Visit the charity’s website for bunting, advertising, tea bags and balloons to host your own events and encourage conversation.
You can also support the campaign on social media using the hashtag #NGAW23.