Bereavement support in the UK – a rapid evidence assessment

Abstract

Bereavement can be a distressing experience and the importance of bereavement support has been recognised in policy and practice for many years. This rapid evidence assessment was undertaken to evaluate the provision and effectiveness of bereavement support in the United Kingdom (UK) and to identify gaps in service provision and areas of need with regard to bereavement services.The main finding of the review was that the provision of bereavement support is extremely varied and there is no conclusive evidence for its effectiveness. There is widespread recognition of the potentially negative impact of bereavement on people, and a plethora of recommendations focused on raising awareness and ameliorating these effects have been made. However, the evidence for how best to support people experiencing bereavement is limited and contested.