Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service

The service offers individual and group work support to people recently or historically bereaved by suicide. Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service is staffed by workers who have personal experience of bereavement by suicide and will offer postvention activities, although these are not prescriptive and we aim to develop the service depending on the need of our users. Referrals (which can be self, group or organisational) can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we will respond within two working days. To make a referral, you can call us or send an email.

Multiple support groups run throughout the city, of differing structures, for differing populations. Groups are facilitated by a worker from LSBS and volunteer co-facilitators. One peer support group is currently running in the city centre, meeting bi-weekly in a central location – people wishing to attend must contact LSBS for information. An informal social drop in group is held once a month, the location and date of which will change monthly and will be widely promoted. It is our aim to develop diverse groups based on the feedback of people wishing to use the service.

The groups also work to provide information and signposting for members. LSBS also offers a one-to-one service, where individuals can access up to six hourly sessions if they have been affected by suicide bereavement. These sessions give those recently bereaved time to talk about the myriad of emotions they may be experiencing in a safe environment. They will also be signposted to other helpful services which can strengthen the support network for the bereaved. Individuals can be referred to this service by external agencies such as the police, the coroner and other support organisations, or a self-referral can be made.