Bereavement service set to launch to help men dealing with loss and grief
A virtual bereavement information service in the Black Country to help men deal with loss and grief will be launched later this month.
Compton Care's compassionate communities team will launch the project with the Wolverhampton Wanderers Foundation on February 16.
The decision to set up hub specifically aimed at men follows a report from 2019 over high numbers of men committing suicide in the city.
Maz Kull, community engagement coordinator, said: "Following the successful introduction of our virtual bereavement information hubs we are delighted to be working in partnership with Wolverhampton Wanderers to offer a hub specifically for men.
"We know that in Wolverhampton between 2015-17, 82 per cent of people who took their own lives were men which is why we are expanding our bereavement support for this, free to access service, for men aged 18 and over.
"The new online bereavement information hub will be giving men the opportunity to meet others who have been affected and share their experiences of loss and grief."
The service will be run by trained volunteers and will offer men the chance to express their feelings with others who have also experienced loss and grief.
It is hoped the service will have a permanent venue to call home once the pandemic is over – like the other monthly bereavement hubs the hospice runs.
Rachel Smith, health and wellbeing manager at the Wolves Foundation said: "We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Compton Care to deliver bereavement hubs specifically for men. Compton Care already do great work running bereavement hubs for all, but we wanted to be able to offer men a bespoke session where they can attend and feel comfortable talking about grief.
"Unfortunately, the pandemic has brought about a lot of bereavement and it’s important people talk about how they are feeling and reach out for support and learn how to support others.
"We are also linking together to help deliver additional workshops to our men’s mental health programme, Head 4 Health, around bereavement and grief which I know will be very popular and helpful."
To find out more about Compton’s virtual bereavement information hubs and to get involved call 01902 774570 or visit comptoncare.org.uk
