The Bereaved Parent and Their Faith

UK Helpline: 0345 123 2304 | www.tcf.org.uk We may have involved our children in our faith, and they may have accompanied us in prayers and at services since their birth. After their death it may be difficult to carry on in our faith the same way without them. We may feel desolate and unable to meditate. Some of us find it helpful to simply continue to pray with the people who prayed with our children, including family members. Others are helped by naming our children in community prayers, or by holding religious services in their memory or at anniversaries. Going through the seasons and rituals of our faith can help us feel connected to them in a truly spiritual way. Seeking outside support if needed Our faith may give us grace and hope day by day, but even those with a strong faith sometimes need external support. If our grief is intense and prolonged, we should not feel that we only have to rely on prayer and spiritual practices to get us through this time. No matter our background, some of us find that we need external support for our grief, such as counselling. The same applies to problems with sleeplessness or ongoing depression. We can talk to our GP and hopefully they will signpost us to the help we need. Communicating with other bereaved parents can also help us realise that we are not alone in what we are going through. The Compassionate Friends (TCF) runs support groups, both in person and online, where we will be able to find solidarity amongst those who are similarly bereaved. (See back page for details.)