Find a Mental Health Professional for Bereavement & Death of a Loved One

About Bereavement & Death of a Loved One support

Grief following the death of someone important to you is one of the most profound human experiences. It has no set timeline and does not follow a predictable path. Feelings can include sadness, shock, disbelief, anger, relief, guilt, and emptiness, and they can arrive in waves, sometimes long after the loss. Social pressure to "move on" or "be strong" can leave people feeling unseen in their grief. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. Counselling and grief therapy offer a space to speak honestly about loss without having to manage other people's comfort. Some people find short-term support helpful in the immediate aftermath of a death, while others seek longer-term therapy when grief continues to affect daily life. Grief support groups can also offer a sense of connection and understanding with others who have experienced loss. In Australia, GriefLine provides a national telephone and online grief counselling service. Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement offers counselling, education, and support groups across Victoria and nationally via telehealth. GPs can provide referrals to mental health practitioners through Medicare's Better Access initiative. Many community palliative care services also offer bereavement follow-up to family members in the period following a death.