Grieving at Christmas? Here's where you can find support
The festive period can be a difficult and lonely time for anyone dealing with grief and loss
Christmas may be a time of family and friends coming together to celebrate, but for those who are in the process of grieving, this time of year can be particularly difficult.
Hospice charity Marie Curie is one charity offering support for those who are missing a loved on this Christmas.
Helplines, online resources and group sessions are available, with the charity urging anyone struggling to reach out for help.
Claire Collins is a bereavement councillor from London. She told us why even if a grieving person is surrounded by loved ones this year, Christmas can still be a very lonely time.
"It's a time where it looks like everyone else around you is happy but it can be really lonely and people need to reach out and connect sometimes.
"We hear so many times that people just don't know what to say, so just say nothing at all and that's the worst thing that people can do. So if you do know somebody who is grieving, gently reach out and ask how they're doing".
Claire says there is support for those who need it throughout the festive period.
"People don't know what to expect with death and dying. That is why we have invested so much in getting services online so that people can get hold of information.
"There are trained professional volunteers to offer emotional support, bereavement support. Sometimes you might just want to download information and we have had 1.5 million users access our materials.
"Last year we saw more than anyone connecting with us around Christmas. the numbers just went up exponentially. Sometimes you just want to hear a human voice that can reach out to you and respond to you."
If you are struggling with grieving, you can reach out to Marie Curie's bereavement hotline at 0800 090 2309.