Bereavement Support
If you have lost a loved one to motor neuron disease (MND), you are not alone. We are here to support you through this difficult time and to help you find the support you need.
Apply to use our free Counselling Service
When someone you love dies of MND, it can feel very distressing, isolating and confusing, and there is no right or wrong way to express grief.
Talking to someone outside your family or circle of friends may help you better understand your feelings and manage your difficult circumstances.
Our free bereavement counselling is available to you three months after your loved one has passed away. You can access this service if you’re aged over 18, live in Scotland and:
Have lost someone to MND who you provided unpaid care for
or
Are an immediate family member
of someone who had MND, e.g. spouse, partner, son, daughter, parent
It's important to know that you are not alone
Thoughts and feelings of bereaved carers.
How our counselling could help you
Our Counselling Service could help you manage your situation by:
Allowing you to speak openly about complex and painful emotions
Making you feel better equipped to look towards the future
Helping you work through the different stages of grief
Helping you adapt to life without your loved one
Reducing the sense of fear, anxiety or depression you may be feeling
Giving you new ways to think and manage difficult feelings
"There were lots of tears, some laughter but I was able to understand why it had taken me so long to accept that counselling was needed and also to realise that it was okay to feel the way I did and that there wasn’t a time frame for grief. I’m certainly glad I approached MND Scotland for support, it wasn’t easy for me to do that, but I’m glad I did."
Kirsty MacLean, who lost her husband to MND
How to access our Counselling Service
To access our Counselling Service, please complete the application form below. We’ll then review your application and respond to it within five working days.
You can contact us on 0141 332 3903 or support@mndscotland.org.uk if you have any questions about our Counselling Service and the support you’ll receive.
Please note: We are currently reviewing our Counselling Service, which means we may only be able to offer you remote counselling over the phone or online, rather than face-to-face sessions with a counsellor.
Need urgent help?
If you need to speak to someone right now about difficult emotions you’re experiencing, you can reach out to:
Samaritans
on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.orgBreathing Space
on 0800 83 85 87 or visit breathingspace.scotMessage ‘SHOUT’
to 85258 for 24/7 text supportWhat happens after you’re referred
If you’re referred to our Counselling Service, we’ll contact you to
identify your needs and make sure you're suitable for the service.
If you are suitable, you’ll be able to access up to 12 free one-to-one
counselling sessions. Each session usually lasts up to one hour and
takes place once a week. But we can be flexible to meet your needs
and availability.
Support Services Referral
Grief programme
Throughout 2023, we collaborated with ALS Canada who are experienced in running a seven-week bereavement workshop. ALS Canada has agreed to work with us in 2024 to develop our own workshop.
Our What Matters survey showed there is a need for continued support for people who have lost a loved one to MND. The aim of the Grief Programme is to provide individuals with an opportunity to share their experience and find support.
An initial pilot scheme ran in February 2024. If you are struggling with your grief and would like more support with a future group, please email support@mndscotland.org.uk for more information. We ask that there is a minimum of three months from the death of a loved one and enrolment in this programme.
The Grief Programme will be held in the evening virtually via Zoom.
Email us at support@mndscotland.org.uk for information on future sessions.
Resources
For those that feel it would be helpful to read more about grief and understand more about the help available, we have collated additional links that you may find helpful.
Anticipatory grief
Support is available for the grief process leading up to an expected loss.
Anticipatory grief
Support is available for the grief process leading up to an expected loss.
Dealing with grief
These resources are available to help you navigate your grief.
Dealing with grief
These resources are available to help you navigate your grief.
Support for children and young people
Our research shows that children and young people in particular need more support with loss. We are working closely with bereavement organisations to gather best practice and the most appropriate way to help our children and young people.
Support for children and young people
Our research shows that children and young people in particular need more support with loss. We are working closely with bereavement organisations to gather best practice and the most appropriate way to help our children and young people.
Practical support
There are organisations that can help you deal with the practical things you need to think about when you lose someone to MND.
Practical support
There are organisations that can help you deal with the practical things you need to think about when you lose someone to MND.
Focused support
Whatever your personal circumstances, there is support out there for everyone.
Focused support
Whatever your personal circumstances, there is support out there for everyone.
Financial support
Following the death of the person you cared for, there may be many practical issues to deal with, including claiming financial support you’re entitled to. Taking care of these issues while dealing with the emotional impact of your bereavement can be very difficult. You are not alone. We can help to make claiming benefits one less worry for you.
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