Talking about Bereavement

In this episode, Dr Clare Tucker talks to Dr Erin Thompson, Founder and Director, Loss Foundation / Clinical Psychologist who shares how her personal experience of loss led her to found The Loss Foundation – the UK’s only charity specialising in support for people bereaved by cancer. Erin shares how health and social care staff can build confidence rather than seek perfection when talking to those who are bereaved. Erin highlights the importance of acknowledgement, honest conversations and the value of group-based support.  

Please visit The Loss Foundation website for further information. 

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of Building confidence rather than perfection episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of PSD Scotland. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Professor Lucy Easthope,  leading authority on disaster recovery / Centre for Death and Society, University of Bath who discusses how both her personal and professional experiences have shaped her understanding of grief and bereavement. Lucy emphasises the need to rethink recovery, actively listen to bereaved individuals - particularly children and the importance of actively seeking joy. 

If you would like to explore Lucy's work further please visit Whatevernext – Professor Lucy Easthope website. 

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of Professor Lucy Easthope on disaster recovery and finding joy again episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of PSD Scotland. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Ainsley McGoldrick, Depute Principal Educational Psychologist, East Renfrewshire Council and Karen Wynne, Deputy Head Teacher, St. Joseph’s Primary School who discuss their collaborative work to improve how schools support children, families, and staff through bereavement, loss and grief. They describe developing comprehensive, age‑appropriate resources and training that shift schools from reactive responses to a proactive, compassionate approach by embedding bereavement education into everyday school life. 

If you would like more information on the lessons discussed in this episode, please email [email protected]. 

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of Bereavement, loss and grief: A whole school approach episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Dr Clare Tucker talks to Rachel Weir, Senior National Family Support Practitioner, Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs who discusses supporting families bereaved by alcohol and drug related deaths. Rachel highlights the importance of replacing judgement with compassion and how stigma and language can impact grief and bereavement. Rachel also shares that bereavement support is preventative.

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of Replacing Judgement with Compassion: Supporting Families Bereaved by Alcohol and Drug Related Deaths episode which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Mark Evans, Head of Service for Spiritual Care and Bereavement Services, NHS Lothian / Professional Advisor for Spiritual Care, Scottish Government who reflects on his own personal loss and how this loss reshaped his understanding of grief. Mark discusses ‘bereavement as a kaleidoscope’, the importance of simply ‘being there’ and how we often overlook that the person who is dying is also grieving.

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of 'You don’t need to know the right words - anything’s better than silence’ episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Alyson Vale, Business and Operations Director, Abbotsford Care. Alyson discusses how to encourage conversations around dying in a care home and the importance of relationship-centred environments. Alyson also shares how supporting staff is just as important as supporting the people you care for. 

Access the resources mentioned in this podcast:

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of Building communities within a care home setting episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Dr Clare Tucker talks to Ruth Fisher, lecturer in paramedic science, Queen Margaret University about supporting those who are bereaved in an out of hospital context. Ruth reflects on her 10 years as a paramedic and supporting students dealing with death and bereavement in the course of their work. Ruth also shares how it's okay to be okay as much as it's okay to not be okay.

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of the They may forget what you’ve said, but they will never forget how you made them feel: Perspectives from a paramedic episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Suzanne Roberts, a Healthcare Chaplain, about the role of chaplaincy in supporting people through grief and bereavement, focusing on the importance of listening and holding space. Suzanne reflects on her journey from journalism to chaplaincy, highlighting how attentiveness to stories and presence translates into spiritual care.

During this episode, reference is made to NHS Education for Scotland’s Spiritual Care: A multi-faith resource for healthcare staff.

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and was created for health and social care staff. Caution is advised as some may find the themes upsetting. If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Access a transcript of the Holding Stories, Holding Space: A Healthcare Chaplain’s Reflections on Grief episode, which can be found on our website.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES. The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form

In this episode, Dr Clare Tucker talks to Linda McCurrach, the founder of No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire who discusses her life and work, the motivation for starting the charity and how the charity has developed considerably since 2018. 

Find out more about No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire. 

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and were created for health and social care staff: caution is advised for those who are not health and social care staff as some may find the themes upsetting.

If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES.

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Access the A conversation with the founder of No-one Dies Alone Ayrshire transcript on our website. 

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form. 

In this episode, Lynne Innes talks to Dr Paula Easton, Clinical Psychologist, Rivers Centre, NHS Lothian who discusses her perspective on trauma and staff wellbeing. 

Visit the National Wellbeing Hub website.

This podcast deals with issues related to death and bereavement and were created for health and social care staff: caution is advised for those who are not health and social care staff as some may find the themes upsetting.

If this content might disturb you or those around you, please reconsider listening or accessing the podcast transcript.

Please note the views and perspectives expressed by guests on the podcast do not necessarily represent those of NES.

The information contained in this podcast is current at the point of publication, with no guarantee of future relevance.

Access the A clinical psychologists perspective on trauma and staff wellbeing transcript on our website.

Let us know what you think about our podcast by completing the Talking About Bereavement feedback form.