We are the only organisation offering peer-to-peer support to all those over the age of 18, impacted by suicide loss in the UK. We help those bereaved by suicide to support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow. We are a self-help organisation and we provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, giving and gaining support from each other. We also strive to improve public awareness and maintain contact with many other statutory and voluntary organisations.
We offer peer-led support groups, online virtual support groups, a national telephone helpline, an online community forum and email support. We offer a unique and distinct service for bereaved adults across the UK, run by the bereaved for the bereaved. Suicide recognises no social, ethnic or cultural boundaries and neither do we. Our helpline and groups are open to all survivors of bereavement by suicide aged 18 years and over.
We were founded in 1991 by Alice Middleton MBE, who is now our founding patron. Following the death of her brother and finding little support available, she placed an advert in her local paper seeking to make contact with others who had been bereaved by suicide. She started the first support group from her living room in Hull.
We have grown to become the only national charity providing dedicated support to adults who have been bereaved by suicide. We currently have over 470 volunteers across the UK who help to run our services – and we continue to grow. Our volunteers come from all walks of life but nearly all have been touched by suicide themselves, this experience enables them to connect with others.
We have a small national support team in our office in Ilkeston, Derbyshire who provide support to our volunteers and who manage our operations. Our team of trustees meet regularly, providing leadership and governance to our charity. Our ambassadors work to raise our profile and bring support to our organisation.
Each year in the UK, more than 6000 people take their own life – each suicide has a devastating and lasting impact on their families, friends and communities. Faced with a sudden, often unexpected and sometimes violent death, the bereaved experience a complex grief which typically includes strong feelings of guilt, self-reproach and questioning – "why?".
Discomfort, shame and stigma associated with suicide can make it difficult to talk about. There may be further complexities not common to normal bereavements e.g. inquests, media coverage, trauma reactions and difficult family relationships.
Those bereaved by suicide often feel isolated at a time when they are hurting, suffering mental anguish and are vulnerable themselves to thoughts of suicide. Even those fortunate enough to have strong support networks can still feel alone, unable to share their true feelings for fear of their impact on others, particularly when they are also in a caring role for others who are bereaved.
There are hundreds of thousands of people in the UK who have been deeply affected by suicide. The emotional, quality of life and financial impacts are long-lasting and wide-reaching. It is a major public health issue.
We exist to meet the needs and break the isolation experienced by those bereaved by suicide. We are a self-help organisation and we aim to provide a safe, confidential environment in which bereaved people can share their experiences and feelings, giving and gaining support from each other. We also strive to improve public awareness and maintain contact with many other statutory and voluntary organisations.
We collaborate with other charities, organisations and government to raise awareness of the challenges faced by those bereaved by suicide and to improve access to available support services. Find out more about our work with other organisations:
All Party Parliamentary Group – Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention The All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention exists to raise awareness within Parliament and encourage discussion and debate of all issues involved in suicide and self-harm prevention. The group is chaired by Madeleine Moon, MP for Bridgend in South Wales and includes representation from government, charities and other organisations.
The APPG supported the development of the 2012 suicide prevention strategy "Preventing Suicide in England", which included an enhanced focus on the need to support families and communities bereaved by suicide.
In January 2013 the group issued a report following a review of local suicide prevention strategies and made recommendations for the future which included a requirement for all local authorities to develop and implement a local plan which should include provision for bereaved families.
The Alliance of Suicide Prevention Charities (TASC) is an alliance of the leading charities dealing with suicide prevention and mental health issues. The TASC website is an educational and resource hub. TASC does not provide direct services.
TASC came together as an initiative to encourage collaboration and prevent duplication of efforts and funding in the area of suicide research and prevention. TASC was set up in November 2010 and holds quarterly meetings to discuss common goals, current research and future actions.
The Suicide Bereavement Support Partnership is an emerging collaboration between charities in the UK based on our vision that "People bereaved by suicide have the right to appropriate support services".
We work together to share learning and best practices, to deliver joint initiatives which improve the range and quality of available services, to increase awareness of the services available and to build relationships between our organisations enabling appropriate signposting and referrals.
The team is newly formed – current participants include CALM, Winstons Wish, Compassionate Friends, Maytree, Cruse, Papyrus, If U Care Share, Child Bereavement Network, Matthew Elvidge Trust, Samaritans and the James Wentworth Stanley Memorial Fund.
We rely on the generosity of the public, charitable trusts and other organisations to fund our work. We would like to thank everyone who contributes to our charity – every donation, small and large is welcomed and put to good use, helping to break the isolation and relieve the distress felt by those bereaved by suicide. Raising the funds to continue our work is a constant challenge
Find out more about supporting us through donations or fundraising
At Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide (SoBS) we are committed to protecting your privacy. The purpose of this statement is to explain how SoBS processes your data, whether you are using our service, interested in volunteering, making a donation or just browsing our website.
SoBS takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to keep your data safe, so we may change this Policy from time to time, so please check the policy statement page on our website occasionally to ensure that you're happy with any changes. By using our website, you're agreeing to be bound by this Policy.
SoBS supports people in distress through its support service. The service is available by telephone, email, letter and face-to-face in a number of locations throughout the UK.
SoBS aims to support all survivors over the age of 18 years to the highest possible standard at all times. To help achieve this, we encourage anyone who is not completely happy with the service they have received to let us know immediately, by contacting the Chief Officer at the National Office, and by completing the complaints form.
Complaint process V2 June 2022
You have the right under the Data Protection Act 1998 to ask for a copy of the information we hold about you and to have any inaccuracies in your information corrected. If you wish to make a subject access request (SAR), please complete the relevant form.
SoBS has a duty of care to all those who access our services and we are committed to protecting the welfare of survivors, volunteers and staff. For full details, please see below safeguarding policy
The full Annual Report and Accounts for the charity are available on the Charity Commission Website
Those of us who have experienced this terrible tragedy truly understand. None of us need to suffer alone. Together we help each other.
We help individuals support each other, at the time of their loss and in the months and years that follow. We aim to provide safe, confidential environments where people can share their experiences and feelings, giving and gaining support from each other.
By entering your postcode or local town, you can locate your nearest peer to peer support group. We offer both face to face and virtual support groups. Our group facilitators have also been bereaved by suicide, so you will be met with understanding.
Call our national supportline to talk about your loss, get help on being impacted by suicide or for information. Our phones are answered by trained volunteers who have been impacted by suicide, so they will hear you with compassion and understanding.
Please call 0300 111 5065, we are open everyday 9am-7pm
Some people find it easier to write down their thoughts and feelings or ask for information when it might be difficult to pick up a phone. Like the Supportline, our Volunteers have experience of suicide bereavement.
Please contact email.support@uksobs.org
Our online community forum offers peer-to-peer support to those bereaved by suicide. Please click the image above to complete an application form to gain access to our forum. Forum applications will be approved within a couple of days. You must be over the age of 18 to access our forum.