FAQs |
Your questions answered |
Who can attend the groups? Are there any restrictions? |
Anyone over the age of 18 can register to attend a Facing the Future support group. |
What happens after I register? How committed am I at this point? |
Once you register your interest we will give you a call, within the preference set out on your registration form, to have a discussion with you about the groups. |
Will the people facilitating the group know how I feel? Have they lost someone to suicide as well? |
The Samaritans and Cruse volunteers facilitating the support groups do not have to have been bereaved by suicide, but they have all received full training on how to support those bereaved by suicide. |
Is what I say in the group private? |
All information discussed in the group sessions is confidential to the group and no personal information is written down during the sessions. However, please note there may be instances where we may have to break confidentiality if we feel you or someone else is in danger. |
Can I attend a group on behalf of someone else? |
Supporting someone bereaved by suicide can be very hard, but attendance of the groups is experiential which means the bereaved person needs to be there to benefit from them. If you want to get support for someone else, please pass this information on to them and encourage them to contact us directly. |
Can I bring a friend with me? |
The groups are closed and only members can attend, so a friend cannot attend the group with you. We know that attending a support group can feel scary but our facilitators are there to create a safe and non-judgemental environment that is comfortable for everyone. It is important that all group members feel they are with people who have similar experiences. |
Myself and a family member/friend have both been bereaved by suicide. Can we attend the same group? |
We don’t put members of the same family in the same group. We also try not to put two unrelated people that knew the same person who took their own life in the same group. Our experience shows that if friends or family members attend the same support group they might not be able to express themselves fully, for fear of upsetting their friend or loved one. |
My group doesn’t begin for a while. Is there anyone I can speak to now? |
If you need to contact someone while you are waiting to join a group, both Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care are here for you speak to. |
Can I join a group half way through? |
No, after the first session no one else can join the group. |
What if I can’t make all of the group sessions? |
We suggest you to join a group where you are able to attend at least five of the six sessions as you will get much more out of the experience this way. Multiple absences can upset the dynamic of the group and can be unsettling for other group members. You must attend the first session. |
I am unable to make a group session, who should I contact? |
In the event that you are unable to make a session for any reason please email info@facingthefuturegroups.org or ring 0208 939 9560, and leave a message with your name, number and location of the group you are currently attending. If you do not turn up for a session without notifying us beforehand we will give you a call to see if you’re okay and still wish to participate in the group. |
What if I don’t get on with other people in the group? |
Our facilitators have been trained to create a non-judgemental environment that is safe for everyone in the group. However, if you have any difficulties with another participant we encourage you to speak to one of the facilitators at the end of the group session so that we can find a solution. |
When the group finishes, what support is there for me? |
As well as the organisations listed above, each group will have details of any local and national organisations that may be of help. |
What do I do if I have a complaint? |
Should you have a complaint about the Facing the Future service please contact us via email info@facingthefuturegroups.org or telephone 0208 939 9560. We investigate all complaints thoroughly in accordance with our complaints policy. |
Is the service evaluated? How do you know if you are making a difference? |
Samaritans and Cruse have commissioned an independent evaluation of the service to help them understand how well it is working, the difference it is making and what, if anything, needs to change in the future. The evaluation will be carried out by Brightpurpose Consulting who specialise in evaluating new services and are very experienced at working with both service providers and service users. |