“At last I found a safe place to talk about my feelings with other people who understand what I’ve been going through” – BTA group member
Have you lost someone to drugs or alcohol?
Support is available through Bereavement Through Addiction (BTA), a South West based charity who run a monthly face to face peer support group in Bath. Sessions are facilitated and free of charge.
The group meets at DHI's Offices: 14 St James Parade, Bath, BA1 1UL on the first Tuesday of every month 6:30pm - 8:00pm (arrive 6:15pm onwards):
Over a million people in the UK are dependent on alcohol or drugs, and for each of these people at least another four are affected by their addiction. Many families will ultimately be faced with the death of their loved one, with 18.5% of alcoholics and 6.8% of addicts dying within two years of leaving treatment. Many more are lost never having received professional support.
The peer groups are an opportunity for bereaved families, friends and carers who may be struggling to find logical answers or feeling unable to talk about losing someone to a condition often surrounded by contradictions, stigma and blame. It can often feel like no one around truly understands, making it difficult for people to share their feelings and open up about their grief.
The group provides a safe space for people who have lost someone to drugs or alcohol to come together and talk openly without feeling judged. Those attending find this can be a source of comfort from others with shared experiences. It can also provide helpful information on coping strategies, to help people make sense of their own grief.
For more details: www.dhi-online.org.uk Email: bereavementthroughaddiction@gmail.com
Call DHI: 01225 329 411
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