Development of an online ACT intervention to improve coping and quality of life after bereavement

University of Edinburgh

After bereavement, many people grieve with support from family and friends. Approximately 40% require additional support from bereavement services, yet availability varies across the UK. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the need for bereavement support has increased greatly. A national survey found unmet needs for emotional support, with more than half of people struggling with grief. Our study will help support bereaved people by developing an online support package based on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). ACT has strong evidence in improving mental health and wellbeing, but outside of one promising Australian study, hasn't yet been tested for bereavement support. This package will improve coping and quality of life after a bereavement and can be scaled-up to meet needs across the UK.

The aims of our research study are:

We will work closely with bereaved people and related services to co-create a prototype ACT support package consisting of online audio-visual materials, that includes optional facilitation by existing bereavement support volunteers. The intervention will be tested by our bereaved persons group, stakeholders and with up 45 bereaved research participants. We will conduct interviews with participants and invite them to complete short questionnaires on the usefulness and impact of the online resource and use this information to make sure it is as good as it can be.

This project will result in an evidence-based online ACT bereavement support package which bereaved people can complete in their own time, or with an ACT trained bereavement volunteer. This will be available for use by bereavement services to meet increased demand for bereavement support.