Grief can affect your:

  • thoughts and feelings
  • behaviours
  • beliefs
  • physical health
  • relationships with others.

If you need crisis support, you can contact Lifeline (External link) 24 hours a day on 13 11 14.

The Victims of Crime Helpline 1800 819 817 can provide support and advice between 8am and 11pm.

You can learn more about different crimes and supporting a victim of crime on this website.

Grief is a very personal experience. You may find that your family members or friends react to the situation differently to you. This is normal, everybody deals with grief in different ways.

Grief doesn’t have a set timeline. Most people feel grief over an extended period of time.

With the support of family and friends, most people find ways to learn to live with loss. For some people, it’s helpful to seek professional support.

Services that can help 

Lifeline

24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

Open 24 hours, every day
Call 13 11 14
Website lifeline.org.au (External link)

Victims of Crime Helpline

The Victorian Government’s Victims of Crime Helpline offers information, advice and support for you and your family. Contacting the helpline is the first step to get a range of free services to help you manage the effects of crime.

Open 8am–11pm, every day
Call 1800 819 817
Text 0427 767 891

Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement

Provides a specialist bereavement service for individuals, children and families who need assistance following the death of someone close to them, including face-to-face counselling and support groups.

Open 9am–5pm, Monday to Friday
Call 1800 642 066
Website grief.org.au (External link)  to find out more about bereavement support (External link) they can offer.

GriefLine

Anonymous telephone counselling service providing support to people who are experiencing loss and grief.

Open 6am-midnight, every day
Call 1300 845 745
Website griefline.org.au (External link)

The Compassionate Friends Victoria

Supporting parents, brothers, sisters and grandparents after the death of a child at any age.

Open 24 hours, every day
Call (03) 9888 4944 or 1300 064 068
Website compassionatefriendsvictoria.org.au (External link)

Learn more about grief

The Victorian Government’s Better Health Channel has more detailed information about grief:

View the Loss and Grief video series

The Victims Support Agency has produced a series of videos that explore the stories of five people who have lost loved ones to violent crime, documenting both the emotional effects of the crime and their experience of the trial process.