Summer, Grief and New Ways to Find Support
As summer unfolds, we often hear people talk about it as a season of sunshine, holidays and spending time with family and friends. Yet for many people who are grieving, this time of year can bring mixed emotions. Longer days, anniversaries, family gatherings or seeing others enjoying themselves can sometimes make the absence of someone feel even more present.
Grief doesn’t follow the seasons. It can feel just as intense on a warm summer’s day as it does in the darker months. At the same time, summer can also offer gentle opportunities to care for ourselves, whether that’s sitting quietly in a garden, taking a walk by the sea, noticing nature, or simply allowing moments of rest. There is no right or wrong way to grieve, and it is important to be kind to yourself wherever you are in your journey.
At St Michael’s Hospice, we are committed to offering a range of bereavement support options so that people can access the support that feels right for them. As part of this commitment, we have been working with specialist app developers to create Fi, an optional bereavement support app that has been carefully developed using Hospice approved information, guidance, and resources. The app is intended to sit alongside our existing support services, providing additional support that people can access at their own pace and in their own time.
Help Test Fi
We are now inviting people to take part in the pilot of Fi – a new optional bereavement support app. Through this pilot, we’re exploring whether digital support can complement existing bereavement services and help reach more people experiencing grief. Fi is designed to sit alongside, not replace our current offer of bereavement support and may be particularly helpful outside service hours, or for those who find writing easier than speaking. Taking part in the pilot is entirely voluntary, and choosing not to participate will not affect the support you receive from the Hospice in any way.
By taking part, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the app and share your feedback, helping us understand how digital tools can enhance bereavement support for others in the future.
Whether or not you choose to take part, our commitment remains the same: to offer compassionate, person-centred support through our bereavement service. Fi is simply another way we hope to support people alongside the care already provided by our staff and volunteers.
Whatever this summer brings for you, please remember that you do not have to face grief alone. We are here to support you.
Find out more
- Hospice questions and answers: Fi – Bereavement support app – St Michael’s Hospice
- About Fi: Fi — A quieter way to process loss
- Download the app
If you have any questions, please contact the bereavement office, bereavement@stmichaelshospice.com, or the Grief App Project Manager, Liz Jones, LJones@stmichaelshospice.com.
