'How I cope with grief after Christmas holidays'

The Christmas period is a time for family, friends and festivities but for those dealing with grief, it can be one of the most difficult times of the year.

Entering a new year while still processing a loss can be just as tough, but there is support out there, with ways of getting through it.

In early December, I helped put together a week of programming about grief and shared my own story along the way.

It was a tough but rewarding experience which many found helpful, so I have taken another look at the issue to see just what help is out there at this most sensitive of times.

If you or someone you know have been affected by bereavement, visit BBC Action Line.

My mum Tina died more than three years ago after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

She was 53 and loved the Christmas period.

The holidays have never been the same, of course, but I have often found that stepping into a new year, where your loved one never existed, and never will, is a harder thing to deal with.

The "new year, new me" mentality does not help either, and talking about this with someone is something that did really help me - but you have to be ready.

It was 25 December 2021 when I spent the first Christmas without my mum but when January came around I was even more heartbroken.

I wanted to talk to people who would understand the missing connection between mother and daughter because I had so much anger, to the point where I would not go outside so I could avoid seeing a mother and daughter walking down the street.

But I found the Facebook group UK Motherless Daughters helped me work through the loneliness and allowed me to connect with other women experiencing the same thing.

And while I was avoiding social media on the whole - as this was a huge trigger - the group really did help.

It also got to a point where I wanted to speak to someone who did not know my mum, who had no connection with me or my family.

I also reached out to the Samaritans charity but felt my grief did not fit into this category.

However, the volunteers are there to talk about anything that you might be struggling with, and conversations over the phone to tell someone about my mum, who did not know her, was refreshing and comforting for me.

Walks to my mother's memorial bench also offered a place of solitude and tranquillity.

This year I have been going to bereavement support sessions with Cruse, a charity run by volunteers, and despite a long waiting time, it has been worth it.

But what works for me may not for others.

It is also draining after getting through the festivities, which makes January a crucial time to reach out for support.

Across north-west England there are various services, so many it can be overwhelming, but the Good Grief Trust have a useful map which details services in your local area.

In Liverpool, there is the Liverpool Bereavement Service, which offers one-to-one counselling, group and social support, all free of charge.

Love Jasmine, a charity based in Wavertree, provides bereavement support to families who have a lost a child of any age from 20 weeks gestation to adulthood - offering group activities, complimentary therapies and counselling.

The Greater Manchester Bereavement Service has also been set up to help find support for anyone in Greater Manchester who has been bereaved or affected by death, no matter how long ago.

There is also an organisation which offers life-limiting illness support. Being There provides emotional support and practical assistance to people with cancer and other illnesses, along with those closest to them.

Meanwhile, the Widows Empowerment Trust, based in Newton Heath, strives to counteract loneliness, social isolation, and loss of confidence in widows and widowers through their work.

Across Lancashire there is St John's Hospice, based in Slyne, near Lancaster, which has a dedicated bereavement team which supports patients and families through talking therapies and spiritual care.

For those not part of the hospice there are other services across the county including Grief Chat, who provide a live instant chat service with a qualified bereavement counsellor, from 09:00 BST to 21:00 BST Monday to Friday.

Hospitals across Lancashire also offer individual grief groups, including Royal Blackburn Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital.

Whether you reach out or not, you are not alone and support is out there when you need it.