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Supporting People Who Are Experiencing Bereavement Grief, Trauma, and Loss (affected by murder, culpable homicide, and suicide)

About us

PETAL support, and its service provision for victims family members bereaved by serious crime, was established in 1994 and is the most recognised, longest serving, Criminal Justice bereavement support NGO in Scotland. 

This service is exclusively for people who are victims, and may also be witnesses, affected by serious crime which involves, Murder, Culpable Homicide, and immediate family members of people who have taken their own life in Scotland or abroad. 

Our professional service provision provides support for Adults, Children, and Young People, who are experiencing bereavement trauma, grief, and loss, that is associated with the death of family member in tragic circumstances. 

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Our professional service provision for bereaved people is supported by Scottish Government and other stakeholders and funders. The PETAL service provision includes professional bereavement counselling, psychotherapy, practical, and emotional support, just when you need it. Furthermore, we provide a victim centered approach which is within a safe, quiet, and confidential environment for treatment. In the many years of providing bereavement counselling and other therapies, supporting people through the most difficult of times of their lives. We can assure those experiencing bereavement grief and loss, they can expect a complete understanding of their bereavement support needs, which can help greatly with better therapy outcomes for people attending the PETAL service.

The PETAL service provision for people includes Adults, Children and Young People (over 12 years old at this time for children). As a ‘duty of care’ to bereaved people self-referring, or being referred by another support agency, PETAL Support will decide if our service meets the immediate needs of the person, and advice will be given if another more suitable service is available (this may be within the NHS for example).

PETAL provides support – irrespective of the time since the death in the first instance – PETAL also provides a high professional standard of counselling, and therapy, to people referring themselves to the service. – PETAL aims to provide each new client with the support they need, as quickly as possible, from initial contact with the service. 

PETAL is a registered Charity with no affiliation to any religious organisation, or political party, and is open to all sections of the community.

We offer our valued bereavement and trauma therapy services nationwide, and the provision of service is provided on a face-to-face basis, and also by online platforms, or by telephone. Please note: Currently PETAL can offer face-to-face therapy (murder/homicide), however the majority of therapy/counseling is available by on-line platform or telephone support at this time. 

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