counsellor for undertakers?

[Marijn]

I'm trying to find a phone number for an association that looks after the mental health of undertakers. I know someone who is an undertaker who is badly affected by the terrible sights he sees and the grief he witnesses nearly every day. Policemen have counselling for the things they see, but the undertakers have to clear up the body and "mess" when the police leave the scene. (Also now, ambulance drivers don't take bodies from accidents either). When I google, I can only find counselling services for undertakers' clients, and not for the undertakers themselves. Can anyone help?

[squarebear]

Why would he become an undertaker? Surely he knew what he was in for?

[jd_1984]

I cant see there being counsellors set up solely for this, perhaps I am wrong. Any counsellor who deals with loss and berievement and issues surrounding death etc, should have the neccessary skills to help an undertaker. I know that the police have their own counsellors to help them if they have recovered a body or witnessed a gruesome crime scene etc...
But it is a valid point as and something you wouldnt automatically think of. I suppose naively you just accept that if you get in to that proffession you would have to thick skinned in the first place?

[dotty.]

My son'r friend is a police officer and part of his duty when attending a death is to go with the body to the mortuary and remove all personal itema and clothing ready for the coroner, by the time the undertaker is invoolved the deceased is usually more presentable apparently.

[China Doll]

Contact CRUSE http://www.crusebereavementcare.org.uk/ They are berevement counsellors and as such should be able to help your friend. I don't know of anything particularly taylored for undertakers. Perhaps your friend should also consider a change of career if this one is beginning to take its toll on their mental health.

[hc4361]

The NAFD will be able to help.

[jd_1984]

A bit blunt pinki, but I guess your on the right line!
I always wondered, do people actually want to be an undertaker or is more family business or something you just fall in to but didnt expect?
But you must know what you are getting involved with. However if you join the police, you do so knowing you might find a dead body etc...

[Marijn]

Thank you, I looked up the NAFD, but couldn't find what I was looking for, or a phone number. In his case, he does have to do the dirty work, he has to cut done someone who has hanged himself after the police are gone, and pick up bodies involved in accidents from the scene and deal with all the after effects. He's in a family business and doesn't want to let the family down. I wish he would get out of it. But in the meantime if anyone has the number for NAFD, I will ring them.

[dotty.]

I cannot believe that he would cut down someone who has hung themselves,

[jd_1984]

I am bit confused of the process from Police-Ambulance-Coroner-Undertaker and who has responsibiltiy for say, cutting down somebody who has hung themselves?

[Marijn]

And yes, I really am correct about this. He does have to see the same shocking scenes as the police. Ambulance drivers will no longer take a body from an accident. They make better use of their time now by helping the living. But unfortunately this does mean the undertaker has to deal with a lot. And yes, he would be far happier if he wasn't in the business, but that's not my decision. Thank you to the people who have given constructive answers, they are much appreciated.

[dotty.]

if someone is found hung surely the forensic team have to establish cause of death from their investigations at the scene and of the body both in situ and after being taken down. The involvement by an undertaker would jeopardise the integrity of such investigations

[hc4361]

Phone number - 0845 230 1343

[Marijn]

Thank you HC, that's very much apprecated. A lot of people don't realise what undertakers have to do. They have several roles. They don't go out in their smart black suits for these things, they wear those hooded white paper outfits, that's probably why the public don't realise they're undertakers.And yes it is all true what I've said. When the police are completely finished, why would they need to be the ones who cut down the hanged man, yet again they have other more pressing things to do. I wanted to express how sad I felt for him and to get a number for him or me to phone. I now have that number thanks to HC. Thank you to all the genuine people who have responded.

[jaydah]

Two cases of hanging I know involved the police & ambulance removing the body. Undertakers normally collect bodies from hospitals in body-bags.

Am sure your friend is well rewarded for his distress.

[Marijn]

No he isn't well rewarded. He is telling the truth. Sorry, if you find it unbelievable but that really isn't my problem. This thread is now ended. I won't be back to it. I'll phone the number given to me by Hc now.

[hc4361]

I'm sorry but undertakers do not remove bodies from crash scenes, suicide or any other suspicious death.
The undertaker only gets involved when that particular firm has been engaged by the family (or other representative) when the body is released for funeral by the coroner's department.
A sudden death is not a free for all, where the first undertaker at the scene gets the job.

The person you know may be employed in some capacity by the police although that is doubtful.