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Wales Bereavement &Mental Wellbeing Conference 2025

Grief, loss, and trauma are universal experiences — and at this year’s White Rose Bereavement & Mental Health Conference at Cardiff City Stadium, we came together to face them with honesty, compassion, and courage.

The day opened with a powerful message from Chaplain Ahmed Ahmed Alsisi, founder of White Rose Funerals, who spoke about his journey from Gaza to Wales, surviving trauma, and transforming pain into purpose. He reminded us that bereavement is not only an emotional experience but a systemic one — shaped by culture, faith, access to support, and the structures around us. He introduced the National Suicide & Trauma-Informed Care Campaign, calling for a Public Mortuary for Wales, better support for vulnerable and marginalised groups, and a stronger, united approach to suicide prevention and trauma-informed care across communities and institutions.

Death is an inevitable part of life, and the subject often arises in therapy. Everyone is touched by it at some point. Feelings of grief and loss can be painful and complicated, tangled with amplified emotions such as sadness, anger, stress, guilt, and even relief. These emotions can resurface throughout life, making grief difficult to navigate.

This reflection shares insights from several speakers — though it is by no means an exhaustive account of the day.

Speakers from many faiths and backgrounds shared their experiences.

Radhika Kadaba of the Interfaith Council of Wales explained the practical and spiritual importance of same-day or next-day burials for certain faiths. For some communities, cremation within 24 hours is essential so the soul can continue its journey without delay. But logistical pressures within NHS systems can prevent this, creating stress for grieving families.

This tension is one of the reasons behind the call for a National Public Mortuary for Wales, equipped with MRI scanning — a non-invasive alternative to traditional post-mortems.

Mark Drakeford, Former First Minister of Wales and current Minister of Finance, reflected on grief as part of the human condition. He encouraged us not to “come to terms” with grief, but rather learn to live alongside it. His words highlighted how language shapes our understanding of loss — what we accept, reject, or reinterpret in our own journey. He also pressed the importance of support and hope through grief.

Trauma was a recurring theme throughout the day.

Conference lead Ahmed Alsisi shared his own experiences of war, childhood trauma, and the responsibility he feels to transform his past into service for others.

The CEO of Age Connects Cardiff spoke of losing her 15-year-old son to drowning.

Hamed Amiri, bestselling author of The Boy With Two Hearts, described fleeing persecution by the Taliban, travelling through Russia and Europe, and eventually losing his older brother to a congenital heart condition in Cardiff. He spoke of toughness, resilience, and hope — reminding us of the healing power of creativity, whether through writing, art, music, or storytelling.

Rhian Mannings, founder of 2Wish, shared her devastating experience of losing her child and, soon after, her husband to suicide. Her charity now supports families facing sudden child loss.

Nicola Abraham, founder of the Jacob Abraham Foundation, spoke courageously about the suicide of her son. She shared the shame, judgement, and social isolation that surrounded her experience — and the heartbreaking loss of her son’s best friend to suicide just nine months later.

Counsellor Bryn Morgan reinforced the importance of speaking openly and directly about suicide rather than avoiding the subject.

Professional compassion was deeply evident in the contributions of:

Kim Hampton-Evans, Care After Death Service Manager, Swansea Bay UHB

Donna Morgan, Bereavement Clinical Lead, Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB

Both emphasised the need for empathy within the formalities of death. Every protocol represents a grieving family, and compassion is just as essential as clinical accuracy.

Resilience surfaced again here — not only emotional resilience but the endurance families must show as they navigate the administrative side of death: paperwork, possessions, procedures, and the reality of starting grief only after the formalities end.

Speakers also highlighted how definitions of “trauma” vary widely. Some see trauma as something to heal; others see it as something we carry. Another perspective suggests trauma itself is not the event, but the meaning we attach to it. The diversity of viewpoints felt both human and hopeful.

Conversations with Marie Curie staff echoed memories of interviewing nurses during the pandemic — their professionalism, humility, and dedication during unimaginable pressure.

The necessary formal processes surrounding death were explained by:

Dr. Jason Shannon, Lead Medical Examiner of NHS Wales

Senior Detective Inspector Matt Powell, South Wales Police

HM Senior Coroner Caroline Saunders (with a contribution from HM Senior Coroner Graeme Hughes)

Dr Shannon provided clarity on medical certification, reporting, and when coroners must be involved.

South Wales Police presented their religion and belief app for frontline officers supporting multi faith communities. Inspector Powell described the complexities of homicide, repatriation, kidnappings, and ceremonial practices that sometimes conflict with criminal procedures.

Coroner Caroline Saunders spoke powerfully about dignity in death and the misperceptions surrounding coronial work. She emphasised that coroner reports exist to serve the truth of the situation, not to assign blame.

She also addressed why suicide causes such profound anguish: it can never be fully explained. We can analyse circumstances but not the inner world of the person who died. Inquests cannot resolve every question. She advocated for better training, communication, and inter-agency cooperation.

The collaborative relationship between coroners and police was highlighted through stories of late-night messages and joint urgency in responding to sudden deaths.

This year’s event was more than a conference — it was a call to action.

The launch of the National Suicide & Trauma-Informed Care Campaign marks a significant step toward:

Establishing a Public Mortuary for Wales
Improving support for vulnerable communities
Expanding suicide intervention training
Strengthening interfaith and inter-agency collaboration
Ensuring families receive dignity, compassion, and timely care

White Rose Funerals’ mission is to make sure no one in Wales grieves alone, and this conference reflected that commitment through every speaker, story, and conversation.

View Our Past Conference

The Campaign for Compassionate Bereavement Care

Our National Campaign for Compassionate Bereavement Care is the powerful initiative born from the voices of grieving families across Wales. This campaign addresses critical areas where we believe immediate, fundamental action is needed to create a more humane bereavement care and mental well being system.

A Call for Mandatory Suicide Intervention Training

The Campaign for a Public Mortuary in Cardiff