Caroline Flack's death 'hurts every day': Here's how to get support for grief
Olly Murs has shared a heartfelt post in honour of Caroline Flack on the two-year anniversary of her death.
The singer-songwriter said it still "hurts every day", since the Love Island presenter died in February 2020 at the age of 40.
Murs, who co-hosted The Xtra Factor with Flack, shared a photo of the pair hugging and smiling on his Instagram.
He wrote, "My favourite photo of us. The hug the smile the laughs I miss it all caz! 2 years ago we lost ya and it hurts everyday."
Friends in the showbiz industry showed their support in the comments, with Jake Quickenden writing, "She was such a lovely person! Hope you're ok mate," Vicky Pattison saying, "Sending love today babe", and many leaving hearts and expressing they miss her too.
A coroner ruled that Flack died by suicide on 15 February 2020.
Last July, Murs took part in the Climb for Caroline campaign, led by the Samaritans, where Flack's friends and family attempted to climb 24 peaks over 24 hours to raise money.
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Laura Whitmore, who took over as Love Island presenter after Flack, also said she was finding the day "hard".
The presenter shared a video of them both laughing together as Flack was challenged with pitching 'the greatest show that's ever been pitched to ITV2', with her then explaining her idea for 'Cougar Mountain'.
Whitmore's caption reads, "This is how i like to think of Flack. Happy and not taking herself too seriously. We hung out a lot that year and I look back at it with such fun memories.
"This day is hard and a reminder that no one knows anyone else's demons but today I like to think of all the good memories too. Cougar Mountain what a show that would have been."
Others to pay tribute to Flack include Amanda Holden who shared a picture on her Instagram story of them both smiling with the caption "Thinking of you"; Whitmore's husband Iain Stirling, who posted an image of Flack laughing while pulling his ears, with the caption "2 years today. Miss you Caz x', and the Love Island Instagram account with a photo of her and a heart.
The hashtag #BeKind is also trending on Twitter. While it began as a charity in 2015 to promote kindness in schools, it was picked up after Flack's death, who'd previously posted the phrase on her Instagram, now used to encourage compassion online and in real life.
Watch: Caroline Flack's family praise friends after charity trek in her memory
Where to seek help if you're struggling with grief
If you are experiencing grief there are many places you can find help.
Samaritans and Cruse Bereavement Care have created Facing the Future, which involves support groups for people bereaved by suicide, giving you the opportunity to meet others going through something similar.
Its website says the benefits of attending one of these groups are, "Understanding: People grieving because of suicide can feel very alone, suffering from a kind of loss they feel others may not understand. Even with supportive family and friends, participants find it helpful to talk with others who have experienced a similar loss.
"Safety: Participants tell us they feel safe in the group. They’re free to express themselves with others who are also grieving as a result of suicide.
"Coping: The group supports one another to come to conclusions that often lead to acceptance and increased hope for facing the future. Everyone who has taken part in a group has said they would recommend groups to others.
"Respect: Participants feel they are listened to in a respectful environment. Even when people are sharing things they may never have said out loud before, there is a non-judgemental and supportive atmosphere."
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These groups are for adults over 18 who have lost someone to suicide in the past three months, with the Samaritans sensitive to the fact that many experience shock when they first lose someone and it can take several months for them to feel they can share and hear experiences in a group. To find out more, visit the Samaritans website.
For information on how to support children and young people bereaved by suicide, visit the Child Bereavement UK's website, where they offer advice on how to speak to children about it, explain why it's especially difficult for young people, and suggest ways to help children and young people after the effect and over time.
There are also many grief networks in the UK you can find support from, including The Grief Network, aimed at helping young bereaved people navigate their loss, The Grief Gang, a podcast dedicated to normalising grief, and The Griefcase, hosting monthly online meet ups.
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For anyone who needs help with how they are feeling, there are many people willing to help. You can call Samaritans day or night, 365 days a year for free on 116 123, email them at jo@samaritans.org, or visit www.samaritans.org to find your nearest branch.
Mind's helpline is 0300 123 3393, while their email address is info@mind.org.uk and their website is www.mind.org.uk.
Additional reporting by PA.
