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Bereavement



Bereavement is the death or loss of someone close to us. Grief is the process of how bereavement and loss affect us. There are many different types of loss: loss of health, of employment, marital breakdown, divorce and death.  How we react to loss will be different for everyone. For most people there is a period of intense, fluctuating reactions that ease over time. Other people can experience intense reactions to their grief that are prolonged.

How grief affects us

Grief and loss impact everyone differently and can affect us in ways that are:

  • emotional
  • physical 
  • social
  • cognitive
  • financial
  • spiritual

Grief often causes disruption and disturbance of everyday life. This site provides information to help you understand more about the grieving process, how to cope, how to help someone who is bereaved. The site also contains information for professionals supporting the bereaved.

More From This Section:

Bereavement Support line

Many people have experienced and will experience the death of a loved one during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may have been a COVID-related death or a death from other causes. COVID-19 restrictions have also changed the traditional ways we mark our grief. For the moment, it is not possible to come together. It is not […] Read more >

COVID-19 Care and Inform

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed the traditional ways we mark our grief. For the moment, it is not possible to come together and to gather in one location. It is not possible to have a large funeral. It may not be possible to receive the company of those who wish to offer condolences. However, we […] Read more >

Coping with Loss

Grief is how a bereavement affects us personally. It’s what we experience when we lose something or someone important to us. This experience can be particularly hard when someone close to us dies. Coping with loss means making sense of the loss and learning to live without that person. This is the work of grieving. Good grief […] Read more >

Bereaved Children – Irish Childhood Bereavement Network

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Helping a Bereaved Person

Grieving is difficult — difficult to go through and difficult to witness. But there are ways to help people coping with loss. What to say to a bereaved person   How to help a bereaved person Try to attend the removal or funeral if this is appropriate. Take the time to make contact either by […] Read more >

Working in Bereavement and Loss

A wide range of professionals and volunteers provide support to people who are bereaved. It is important for people working in bereavement and loss to be aware of the limits of their own competence, to avail of appropriate training, and to be aware of national supports. As a rule, the more complex a bereaved person’s needs, […] Read more >

Bereavement Resources

The Irish Hospice Foundation has produced leaflets, videos and audio recordings about bereavement, grief and dealing with loss. These pages also house links to additional bereavement resources and information.   The Bereavement Pin The bereavement pin, designed by Alan Ardiff, symbolises the circle of life and the strengths and resources that we can draw on […] Read more >

Bereavement News & Events

*Due to Covid-19, this event is now postponed until further notice. We will announce a new date once it’s set. Those who have registered for the event will be able to retain their tickets for the re-scheduled event.* This is the only annual event that brings together people from all across Ireland who work in […] Read more >

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