It’s important to understand that grief is a normal part of experiencing loss. Everyone grieves differently, and most people experiencing grief won’t require more than general support and information. For those who require additional support, resources are available.
You can call our Bereavement Support Line 1800 80 70 77 Monday-Friday 10am-1pm and we can talk through some options.
The Bereavement Support Line can signpost you to private counsellors that we know are trained to work with grief and loss. Ireland’s professional accreditation bodies for counselling and psychotherapy also have lists of private, accredited counsellors and psychologists across the country (please note that not all of these professionals have training in grief and loss). These listings are available here:
- The Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), Tel. 01 2303536.
- The Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy, Tel. 01 2841665.
- The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI), Tel. 01 4720105
If you’ve been bereaved through a hospice or palliative care death, it’s likely a bereavement support service will be available in the hospice. Contact the local hospice or palliative care team.
If you’ve been bereaved through an acute hospital, the hospital may provide bereavement support. Contact the hospital social work department or chaplaincy service.
Your general practitioner may also be a good support to you and be aware of other local supports.
For bereaved families where a child has died, Anam Cara provide peer support for both parents and children and maintain online bereavement support forums. Firstlight provides crisis intervention and free professional counselling services throughout Ireland to bereaved parents and family members who have suddenly lost a child up to 18 years. Also. for the bereaved parents of an infant visit this Irish Pregnancy and loss web site.
For children and young people who have lost someone close to them, visit Barnardos Children’s Bereavement Service or the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network
If you have been bereaved through suicide, you can contact Pieta House or HUGG.
If you feel you need immediate support, call The Samaritans 24 hour free phone line at 116 123.
For practical information including what to do following a death, money matters, and counselling visit Citizens Information or pop into your local centre. Find your closest centre.
NGOs in Ireland Offering Bereavement Support & Services
Several NGOs in Ireland offer bereavement information, support, or counselling as part of their services. See a range of these organisations below.
Anam Cara supports parents after bereavement. Bereaved parents have set up this organisation to help themselves and all bereaved parents cope with their grief and loss.
Aware aims to create a society where people affected by stress, depression, bipolar and mood disorders are understood, supported, free from stigma, and can access appropriate therapies.
Barnardos works with vulnerable children and their families and campaigns for the rights of all children. Established in Ireland in 1962, they provide services and support in 40 centres around the country.
HUGG is a national suicide bereavement organisation providing telephone support, suicide grief resources, support groups led by trained volunteers with lived experience of suicide loss, public events, research, and advocacy.
Bereaved.ie offers advice and information for bereaved people, those supporting them and professionals working with them. It is an initiative of Irish Hospice Foundation.
Bethany Bereavement Support is a voluntary community and parish based service, which aims to support bereaved adults through the grieving process.
Féileacáin is a not for profit organisation that provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy.
FirstLight provides crisis intervention and free professional counselling services throughout Ireland to bereaved parents and family members who have suddenly lost a child up to 18 years.
The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN) was founded in 2012 to act as a hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families.
A Little Lifetime Foundation provides information and support to bereaved parents and families and works with health care professionals to develop good practices in the area of infant death.
The Citizens Information Board provides information on public services and entitlements in Ireland, including this booklet containing information and support for anyone affected by bereavement.
Pieta provide a professional one-to-one therapeutic service to people who are in suicidal distress, those who engage in self-harm, and those bereaved by suicide.
Rainbows is a free, voluntary service for children and young people experiencing loss following bereavement and parental separation.
The Samaritans know a lot about what can help you through tough times. They can help you explore your options, understand your problems better, or just be there to listen.
Spun Out promotes general wellbeing in order to prevent and positively intervene in harmful behaviour where it occurs amongst our peer group. Our goal is to enable our peers to live happy, healthy lives.
Widow.ie gives the bereaved a place to speak through online forums, so they are not alone. Many out there are going through a similar loss and can share experiences and offer or receive mutual support.
