First national bereavement support line to be launched in Ireland
Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support
The Irish Hospice Foundation offers a Bereavement Support Line to help people dealing with loss and trauma. These are difficult times and particularly difficult for anyone dealing with bereavement in isolation
Many people are suffering without the usual support of wakes or funerals or human contact .
Many people have experienced and will experience the death of someone they love during the COVID-19 pandemic. It may have been a COVID-related death or a death from other causes. People may also be finding a previous bereavement more difficult at this time.
While we may be seeing reductions in the number of deaths connected to COVID-19, we know that people’s pain and grief does not diminish as quickly.
In the face of such loss and trauma, the Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line, in partnership with the HSE, has been launched to provide connection, comfort and support, in these exceptional times.
COVID-19 restrictions have changed the traditional ways we mark our grief. For the moment, it is not possible to come together like we did traditionally. This means many people are facing bereavement in isolation.
WHAT IS THE IHF BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT LINE?
It is a national freephone service 1800 80 70 77 which will be available from 10am to 1pm, Monday to Friday.
Who can call? Any adult who has been impacted by bereavement during the COVID-19 pandemic can call.
This includes people who:
May have been recently bereaved, through COVID-19 or a different cause of death,
May be concerned about somebody else who has been bereaved,
May wish to call because a previous bereavement feels more difficult
Anam Cara – Bereaved Parents Support Group
Due to the Covid 19 virus there will be no parent support evenings until after the summer break in September 2020.
Anam Cara can still be contacted and resources viewed or downloaded from the website.
Anam Cara are holding some limited online support meetings by prearrangement/invitation.
There is also an option for ‘1 to 1’ phone support with a facilitator at the Anam Cara Tipperary group. Please email info@anamcara.ie for further information.
or check the website for information support packs and information