After a bereavement or loss many people have strong feelings such as loneliness, worry and upset. But most people find their way through their grief with the support of friends and family.
If you need more support as time goes on, there are organisations that can help you.
Bereavement supports and services include:
- helplines that offer bereavement support
- bereavement self-help resources
- organisations for bereaved parents and families
- organisations for bereaved children and young people
- supports for people bereaved by suicide
- counselling services
You can get support in a way that you are comfortable with. Many organisations offer phone, online and in-person support.
It may also help to read our guide about bereavement.
Supporting someone who is grieving
Helplines that offer bereavement support
The following helplines offer support.
Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Support Line
A confidential space for people to speak about their experience or to ask questions relating to the death of someone.
Freephone: 1800 80 70 77 - Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm
Website: hospicefoundation.ie
Barnardos Helpline
Bereavement information and support for children and families.
Phone: 01 473 2110 - Monday to Thursday, 10am to 12pm
Website: barnardos.ie
Childline (ISPCC)
Ireland's 24-hour national listening service for young people up to the age of 18. Calls and messages are answered by staff and volunteers who are trained to listen to children and young people.
Freephone: 1800 66 66 66 any time
Chat online anytime at childline.ie
Pieta
Free 1-to-1 counselling, therapy and support for people bereaved by suicide and or who are thinking about suicide.
Freephone: 1800 24 72 47 any time
Text HELP to 51444 - standard message rates apply
Website: pieta.ie
Samaritans
Emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope or needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
Freephone: 116 123 - any time
Email: jo@samaritans.ie
Website: samaritans.ie
Text About It
Text About It is a free, 24/7 service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for your mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Free text HELLO to 50808 for an anonymous chat with a trained volunteer, any time.
Website: textaboutit.ie
Bereavement self-help resources
The ‘Bereavement: When someone close dies’ booklet describes practical and emotional issues that you may face when someone close dies.
Download or order Bereavement: When someone close dies - healthpromotion.ie
The Irish Hospice Foundation
The Irish Hospice Foundation has information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families.
This includes:
- podcasts on grief and loss
- guided practices on grief
- videos on understanding loss and grief
Website: hospicefoundation.ie
Widow.ie
Provides information and self-help resources for widows, widowers and bereaved life partners.
Website: widow.ie
Organisations for bereaved parents and families
The following support is available for bereaved parents and families.
Anam Cara
Supports parents after bereavement by signposting to services and providing information evenings in the community throughout the country.
Website: anamcara.ie
Féileacáin
Provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy.
Website: feileacain.ie
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
Provides information for bereaved parents and healthcare staff about pregnancy and infant loss.
Website: pregnancyandinfantloss.ie
FirstLight
Provides crisis intervention and free professional counselling services to bereaved parents and family members who have suddenly lost a child up to age 18.
Website: firstlight.ie
A Little Lifetime Foundation
Provides information and support to bereaved parents and families.
Website: alittlelifetime.ie
Organisations for bereaved children and young people
The following support is available for bereaved children.
Barnardos
Specialist bereavement service where children and young people are supported to grieve. Provides information on grief in children, adolescents and families and free e-books.
Website: barnardos.ie
The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network
Information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families.
Website: childhoodbereavement.ie
Rainbows
Supports children and young people with bereavement or parental separation.
Website: rainbowsireland.ie
Play therapy
Offers creative arts therapies for families and children.
Website: playtherapy.ie
Supports for people bereaved by suicide
The following support is available if you have lost a loved one to suicide.
HUGG
Information and support groups for anyone over age 18 who has lost a loved one to suicide. Services are provided by people who have been bereaved by suicide.
Website: hugg.ie
Pieta
Free individual counselling, therapy and support for people who have been bereaved by suicide and for people who are thinking about suicide.
Freephone: 1800 24 72 47 any time
Text HELP to 51444 - standard message rates apply
Website: pieta.ie
The Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service
The Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officer can meet with a bereaved family as a group or individually.
They can answer questions about some of the difficult practical issues following a death by suicide. You can also get help accessing a therapeutic service, or even just to talk with someone locally about what has happened.
Contact a suicide bereavement liaison officer
Resources for children (Safe Harbour)
Safe Harbour is an illustrated story book for children bereaved by suicide. It comes with resources for adults on how to read the book with a child.
These resources can help you:
- talk about death and suicide in a way children can understand
- encourage children to talk about how they feel
The resources are free and available online in English and Irish.
If you support a child who was bereaved by suicide, you can also order a printed copy of the book and guide.
Safe Harbour - childhoodbereavement.ie
Clare Suicide Bereavement Support
Support for individuals, families and communities in Co. Clare who are bereaved by suicide.
Website: claresuicidebereavementsupport.com
Counselling services
Talk to your GP about counselling services.
If you are over age 18 and have a medical card, they can refer you for free counselling through the National Counselling Service (NCS). This service is called Counselling in Primary Care.
You can also access counselling privately.
You can find qualified counsellors who specialise in bereavement, loss and grief through the: