In early grief 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, there are organisations that provide:
- helplines
- bereavement self-help resources and support
- support for people bereaved by suicide
- counselling
You can continue to get support in a way that you are comfortable with. Many organisations offer both online and in-person support.
Helplines that offer bereavement 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 807 077 — Monday to Friday, 10am to 1pm
Barnardos Helpline
Bereavement information and support for children and families.
Phone 01 473 2110 — Monday to Thursday, 10am to 12pm
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 666 666 any time
Text 50101 — 10am to 4pm every day
Chat online anytime at childline.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 247 247 any time
Text HELP to 51444 — standard message rates apply
Samaritans
Emotional support for anyone who is struggling to cope or needs someone to listen without judgement or pressure.
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.
Organisations that offer bereavement resources and support
The ‘Bereavement: When someone close dies’ booklet describes practical and emotional issues that you may face when someone close dies.
Bereavement: When someone close dies (PDF, 3.4 MB, 57 pages)
This booklet and other free leaflets on grief from the HSE and the Irish Hospice Foundation are available to order or download:
- Visit healthpromotion.ie
- From the Search by topic list, select 'Bereavement'.
The Irish Hospice Foundation
Information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families, including:
- podcasts on grief and loss
- guided practices on grief
- videos on understanding loss and grief
Widow.ie
Provides information and self-help resources for widows, widowers and bereaved life partners.
Organisations 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.
Féileacáin
Provides support to anyone affected by the death of a baby during or after pregnancy.
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Ireland
Provides information for bereaved parents and healthcare staff about pregnancy and infant loss.
FirstLight
Provides crisis intervention and free professional counselling services to bereaved parents and family members who have suddenly lost a child up to 18 years.
A Little Lifetime Foundation
Provides information and support to bereaved parents and families.
Organisations 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.
The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network
Information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families.
Rainbows
Supports children and young people with bereavement or parental separation.
Supports for people bereaved by suicide
HUGG
Information and support groups for anyone over 18 years who has lost a loved one to suicide. Services are provided by people who have been bereaved by suicide.
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 247 247 any time
Text HELP to 51444 — standard message rates apply
The Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service
Free, confidential service that provides assistance and support after the loss of a loved one to suicide. The 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. They also provide guidance or assistance in accessing a therapeutic service, or even just to talk with someone locally about what has happened.
This service is provided by these agencies:
- pieta.ie (nationwide)
- vitahouse.org (Roscommon)
- thefamilycentre.com (Mayo)
Clare Suicide Bereavement Support
Support for individuals, families and communities in Clare who are bereaved by suicide.
claresuicidebereavementsupport.com
Counselling services
Talk to your GP about counselling services.
If you are over 18 years of age and have a medical card, they can refer you for free counselling through the National Counselling Service (NCS).
You can also access counselling privately.
You can find qualified counsellors who specialise in bereavement, loss and grief through:
- The Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP)
- The Irish Association of Humanistic and Integrative Psychotherapy
- The Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI)