Today marks the start of National Grief Awareness Week – taking place from January 27th to February 2nd.

The Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) saw an increase of 18% in the number of calls to its bereavement support line towards the end of last year, compared to 2023.

The group said support during grief should be available for everyone who needs it, as it launches its annual campaign.

"Touch base"

Director of Education and Bereavement Orla Keegan said it's important to touch base with someone who's lost a loved one.

“Really what we're trying to do is to counteract some of the isolation and the pain and the confusion that people can feel when they're bereaved,” she said.

“We want people to know that you can get information, we want people who are around somebody who's grieving just to touch base with them and to see how they're doing.”

IHF is encouraging people to tell their family, friends, colleagues or community, about National Grief Awareness Week and to have open conversations about grief and bereavement.

Irish Hospice Foundation CEO Paula O’Reilly – National Grief Awareness Week. Photo: Paul Sherwood