Caring for and supporting someone who has lost a loved one to suicide can be challenging. Many feel unable to provide adequate support and struggle to understand the depth of grief. Some have difficulty knowing, what to say or do and worry about saying the wrong thing. This workshop aims to provide an understanding of the grieving process and explore common grief reactions following a death by suicide. It will explore ways to provide adequate support and present practical strategies in responding to the bereaved.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of the workshop participants will:

• understand the grieving process following a death by suicide
• understand how a death by suicide can impact the lives of the bereaved
• explore ways to support the suicide bereaved
• be familiar with resources and supports available to the bereaved
• be aware of the impact of personal loss and the importance of self-care

Presenter Profiles

Bernie Carroll has extensive experience of working in the field of mental health. Initially working as a nurse in the psychiatric, general and Intellectual Disability services. Bernie worked as the HSE Regional and National Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention for over 17 years. She has a BSc in Nursing Studies from the University of Limerick and a Masters in Suicide Studies from St. Patrick’s College, Drumcondra. She has a particular interest in education and training and has delivered suicide prevention, intervention and postvention training programmes, in a variety of settings. Bernie currently works as an external trainer with the statutory and voluntary agencies.

Breffni McGuinness is the National Bereavement Development Specialist for Workplaces with the Irish Hospice Foundation. His special interests are in workplace bereavement, hidden losses and the use of creativity in working with people who are grieving. He has published a number of articles on bereavement and has developed resources for workplaces on bereavement policies and supporting staff who are bereaved. He is a Dramatherapist and member of the Irish Association of Creative Arts Therapists (IACAT).