Stephen Donnelly (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Responsibility for bereavement counselling and associated services are assigned across a variety of service areas. The HSE National Counselling Service is an essential part of HSE mental health provision and provides a professional, confidential, counselling and psychotherapy service. The service is available in all HSE Community Health areas and operates from over 240 locations throughout Ireland.

The HSE provide a range of bereavement supports while also working in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. The Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid is a framework to guide those working with and supporting bereaved people across the country. It was developed through a national collaborative process, managed by the Irish Hospice Foundation and supported by the HSE. Support is provided in line with the Adult Bereavement Care Pyramid which highlights four levels of support that people may require following a bereavement. Levels of support range from Level 1 (community support, self-help resources) to Level 4 (specialist counselling). For adults requiring Level 3 and 4 supports, the HSE provides bereavement counselling through Counselling in Primary Care across the country.

The voluntary organisation First Light provides therapeutic services to suddenly bereaved parents and family members across Ireland. First Light received €50,000 in in 2021 and 2022 from the HSE and provided professional counselling to over 200 individuals in 2022.

Anam Cara is a charity founded by bereaved parents to ensure all bereaved families have access to information and support. They provide a wide range of bereavement support services and peer support which are available to all parents regardless of the age or circumstances of their child’s death. Anam Cara also received €50,000 in 2021 and 2022.

Both organisations have been allocated recurrent funding of €75,000 each since the HSE National Service Plan in 2023. This will further enhance bereavement supports for parents after the death of a child.

The Irish Hospice Foundation in partnership with the HSE provide a bereavement support helpline which is available to the general public. It provides a confidential safe space for individuals who have lost a loved one, friend or colleague, to talk about their loss and grief.

Within the area of children’s palliative care, Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice provides bereavement counselling on a national basis to families in need. In 2022, Laura Lynn provided bereavement support to over 200 families. In 2023, €800,000 was provided in additional recurrent funding increasing Laura Lynn’s base funding to €2.3 million per year.

In relation to supports for children, the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network provide information and resources for coping with grief in children, adolescents and families. Rainbows and Barnardos also provide bereavement supports for children and young people.