Bereavement support rolled out in Galway City and County

Oct 25, 2024 | Nationwide News

A new bereavement support initiative – Galway Grief Sherpa Network (GGSN) – has been jointly launched by Galway University Hospitals’ Bereavement Support Services and the Irish Hospice Foundation (IHF) to promote those organisations who provide bereavement support in Galway City and County.

The network includes 28 community bereavement organisations and is made up of skilled hospital, hospice and community staff and groups who work together, to increase awareness of bereavement and awareness of local bereavement services. Members of the network include both statutory and non-government organisations (i.e. registered charities).

Members of the network will hold a public Bereavement Information Awareness event in Galway’s Eyre Square Shopping Centre on Saturday 2 November (11am to 4pm) and free directories will be made available on the day to the public, outlining all the bereavement support services available in Galway City and County.

Pictured at the launch of the network (l-r): Cllr Albert Dolan, Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council; Fiona Byrne, GGSN Network and Rainbows Galway; Aine Deely, GGSN Project team member and HopeSpace Representative; Vivian Roche-Fahy, Chair of GGSN, Project Team Lead, Bereavement Liaison Officer at GUH, Phil Grealish, Sponsor, St Columbus Credit Union Mervue; Anne McKeown, GGSN Project team member and End-of-Life Co-Ordinator at GUH; and Cllr Peter Keane, Mayor of Galway City.

The GGSN and Directory will ensure that people who are experiencing bereavement will have the required information and support for each stage of their bereavement journey, according to Vivian Roche-Fahy, Chair of the GGSN and Project Lead, and Bereavement Liaison Officer at Galway University Hospitals (which comprises of University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital).

“Often the bereaved don’t have an awareness of the supports available to them in their local community area, which would be an invaluable support to them during the sad, sensitive and difficult time, in their life. Research has shown that families who lose a loved one wish they had more resources and support available to them. To address this gap, Galway Grief Sherpa Network has developed a dedicated grief directory,” she added.

Deputy Hospital Manager Maria Molloy said, “The development of the Galway Grief Sherpa Network and Directory will provide a central point for those who are bereaved and need some additional support. For the first time, the new directory will bring together all the resources that are available in one place for the benefit of the general public, carers, and professionals.”

Dr Amanda Roberts, Bereavement Development Manager, Irish Hospice Foundation said, “These networks aim to enhance links between local bereavement service providers, raise awareness about bereavement and the local bereavement supports available. Please visit our website if you would like to learn more about Local Bereavement networks.”

The directory, which was officially launched by the Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council Cllr Albert Dolan and the Mayor of Galway City Cllr Peter Keane, is now available to the public, through Galway University Hospitals’ Bereavement Support Service, the Galway Grief Sherpa Networks, and online via the Irish Hospice Foundation under ‘Galway Grief Sherpa Network’.

For more information about the network email: [email protected]

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