Irish Hospice Foundation urge Louth people to ‘Be Grief Aware’

People across Louth are being encouraged to show compassion and understanding as the Irish Hospice Foundation launches its sixth annual National Grief Awareness Week, running from January 26 to February 1. This year’s theme focuses on showing you care and ‘Being Grief Aware’.

When the Irish Hospice Foundation was set up in 1986 it saw improvement of bereavement care as one of its priorities. While everyone experiences bereavement at some point in their lives, IHF believes that support in grief should be available for all who need it. National Grief Awareness Week aims to empower both the bereaved and those around them to navigate this challenging part of life with greater empathy and confidence.

As part of this year’s campaign, they are inviting people to broaden their understanding of what grief support can look like.
The Irish Hospice Foundation say: “Supporting someone does not require the perfect words. It requires willingness, presence, and compassion. In the same way, supporting ourselves does not require having everything figured out. It begins with noticing what we need and responding with kindness. We often underestimate the power of small acts. A short walk. A meal prepared.

“A text sent. Grief can be supported through simple actions directed towards someone who is grieving like making them a cup of tea, sending them a message, or inviting them to go for a walk. All these actions and so many more communicate something powerful: I care, you are not alone.

“As part of the campaign, IHF is also encouraging people to speak openly about grief and bereavement, and to share information about National Grief Awareness Week with family members, friends, colleagues, and within their wider communities.”

Key Events
As part of the week, a Lunch & Learn: Grief in the Workplace event will take place on Tuesday 27th January from 12.30-1.30pm. Many people experience bereavement while continuing to work, and a compassionate workplace response can make a significant difference. This Lunch & Learn event will explore how understanding grief can help employees better support their own grieving process, as well as recognise and respond to colleagues who are grieving. This event is open to employers.

A Living with Grief event will take place online on Thursday 29th January at 7pm and is open to everyone who has experienced a bereavement or may be supporting a child or adult who is grieving. The session will offer insight, reassurance, and practical support.

For more information on all see the Irish Hospice Foundation website.

Nicole Forster, National Bereavement Development Manager at Irish Hospice Foundation said:

“Bereavement affects everyone at some stage in life. During National Grief Awareness Week, we want to highlight that supporting someone else’s grief, and our own grief, can take many forms. Grief can be supported through simple actions directed towards someone who is grieving. By encouraging more open conversations and greater understanding around grief, we hope to foster a more supportive and compassionate society.”

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Amy Gibney, National Grief in the Workplace Lead at Irish Hospice Foundation said:

“With 75% of Irish people employed, many workers face the challenge of navigating grief while at work. A bereavement has been identified as a significant stressor for employees by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA, 2022). Mental health; loneliness and stress are core workplace issues right now (CIPD, 2024; Healthy Ireland at Work, 2025) with organisations in Ireland and beyond, increasingly focussed on psychosocial workplace hazards. As detailed in our Position Paper: Making the Case for Good Grief Care in the Workplace, evidence indicates that supporting grieving employees is not only the ethical thing to do but it is the legal thing to - by ensuring that employees are not put at additional risk of harm when grieving.”