Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

How to support a bereaved person at Christmas

This time of year can be particularly difficult for someone who has lost a loved one.

LAST MONTH THEJOURNAL.IE looked at death and dying from an Irish perspective.

During our Last Rites series, Dr Susan Delaney, bereavement services manager with the Irish Hospice Foundation, spoke to us about how people can best support those dealing with a death.

“In bereavement any day can be a bad day,” Susan says.

However, she notes that Christmas can be a particularly difficult time for some bereaved people.

The run up to 25 December can see us bombarded with “images of happy families that are apparently having amazing Christmases and never fight…it can add to the loneliness”, she says.

Here, Susan gives advice on what people can do to help someone bereaved at Christmas:

Orla Ryan / YouTube

Video: Órla Ryan/Aoife Barry

For more information on dealing with bereavement, visit Bereaved.ie.

bereaved

You can read more from our Last Rites series here.

Read: Everything you wanted to know about grief but were too afraid to ask

Advice: What to say – and not say – to a friend who is recently bereaved

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
17 Comments
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
    JournalTv
    News in 60 seconds