World Suicide Bereavement Day
November 19th 2023
A day to create awareness and to encourage anyone bereaved by suicide to join together for healing and support.
World Suicide Bereavement Day is marked every year in mid-November when people who have been bereaved by suicide come together to find comfort, remember loved ones, and share expressions around loss, healing and hope. This year, HUGG, the national suicide bereavement charity, is inviting anyone who has been impacted by suicide to join them to mark the day and remember their loved ones who have died by suicide.
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“Say Their Name: World Suicide Bereavement Remembrance Event” will be held in the Unitarian Church, St Stephen’s Green, Dublin, on Sunday, 19th November 2023, at 2 p.m.
This is a FREE event; however, spaces are limited, and registration is required:
Registration link: https://bit.ly/2023SayTheirName
This Event will also be live-streamed.
To attend online and watch via the live stream, use this link at 2 p.m. on the day. There are no restrictions on the number of viewers in your household. https://www.churchservices.tv/dublinunitarian/embed
Approximately 500 people die by suicide in Ireland each year. For each person who dies, six close family members and up to 135 individuals may be affected by the death. This equates to more than 3,000 immediate family members and 60,000 individuals who may be impacted by suicide in Ireland every year. Each suicide has a devastating and lasting impact on the families, friends and communities of those who died - Connecting for Life.
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The aftermath of a suicide is shocking, debilitating, surreal and life-changing. The Initial feelings of guilt, blame, shame and anger often manifested in enduring physical and psychological difficulties. These can include post-traumatic stress disorder, depressive disorders, anxiety, and substance abuse; an increased risk of suicide; increased physical complaints; and an increased risk of developing persistent complex bereavement.
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But there is support to help those who are suicide bereaved to live with this loss. HUGG is a peer support organisation that provides a safe, confidential environment in which those bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings, giving and gaining support from each other.
People who are suicide bereaved sometimes find it difficult to talk to people who have not experienced suicide loss. Often the best conversations are had with peers – other people bereaved by suicide. HUGG support groups are facilitated by people who have been bereaved by suicide. The groups are open, meet fortnightly and are free of charge. You do not have to speak; there is healing in just being with those who understand your pain.
If you would like to go to a HUGG group, please fill out the 'Join a Group' form on the HUGG website. Or, for more information, you can email support@hugg.ie or call their monitored answering machine at 01 513 4048