Every November, the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network (ICBN) organise a series of events across Ireland to highlight bereaved children’s needs and provide a voice for them to be heard.

Children are the “hidden mourners” in our society.  They will feel their loss over a lifetime, and in different ways as they grow and learn to understand the real meaning of death and loss. Every child has different needs, perspectives and understandings of what death means.

This week marks Bereaved Children’s Awareness Week for 2022.

As adults we know that grief is a normal reaction to loss, it’s important to understand a child’s way of processing grief and try to support them so that they don’t feel that they should be ‘over it’ within a certain period of time – and more importantly so they don’t think something is wrong with them if they feel the loss coming up again and again.

All adults can help children understand the big feelings after the death of a loved one and be open to talk, explain, reassure and answer questions in an honest and age-appropriate way.

The main theme for this year is ‘See their need – we can all help!’  and is captured in a short video on how adults can support a child who is grieving. The key message in this poignant but practical video is that anyone who has a relationship with the child has a role to play – this can be a teacher, coach as well as close friends and family.

All adults can help by understanding and seeing the needs of bereaved children. We are asking people to take one minute to watch the video and learn how anyone can help to build a compassionate community where bereaved children are supported to express grief.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oov0uVYwl3k

Events  

There are several online events this week targeted at the public and professionals. Visit childhoodbereavement.ie

About Irish Hospice Foundation

Irish Hospice Foundation is a national charity that addresses dying, death and bereavement in Ireland. Our vision is an Ireland where people facing end of life or bereavement, and those who care for them, are provided with the care and support that they need.

Through advocacy and education, and the provision of services such as Nurses for Night Care and the Bereavement Support Line, Irish Hospice Foundation works to ensure that every person in Ireland can die and grieve well, whatever their age and wherever the place.  For more information see www.hospicefoundation.ie

The Irish Childhood Bereavement Network

Founded in 2012 to act as  a hub for those working with bereaved children, young people and their families.

Collectively, the network shares a vision that all children and young people, together with the adults in their lives, can easily access a choice of high quality local and national information, guidance and support to enable them to manage the impact of death on their lives.