Cavan event on suicide bereavement brings hope to the community

Finding Hope and Healing After Suicide

An event aimed at raising awareness of suicide was held in Cavan last weekend.

HUGG, Ireland’s national suicide bereavement charity, held an information event on 21st October at the Hotel Kilmore to raise awareness of suicide bereavement and what support services are available.

The event was funded by the HSE and Connecting for Life Cavan and Monaghan to support the community, which has one of the highest rates of suicide, almost double the national average.

Many travelled from Cavan, Monaghan and surrounding counties. Una Holstead, a clinical psychotherapist, gave an informative presentation on the impact of suicide grief, highlighting ways families and communities can support young people to grieve and cope. Two local residents, Joseph McCabe, a HUGG Cavan volunteer whose wife Marie died by suicide and Chloe Heaslip, a HUGG Cavan member who lost her brother Eden to suicide, spoke movingly about their grief. Both shared their own story of how suicide had impacted them their families and what has helped them to move forward.

It was evident from the event that being in the company of others who understood this type of grief was helpful. Those present represented recent and more long-standing bereavements, with the ages of those who have died ranging from teenagers to those in their late 70’s. It was an important event which connected people and offered a gentle and welcoming space for compassionate conversations about suicide grief. Those who attended were asked to share a one-word feedback anonymously, which we have captured in a word cloud. Words included “informative, helpful, hope and comfort”.

HUGG staff and volunteers spoke with those who came, connecting them with the many local services available, which can offer additional support. HUGG offers support groups in both Cavan and Monaghan, led by locals with a lived experience of suicide.

A future event is planned for Monaghan in early 2024.

HUGG provides information, signposting, resources, and suicide bereavement support groups nationwide. Meetings take place every second Tuesday, at 7.30pm Anyone over 18 bereaved or affected by suicide can get information and support by visiting www.HUGG.ie or by calling 01 513 4048.