HUGG, Healing Untold Grief Groups, is launching its first dedicated Limerick peer support group for the suicide bereaved on the evening of Tuesday, 18th May.
HUGG provides a free, safe and confidential environment where those bereaved by suicide can share their experiences and feelings, and receive and offer support to each other. All of HUGG’s peer support groups are led by people with lived experience, people who themselves have been bereaved by suicide.
HUGG focuses on “postvention”, a specific form of intervention which is conducted after a suicide in recognition of the increased risk of suicidal ideation among the bereaved friends and family.
Limerick is one of the first groups facilitated by HUGG to take place outside of Dublin, and the second one in Munster. Munster locals Greg Moran and Rose Hallissey participated in HUGG’s comprehensive facilitator training program earlier in the year.
Both have lived experience of suicide, a requirement of becoming a HUGG facilitator. This ensures a better understanding and appreciation of the emotions and trauma group attendees may be going through.
Reflecting on why he signed up to be a HUGG facilitator, Mr Moran stated, “On May 9th 2012 I suffered the loss of two family members by suicide. My twin brothers, Peter and Kevin died by suicide aged 28.
“Learning to live with this grief resulted in acquiring much insight around healing trauma, and coping with loss. As a facilitator with HUGG, I hope to provide a space whereby each member can just ‘be with their grief’, connect with others through shared experiences, and allow their healing to begin.”
Rose Hallissey lost her daughter Sarah to suicide and outlined her reasons for supporting HUGG, “I’ve spent a lot of my life since trying to get my children to where they are today because they are effected by her death. It’s been a tough journey but thankfully I have survived and I want to help others get to where I am now.”
Commenting on the launch of the new group, Fiona Tuomey, Founder and CEO of HUGG, said, “We’re delighted to have such capable volunteers as Rose and Greg, to facilitate a support group in Limerick.
“We identified Limerick as a location for one of our first official groups outside of Dublin due to the demand in the region. I know it will greatly benefit the local community here and I hope we can continue recruiting more facilitators in Munster to extend our services into further counties.” she added.
The new group will meet online in accordance with COVID-19 restrictions but will meet in-person when it is permissible to do so. People can enquire to attend the group by contacting Fiona at hugg.ie. The public can support HUGG by:
- Becoming a facilitator if the bereavement is over two years ago
- Donating online at hugg.ie to fund HUGG’s services and facilitator training program
