Explore UCD

UCD Home >

Bereavement Support

Page Updated: 22 August 2024

A Bereavement Support Group for UCD employees operates annually with a short programme. The support group is intended for colleagues who would like to learn new and supportive ways to reclaim moments of contentment and happiness while honouring those whom they have lost.  

The intention is that support groups can help the bereaved constructively manage the pain of grief, as they provide unique opportunities to both be heard and to bear witness to another's experience that are not often possible during individual counselling. Groups can lessen a sense of isolation that often accompanies grief.

The Bereavement Support Group is modelled on the Taos Institute Program where participants work together as a support for one another with the theme of the group being "Breathing Life into Stories of the Dead".  

This is a non-faith group setting. It is open to colleagues of all faiths and none.  The methodology used does not conform to any faith structure and any input on faith comes from the participants alone.

The  group is modelled on a similar group for students established by UCD’s Student Counselling and Chaplaincy.  The support group will meet in-person over 4 consecutive weeks.

If you would like to find out more or register your interest, please contact:

Bereavement Leave Policy & Supports

The Bereavement Leave policy (replacing Compassionate Leave) forms an element of UCD’s family leave policy framework and the University is committed to supporting employees who may require family related leave, such as in the case of a bereavement.

Every individual and every family is different. The University recognises the diverse nature of families and will respect and support all employees in taking the time they need to cope during a time of great difficulty regardless of their religion, race/ethnicity or sexual orientation.

Links

Find out more about the UCD Bereavement Policy.

Find out more about the UCD Employee Assistance Service. 

Bereavement through Suicide Supports

Pieta provide a range of services nationally to people who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, those who engage in self-harm, and those bereaved by suicide. All services are provided free of charge, and no referral is needed. 

Pieta provides practical support to anyone who needs help in the aftermath of a loss through suicide. Suicide bereavement shares many of the characteristics of other bereavement, but it is also a special grief and often traumatic. This can be complicated by feelings of stigma and isolation, as well as having so many questions, often with no answers.

Pieta offers those bereaved by suicide a safe space, a sense of normality in their experience, a sense of understanding and an opportunity to speak about their experiences.

(opens in a new window)https://www.pieta.ie/how-we-can-help/

HUGG is the national suicide bereavement organisation.

If you’ve lost someone to suicide, or if you’re supporting someone who is grieving, their telephone support service offers a safe, understanding space where you connect with others who understand. They offer compassionate emotional support, practical information and signposting to support services

HUGG is an essential lifeline for people who have been bereaved by suicide. Their services include suicide bereavement support groups led by trained volunteers with lived experience of suicide loss, resources on grief after suicide, public events and webinars and advocacy and research.

HUGG’s postvention work is an important part of suicide prevention. Postvention refers to activities that occur after a suicide to help reduce the risk of further suicides or suicidal behaviours and promote healing for people bereaved by suicide. Through being there for those who have lost someone to suicide, HUGG helps to reduce the heightened risk that the bereaved person may experience following a suicide  – which it has been established is ten times higher than with the general population.

(opens in a new window)https://hugg.ie/

You can watch the introductory HUGG (opens in a new window)webinar on Workvivo now (staff only).

Call01 513 4048(monitored answering machine).  This is a part-time service from Monday-Thursday.  Leave a message with your name and number, and one of the HUGG trained team — all with lived experience of suicide loss — will call you back.

Contact UCD Equality Diversity and Inclusion

University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
E: edi@ucd.ie