HUGG are pleased to announce their new online dedicated
suicide bereavement support group for men, which will be led by trained HUGG
Volunteers, Alan Martin, John Murphy and Clive Jackson. Please feel free to
share the information below with family, friends and your community.
Significantly fewer men than women access suicide
bereavement support services. However, it is vital that men know that accessing
support can be lifesaving, that their grief is valid and they deserve help.
Fiona Tuomey, HUGG Founder and CEO, stated “We want men to
know understanding their grief and connecting with others can be lifesaving.
They may carry unanswered questions, stigma, self-isolation and blame, in
addition to the trauma of losing their loved one. We also know that dedicated
support can help alleviate these impacts. Therefore, HUGG is launching its
first dedicated male only suicide bereavement support group, led by men for
men.”
The impact of a suicide ripples outwards often negatively
affecting the mental health and quality of life of the suicide bereaved.
AfterWords, the national survey of people bereaved by suicide in
Ireland conducted by HUGG and the National Suicide Research Foundation,
found unhealthy coping habits such as the use of alcohol, drugs and gambling
more prevalent among suicide bereaved men, than women. Following a death
by suicide 65% of men experienced mental health problems; 40% used alcohol to
cope with their grief; 33% reported problems with family relationships and 28%
said their physical health deteriorated.
The HUGG Men support group will explore themes focused on
suicide grief, grieving styles and healthy coping strategies. It will give men
a safe space to connect, to normalise their grief and discuss challenges and
helpful tools to living life beyond grief and into hope.
For more details about joining the HUGG Men support group,
complete the online form at https://www.hugg.ie/join-a-group/
or Email: support@hugg.ie or call 01 513
4048 (monitored answering machine).
