Navigating grief: when should I get myself or my child support?

Emotions and feelings can be overwhelming while you process grief of losing someone after a death, but it can be a tough question to ask yourself when do I need support for myself or my child?

If you notice some of the below behaviours, this may be a sign that you or your child might need some support from a professional to help with grief and bereavement. There is never any harm in reaching out to someone if you think you might need it, and you can always start with your GP. There is no ‘one size fits all’ for this, so if you feel you need professional support, we encourage you to reach out to someone. Embrace FARM offers various therapies including counselling support to those who might need it after a sudden change within the farm family. You can read more about our supports available on our How We Can Help page.

Some signs that you or your child might need more support after a loss might be:

• A lack of interest in daily activities for a prolonged period.
• A prolonged loss/change in appetite and/or sleep.
• Persistently blaming oneself or feeling guilt or shame.
• Feeling hopeless or a negative view of the world now.
• Risky behaviours such as alcohol/drug abuse, reckless/dangerous driving etc.
• Self-harming.
• Withdrawing from friends, hobbies and school activities.
• Suicidal thoughts or intention to hurt yourself/themself.

With these in mind, you know yourself and your child best, and if you think you or they could use someone to talk to outside of your family, trust yourself. We also gently remind you that comparison of circumstances to other people grieving might make you believe that your grief is “not bad enough” or “they had it so much worse”, but there is no level of grief you need to experience in order to reach out for support. If you are wondering what supports might be available to you or your child in Ireland, we have created a list of supports that we along with other charities offer within Ireland on XXX blog post.

If you are in crisis…

Note that if you are in crisis or in need of support, we encourage you to reach out to someone or call one of the numbers below. If you are in a suicide emergency, call 999 or 112, or go to your local A&E, as soon as possible.

Useful numbers if you are in crisis:

• Samaritans Crisis Support Line by ringing 116 123 or chat to a Samaritan online
• Pieta House Free 24/7 Crisis helpline by ringing 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444
• If you are a young person, you can text text SPUNOUT to 50808
• HSE Suicide Prevention information line (24/7) by ringing 1800 111 888