National Grief Awareness Week

National Grief Awareness Week takes place from 1 to 8 December 2025, and provides an occasion for individuals, organisations, and communities to come together to acknowledge and address the various aspects of bereavement. 

Grief is a deeply personal and often an unpredictable experience, and its impact on mental health can be profound. While it's a natural response to loss, grief can affect people in different ways including emotionally, physically, and psychologically. 

Support Available: 

• Bereaved NI provides a range of accessible resources for people who are experiencing bereavement, to ensure they have the required information and support for each stage of the bereavement journey. To access the website, click here. 
• Cruse Bereavement Support helps with bereavement support; they can be called 0808 808 1677. For information click here. 
• The college’s Mental Health First Aiders are in place to support and signpost you to the appropriate organisations -  click here for more information.

Lena by Inspire Counsellors are available 24/7, 365 days a year and can help you to understand and better process how you might be feeling. For an appointment telephone 0808 800 0002. 

One of life’s most difficult experiences is losing a loved one, feelings can emerge all throughout the grieving process. This workshop aims to help participants understand how to support a person who is grieving on Wednesday 10 December 2025 from 2pm - 3pm. The key objectives of the session are: 

• How to communicate effectively and compassionately with bereaved people 
• Understand bereavement and the factors affecting the grieving process 
• Understand a range of grief models 
• How to provide support to those caught in the grieving process 
• Strategies and skills for working with grief 
• The importance of self-care and signposting for support

To register and to receive the joining link click here.