Anam Cara, the organisation that supports bereaved parents, will be holding their next meeting on Thursday 9th of February 2017.

The monthly meeting will take place on Thursday 9th of February from 19:30 to 21:30 in the Mount Errigal Hotel, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal.

The meeting offers parents a safe and comfortable setting where they can connect with other bereaved parents who will understand the depth of their loss and grief.

A bereaved mother speaking about the benefits of Anam Cara meetings said: ”I have been to two Information Evenings. Both speakers were exceptionally good. I received very valuable nuggets of information and I got great comfort from speaking to the other parents afterwards.”

Anam Cara CEO Sharon Vard stressed that this event is open to all bereaved parents “regardless of the age your child died, the circumstances of their death or whether the death was recent or not. Anam Cara gives bereaved mums and dads a chance to meet and connect with other bereaved parents in a safe and comfortable setting.”

Guest speaker on the night will be Brid Carroll, a qualified Psychotherapist and Counselling Supervisor who has worked with a special interest in loss and bereavement issues for over twenty years. She has extensive experience in parental bereavement through her work with the Irish Hospice Foundation and the HSE as Bereavement Liaison Officer. Brid is at present counselling children, young people and families dealing with loss and change through death, separation and illness.

This talk will cover:

• The complex issues grieving parents must face when they have experienced the death of their child, highlighting what is normal in this process.

• The gender differences in facing such a loss will be explored to give an understanding for both parents of their differing worldviews.

• It will highlight the milestones on the journey through this unique grief and the small supports that can make the journey a little easier.

• Various types of loss, whether expected or sudden, will also be discussed to understand their impact on grieving parents, their families and the deceased child’s siblings.

Recognising that some parents may prefer not to talk openly about their loss. Anam Cara would like to reassure parents there is no pressure for them to contribute and they are welcome to listen to how other Mums and Dads have coped through the intense grief and sense of loss.

This information evening, like all Anam Cara events, is provided free of charge to parents. As Anam Cara will need to confirm numbers for this event, please RSVP to info@anamcara.ie before Wednesday 8th February or call 01 4045378, NI 02895213120.

Anam Cara have also produced an Information Pack for bereaved parents containing seven booklets on topics such as A Dad’s Grief, Coping with Sudden Death and Supporting My Family. Likewise, a series of short videos with testimonies from bereaved parents who attend the Anam Cara groups can be viewed at anamcara.ie/videos

For more information or to order a free copy of the Information Pack, you can email info@anamcara.ie or ring their Information Line on 085 2888 888.