New support group for bereaved people takes place tomorrow

EMMA Ferris, who suddenly lost her beloved husband Ruairi last year, has established a bereavement support group, whose first meeting will take place tomorrow (Wednesday) in Carlow town.

After unexpectantly losing her husband, Emma tried to access services for support but found that there were few options for people wanting help in processing their grief.

“I found myself in a situation where I didn’t have any support. I don’t have any family in Carlow,” Emma said.

The weeks following her husband’s death was when she felt that she needed support the most. Emma said that she was made to feel as if she was asking for support too soon.

“I was drowning and nobody was really able to step in,” Emma said.

Eventually, she was referred to local psychiatric services but felt that they could not offer the support that she was looking for.

“I think grief is hidden in our society. We are all expected to move on and people that are grieving are kind of just left there,” Emma said.

She was inspired to start the group by her experience of attending alcoholics anonymous on behalf of a relative.

“The meetings will be semi-based on their model. I just have found it so helpful and the people so kind and compassionate,” Emma said.

Initially she tried to hold the meetings in one of the community centres in Carlow town but had difficulty securing a room because on top of the cost of renting the room, she would need to take out public liability insurance. While she thought that voluntary contributions from those who attended the meetings would help cover the cost of renting a room, she was unsure if it would cover insurance on top of that.

However, as Emma has attended Reiki sessions at Eden Brook Counselling & Therapeutic Centre in Carlow town, she decided to ask them how much they charge for renting a room.

“They said that they would really like to help and offered the room for free, they don’t need me to buy insurance as they have their own. So, it was kind of a no-brainer that that was where it was going to be held,” Emma said.

Emma plans to host four meetings of the bereavement support group on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9pm at Eden Brook and then assess if it is popular enough to continue.

She has advertised it by dropping flyers into GP surgeries, funeral homes, churches and pharmacies, as well as posting it on online forums like the Irish Widows Facebook group.

“One person wants to travel down from Dublin to attend it, which is really interesting,” Emma said.