Naas General Hospital, Kildare marks National Grief Awareness Week 2026

Naas General Hospital (NGH), Kildare hosted an awareness event this week to mark National Grief Awareness Week 2026, which runs from January 27 to February 2.

The national campaign encourages understanding of grief and highlights the supports and services available to individuals who may benefit from additional help during bereavement.

On Wednesday, January 28 2026, the End of Life Care Committee in NGH hosted an awareness day event.  It serves as a call-to-action, to share with colleagues, patients and visitors the wide range of valuable resources available to them in the event of a loss.

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Lisa White, End of Life Care Coordinator, said: “The aim of this week and our event is to raise awareness among staff and the public about grief. At some stage in life we all grieve.  Understanding grief and learning how to navigate it can be helpful for those directly experiencing loss, but also for those supporting them.

“National Grief Awareness Week is the perfect opportunity to highlight the substantial work we have done in producing resources to help our staff support families who are bereaved.”

Grief Resources

Naas General Hospital has created a range of resources to support people in understanding grief:

• Think Adult, Think Child helps explain how children experience grief and how it differs from the way adults grieve

• Let’s Talk About End of Life Care, developed in partnership with interns with intellectual disabilities from Project Search, offers a clear and accessible explanation of death and grief

• What Happens Next When Someone Dies guides bereaved families through the practical steps that follow a death

• A Guide to a Coroner’s Post Mortem Examination provides loved ones with a straightforward outline of the post-mortem process

Understanding Grief

Grief is a natural response to the death of someone close. There is no set pattern for grief, and people experience it in different ways. Common emotional responses include feeling isolated, lonely, shocked, numb, helpless, angry, irritable, relieved, guilty or sad. Physical reactions may include difficulty sleeping, loss of appetite, and poor concentration.

Family members and friends often want to help but may be unsure how. Learning more about grief can support both those who are grieving and those who wish to care for them.

Be Grief Aware. Show You Care.

• Grief is expressed and felt in different ways

• There is no right or wrong way to grieve

• How we experience grief depends on many factors, including coping style, relationship with the deceased and cultural practices

• There are no stages of grief, it ebbs and flows

• There is no time limit; grief takes the time it takes

• Don’t assume people ‘get used’ to loss; grief in older age is still grief

You don’t need any special skills to support someone who is grieving. A simple gesture can go a long way, such as, meeting someone for a walk, sharing a cup of tea, or offering practical help such as preparing a meal.

For more information on National Grief Awareness Week and online events, visit:
www.hospicefoundation.ie