Promotion Pack - National Grief Awareness Week 2026

Quickly flip through the National Grief Awareness Week Promotional Pack.

National Grief Awareness Week

26th January - 01st February 2026

#BeGriefAware

hospicefoundation.ie

Bereavement and loss affects large numbers of people in Ireland, in many ways, over many years. It is estimated that 6% of the population in Ireland are newly bereaved each year in Ireland (approx. 300,000 people). We know many people cope with their loss with the support from their family and friends; and some practical and bereavement information. A smaller number will need supports outside of their natural support network, for example, a peer support group, one to one support provided by a trained/skilled volunteer or counselling/psychotherapy. Grief is a natural response to the death of someone close. It is a deeply personal experience that varies widely from person to person. A person’s experience of grief is influenced by many things, such as the relationship with the deceased, the circumstances of their death, and a person’s support system, among many other factors. ​ Many people, although painful, will cope with loss with support from their family and friends. For lots of different reasons, some will need additional support to cope from people outside their social network. Understanding grief and learning how to navigate it can be helpful not only for those directly experiencing loss but also for those supporting them. ​ National Grief Awareness Week 2026 is taking place 26th January - 01st February. Through National Grief Awareness Week, we hope to encourage a more open, supportive, and understanding approach to grief—helping both the bereaved and those around them navigate this challenging part of life with greater empathy. ​ Background

This promotion pack includes all our NGAW 2026 promotional assets and some suggestions about how you can get involved in this campaign.

Visit our NGAW 2026 webpage for more information about events we’re hosting throughout the week.

Show You Care. Be Grief Aware.

Key Messages

The following messages can be added to your newsletters,

emails, website, or any other communications you’re planning

for National Grief Awareness Week:

Grief is expressed and felt in different ways. There is no

right or wrong way to grieve.

How we experience grief and loss depends on a range of

factors, such as our coping style, relationship with the

deceased and cultural practices.

There are no stages of grief; it ebbs and flows.

There is no time limit to grief; it takes the time it takes.

Don’t assume people ‘get used’ to loss – grief in old age is

still grief.

Show You Care. Be Grief Aware.

Promotional Assets Social Graphics

Suggested Post: Myth: Older people are more prepared to cope with grief because they are more likely to have more experience of it. Fact: People do not simply ‘get over’ their grief but over time find ways to accommodate their grief within their lives.

Suggested Post: You don’t need any particular skills to support someone who is grieving. You can ask them to meet for a walk, drop by for a cup of tea or offer practical help, such as preparing a meal. It can all go a long way. #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 @IrishHospice

#BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 @IrishHospice

Promotional Assets Social Graphics

Suggested Post: There are no stages of grief; it ebbs and flows. Some feelings might come occasionally or catch you by surprise. Others might be more persistent. For bereavement supports, visit @IrishHospice’s Bereavement Hub 👉 bereaved.ie #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026

Suggested Post: Grief is as unique to an individual as their fingerprint. There is no one right way to grieve, and no two people’s reactions will be the same. For bereavement supports, visit @IrishHospice’s Bereavement Hub 👉 bereaved.ie #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026

Promotional Assets Social Graphics

Suggested Post: Most bereaved people welcome the chance to talk about the person they lost. Don’t avoid mentioning the person who has died — you don’t lessen grief by avoiding the subject. #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 @IrishHospice

Suggested Post: Know someone who is grieving? It’s important to be there for them in the early days but also in the weeks and months ahead. There is no time limit to

grief; it takes the time it takes. #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 @IrishHospice

Promotional Assets Posters Download the digital poster, or for hardcopies, email: bereavementdevelopment@hospicefoundation.ie

Promotional Assets Posters Download the digital poster, or for hardcopies, email: bereavementdevelopment@hospicefoundation.ie

Posters Promotional Assets Download the digital poster, or for hardcopies, email: bereavementdevelopment@hospicefoundation.ie

Promotional Assets Video

Share the video: youtube.com/watch?v=jJrs51lYGX0

Promotional Assets ‘Host a Stand’ Pack

For this year’s campaign, we have put together a ‘host a stand’ pack, which includes some of our bereavement information leaflets, a National Grief Awareness campaign poster, and a poster outlining the campaign events. ​ Consider hosting a stand in your workplace or in a local community hub. Last year people hosted stands in a wide range of locations, such as libraries, nursing homes, family resource centres, hospitals etc. ​

There is a limited number available so please visit our website to order your pack.

How You Can Help to Support the Campaign

National Grief Awareness Week will include a dedicated social media campaign on our various social media channels from January 26th – February 1st 2026 and two free online bereavement information events during that week. Share or post your support using the campaign hashtags and tagging Irish Hospice Foundation. All promotional assets are available to download from the Irish Hospice Foundation website.

Hashtags

#BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 #NGAW

Follow us on Social

Facebook: @Irish Hospice Foundation Instagram: @irishhospicefoundation LinkedIn: @Irish Hospice Foundation Bluesky: @irishhospice.bsky.social

Sample Post 1 It’s National Grief Awareness Week. Join @IrishHospice in raising awareness of grief and the importance of supporting those who are bereaved. #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026

For more information, see: https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports-services/bereavement- loss-hub/national-grief-awareness-week/

Sample Post 2 Grief is expressed and felt in different ways. There is no right or wrong way to grieve. @IrishHospice has a dedicated Bereavement Hub 👉 bereaved.ie

#BeGriefAware #NGAW2026

Sample Post 3 National Grief Awareness Week is January 26th – February 1st 2026. Learning more about grief can help someone before and during the grieving process and can also help the people supporting them. #BeGriefAware #NGAW2026 @IrishHospice

How You Can Help to Support the Campaign

Here are someone additional ways you can support National Grief Awareness Week:

TELL people you know, including family, friends, colleagues, your community, about the campaign. EMAIL your colleagues/networks with the details and a link to this webpage or print off some of our promotional assets and make them accessible to your colleagues. ORGANISE a showing of the lunchtime webinar or evening webinar for your colleagues, service users or community. HOST a stand displaying the campaign poster and bereavement information in your workplace or community hub (visit our website to order your pack). WATCH our three-minute informational video about grief and share the video link with your friends and family. SHARE on your social media accounts using our promotional assets and using the campaign hashtags (#BeGriefAware #NGAW2026) and tagging Irish Hospice Foundation.

Contact Information

Please contact our Bereavement Team if you would like more information about this campaign: bereavementdevelopment@hospicefoundation.ie

For any other queries, please contact our reception: (01) 679 3188

NGAW 2026 campaign webpage: https://hospicefoundation.ie/our-supports- services/bereavement-loss-hub/national-grief-awareness-week/

Irish Hospice Foundation Bereavement Hub: www.bereaved.ie

Bereavement Support Line

Our Bereavement Support Line, in partnership with the HSE, is there to provide connection, comfort and support. It is a shoulder for you to lean on.

Freephone: 1800 80 70 77, Mon - Fri, 10 am - 1 pm

For more info: www.hospicefoundation.ie

Registered Charity 20013554

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