FAMILY bereavement support organisation Anam Cara has produced a series of video clips designed to provide additional help for parents who have lost a child during the coronavirus lockdown, when funerals are subject to restriction.
Anam Cara offers support services throughout Ireland for families who have experienced the death of a child, in particular in circumstances when a child has died suddenly outside a hospital or hospice system.
CEO Sharon Vard described the death of a child is an “unimaginable nightmare” but said that, with support, parents could “learn to cope with the overwhelming sense of loss”.
Now, however, the much-needed comfort and support of extended family, friends, neighbours and colleagues is constrained due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The restrictions in place around funerals and social distancing is impacting on bereaved parents, causing them to feel further isolated with their grief and loss, according to Ms Vard.
She said she hoped that the group's online short videos would "offer a little ray of hope and be a powerful resource in these challenging times along with our other online resources".
"We want parents to know that Anam Cara is here now, today and into the future supporting families after the devastating loss of a child,” she said.
The new clips will complement the Anam Cara videos and information pack already available at anamcara.co.uk, which were compiled by bereaved parents for bereaved parents.
The organisation has said its support services continue to be delivered and its Facebook page, a forum for bereaved parents to keep in touch, is updated regularly. For parents who do not have internet access, the Anam Cara central office can be contacted Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and offers telephone support on 00353 852 888 888 or 00353 1404 5378.
