Children's charity seeks to extend bereavement counselling service
The children’s agency Barnardo's has asked for increased budgetary funding in order to extend bereavement counselling and other services nationwide.
The Irish branch of the charity helped over 100 bereaved families at their centres in Dublin and Cork last year.
Barnardos spokesperson Catherine O’Daly said children who have lost their parents, or other close family members, are often forgotten mourners.
Ms O’Daly said 30% of the children Barnardo's worked with experience difficulties in school following the death of a loved one.
She added that bereaved children often encounter problems socialising or engaging in day-to-day developmental activities, because they spend so much energy trying to make sense of their loss.
