HUGG was founded in 2017 by Fiona Tuomey, following the devastating death by suicide of her 11-year-old daughter Milly. Experiencing a deep need to speak to people who truly understood what she was going through, Fiona searched for a support group for people impacted by suicide led by those who had a lived experience of suicide – but none existed.
Driven by a desire to fill this gap and ensure that no one bereaved by suicide would have to go without support, Fiona set up HUGG’s first support group in 2017. The demand for more groups, and other unmet needs, quickly became clear, and HUGG was established as a registered charity in 2018, on Milly’s birthday.
All of HUGG’s volunteers and staff have a lived experience of suicide and can provide unique support and insights into the often difficult and complex emotions and life challenges that follow a death by suicide.
“You don’t have to put everything into the perfect words to make somebody understand because they already understand. So that is the best part, they do understand.”
Charlie, NSRF study participant
The impact of suicide is devastating. Everyone deserves accurate, timely information and signposting to appropriate supports to help navigate this unique grief.
Fiona Tuomey,
CEO and Founder of HUGG
Our Values
Empathy through lived experience
Our work is guided by the experience of those who have been bereaved by suicide.
Equality
We support any adult who has experienced loss through suicide, and seek new ways to reach those who find it difficult to ask for help.
Passion
We are passionate, excited and forward-looking in our work.
Boldness
We show boldness in how we advocate for change, and in challenging ourselves to provide the best support we can.
Collaboration
We collaborate with those who share our passion for addressing suicide. HUGG believes that by working together we can achieve more.
Evidence Based
We are guided by rigorous and on-going research and evaluation and are proactive in contributing to building a strong evidence base on suicide bereavement and support.
Meet the Team
Fiona Tuomey
Founder & CEO
Fiona Tuomey is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HUGG, which she established in 2017. She has overall responsibility for the strategic leadership, management and development of the organisation.
Fiona has a professional background in sales, marketing and communications. Her previous experience includes running her own publishing company, working in commercial radio with Today FM, and holding a leading role in Alumni Relations at University College Dublin. She holds an MSc in Loss and Bereavement from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI).
Fiona’s combination of professional experience, academic training and lived experience informs HUGG’s governance, service development and advocacy work, ensuring that the organisation operates in a trauma‑informed, evidence‑based and ethically grounded manner.
Arlene Hanratty
Marketing & Administration Officer
Arlene Hanratty is the Marketing and Administration Officer at HUGG, where she plays a key role in raising awareness of HUGG’s services.
With a background in marketing, client services and account management, Arlene implements all marketing activities, including advertising, communications and events.
Passionate about making a difference, she is dedicated to amplifying HUGG’s mission of providing hope and connection after suicide.
Marie McKeon
HUGG Group Manager
Marie McKeon, HUGG Groups Manager. Her initial role was solely focused on recruiting, training, mentoring and supporting volunteers.
Her role has since expanded into the development of new evidence-based peer support service offerings to help reach more people living with suicide grief.
Marie has a deep-rooted understanding of the importance of evidence-based interventions, implementation plans and evaluation.
Sheila Stapleton
HUGG Telephone Supporter
Sheila Stapleton is HUGG’s Telephone Supporter. She manages and maintains our suicide bereavement support line.
She directly connects with those who are bereaved by suicide and is often the first point of contact when someone reaches out to HUGG.
She lends a compassionate ear, answering queries about HUGG and, where appropriate, signposts to other services.
Helena Collazo
Groups Operations & Administrator
Helena Collazo works in Groups Operations and Administration in HUGG, where she supports the HUGG team with volunteer coordination and support groups organisation.
With a background in client services and administration and many years’ experience volunteering in community-based roles, Helena is highly committed to sharing HUGG’s message to promote hope and healing and providing an essential lifeline for people who have been bereaved by suicide.
Stephen Keating
Finance Administrator
Stephen Keating, is the Finance Administrator.
He is responsible for maintaining day-to-day operations of finance, ensuring accurate and timely financial reporting, including monthly management of accounts, budget analysis, and annual audit preparation.
Gillian O’Gorman
Project Manager
Gillian O’Gorman joined HUGG in June 2026 as Project Manager, bringing over 15 years of experience in the nonprofit sector and 25 years of project management expertise across multiple industries. She leads two of HUGG’s key national initiatives: the 2026 Volunteer Recruitment Campaign and the development of the organisation’s new peer‑to‑peer Telephone Support Line.
Her role includes shaping volunteer recruitment strategies, strengthening onboarding and training, and coordinating the design and rollout of this vital new support service.
Gillian is dedicated to expanding HUGG’s capacity to offer connection, understanding and hope to those bereaved by suicide.
Lauren Hall
Telephone Support
Lauren is a fully accredited counsellor with extensive experience delivering remote and telephone-based support.
Lauren provides compassionate listening, shares information on HUGG’s services, and—where appropriate—connects callers to HUGG support groups and other relevant supports and resources.
