HUGG has welcomed the launch of Ireland’s Strategy to Reduce Suicide and Self-Harm: Connecting for Life 2026–2035, describing it as a significant step forward in Ireland’s commitment to suicide prevention and support for those affected by suicide loss.
The Government launched the new strategy this week, setting out a national framework for reducing suicide and self-harm over the next decade. HUGG particularly welcomes the growing recognition of suicide bereavement supports and the commitment to community-based responses within the strategy.
Why Postvention Must Be Part of Prevention
At HUGG, one message remains clear: postvention must sit at the heart of prevention. Support after suicide is not optional—it is life-saving. Research shows that suicide bereavement can increase a person’s risk of experiencing mental health difficulties, making timely and compassionate support essential.
Lived Experience Helping to Shape Policy
A key strength of the new strategy is its emphasis on lived experience. HUGG is especially proud that volunteers Mark Creegan, Phyllis Conway and Tasha Lanigan brought their experiences of suicide loss into the national consultation and advisory process that helped shape the strategy. This marks the first time that people bereaved by suicide have contributed at this level to the development of national suicide prevention policy in Ireland. Lived experience is not an add-on. It is the foundation of effective, compassionate and life-saving policy.
As the strategy moves into implementation, HUGG remains committed to ensuring that no one has to navigate suicide loss alone and will continue to advocate for accessible, high-quality postvention supports for individuals, families and communities across Ireland.
