Comfort through stories: new bereavement books launched for children at Northern Trust hospitals

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with colleagues from Causeway Hospital’s Emergency Department, Niamh Mullan, Carmel Alexander (Deputy Clinical Sister) Caoimhe Larsen (Staff Nurse) and Kim Carson.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust is harnessing the power of storytelling to support children and families facing the loss of a loved one, with a new collection of bereavement books now available in hospital settings.

A carefully selected range of sensitive and supportive books has been introduced at Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital, providing families with practical and emotional tools to help children understand and process grief during what can be an overwhelming time.

The initiative was made possible through the support of the Trust’s Organ Donation Committee, following a suggestion from frontline staff working in Emergency Departments (ED) and Intensive Care Units (ICU), who regularly support families at moments of profound loss.

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with Katie Grimes from Antrim Area Hospital’s Emergency Department.

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley explained the importance of providing age-appropriate resources when families are facing sudden and unexpected bereavement.

She said:

“We know from experience that life is unpredictable and circumstances can change, often very suddenly and with no time to plan or prepare.

“For those left behind, death and bereavement can be hugely distressing, and in particular, the prospect of losing a family member or someone they know and love can be very difficult for children to understand and come to terms with.

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with Mary Gault and Catherine Coulter from Antrim Area Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

“Staff recognised a need for age-appropriate bereavement resources and we hope our new books will go some way to helping families at what can be a traumatic time.

“The stories have all been carefully selected to ensure they are suitable for different age groups and they provide clear, compassionate explanations about death and loss.

“The books are now available in Emergency Departments and Intensive Care Units at both Antrim Area Hospital and Causeway Hospital, and we are very grateful to the Organ Donation Committee for choosing to support our work in this way.”

For families navigating the shock and pain of loss, particularly within the clinical environment of critical care, the availability of these books offers quiet moments of reassurance, helping children to articulate feelings that can otherwise feel confusing or frightening.

Organ Donation Specialist Nurse Jacqueline Heasley pictured with Dr Mairead Deighan and Linda Kelvie from Causeway Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit.

Welcoming the initiative, Janet Gray, Chair of the Trust’s Organ Donation Committee, highlighted the wider importance of emotional support alongside medical care.

She said:

“This gesture represents a meaningful step towards comprehensive family support in critical care settings.

“We are committed to providing holistic care to those who are grieving, and we want to ensure that children and families receive the emotional tools they need during what can be some of life’s most challenging moments

“For children, the books provide language and illustrations that will help them to understand and process grief, reducing confusion and anxiety while for parents and caregivers, they offer practical advice on how to talk about death with children, fostering open communication which is so important.”

The initiative reflects a growing recognition of the emotional needs of children affected by bereavement and underlines the Trust’s commitment to compassionate, family-centred care during some of the most difficult moments families may ever face.