New Embrace FARM programme to support children and young people coping with grief after farm tragedy

(L-R) Tom Griffin, Annie Griffin, Julie Rohan, Liam Rohan and Emily Rohan

Embrace FARM, the Irish agricultural charity founded to support families affected by farm accidents and bereavement, has launched a new programme of specialised services designed to help children and young adults process grief and loss following a sudden death within a farm family.

Since its establishment in 2014, Embrace FARM has provided comfort, counselling and community to hundreds of families impacted by farm-related tragedies.

The charity’s new initiative extends that mission further, focusing specifically on the mental and emotional needs of younger generations in rural farming communities.

The new supports, tailored for children and young adults, include creative arts therapies such as play, art and dance, alongside counselling and equine-assisted learning.

Families will also be invited to attend annual residential retreats where they can connect with others who have experienced similar loss.

A central part of the programme is a digital resource hub on the Embrace FARM website, offering blog posts written by mental health professionals, resources for younger children to explore their emotions, and curated recommendations of books, podcasts and media focused on grief and healing.

Norma Rohan, co-founder of Embrace FARM

Commenting on the importance of the new programme, Embrace FARM co-founder Norma Rohan said:

“Over the last 12 years, the Embrace FARM team has encountered many farm families that have been impacted by sudden death. Through our work, we recognise the need to develop specific resources tailored to support children experiencing grief.

“We want them to know that they’re never walking this path alone and that there are a range of supports out there to help them at whatever stage of the grief journey they are at.

“We look forward to continuing this project by regularly updating the resource hub, adding new support services, and ensuring that no one in the farming community who has experienced a serious injury or sudden death feels alone on their journey.”

The new services are particularly aimed at rural areas where families may struggle to access emotional support due to limited local resources or geographical isolation.

Embrace FARM was founded by husband-and-wife team Brian and Norma Rohan following the tragic death of Brian’s father, Liam, in a farming accident. What began as a single annual remembrance service in 2014 has since grown into a nationwide network providing practical and emotional assistance to more than 560 farm families across Ireland.

Those who feel they or their loved ones could benefit from the new support programme are encouraged to reach out via www.embracefarm.com.