#MensHealthWeek

Some top tips from Aware NI for Men’s Health week here

The loss of a loved one and the emotions that come from grief can cause a significant impact upon your mental health. The only way to work through grief is to grieve

Mind your head and find support in those closest to you. Never feel ashamed or embarrassed to reach out for support and advice - something young people and boys in particular can struggle with. If you’re feeling a certain way, it’s guaranteed a friend has felt it too or wants nothing more than to help you through it.

Look after yourself and grieve in a way that’s right for you and your mental health #breakthetaboo.

It's ok!

‘It’s ok if you thought you were over it but it hits you all over again. It’s ok to fall apart even after you thought you had it under control. You are not weak. Healing is messy. There is no timeline for healing’.

- Unknown

Grief exactly! Your grief can hit you when you least expect it, just when you thought you were coping and you understood your feelings and emotions. This is normal and part of you’re ongoing grief journey.

It’s important to feel supported when your grief turns up uninvited Find what works for you, practice some self-care, spend time with friends and loved ones or spend time alone. Whatever works best, do that and do it unashamedly.

If you need some extra support, please email us: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk or call the Cruse helpline on: 0808 808 1677.

Grief and Loneliness

‘Nothing is more lonely than being surrounded by people, but dreaming of somebody who is not there’

-J. Strelou.

Grief can make you feel like the loneliness person in the world, even in a room filled with people. In the depths of grief, we can be completely consumed by thoughts only about our special loved one - this is totally normal.

Even when you are feeling lonely, please know you never truly are. You can send an email to us at: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk or, call the Cruse helpline tomorrow on: 0808 808 1677.

Quick thoughts on Joey Essex’s documentary

We love Joey’s grit and honesty about his grief as a young person. Grief is not a task to be completed, but something we live through for the rest of our lives. IT was amazing to watch him grow through his documentary and how he was able to carry his grief better by the end of it. The pain begins to ease when the love we share with our loved one can swell that bit bigger than our grief for longer than at the beginning of our grief journey.

If watching Joey’s documentary has brought your grief to the surface, don’t push it away - feel those feelings. If you want to share how you are feeling, send us an email this weekend: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk.

Joey Essex: Grief and Me

Tonight at 9pm on BBC One, Joey Essex shares his account of grief after losing his Mum to suicide at the age of 10.

So inspiring to see individuals in the public eye speaking out about their experience of loss as a young person- sharing experiences will continue to break the taboo society has created around bereavement.

If you want to share your personal experience of grief, send us an email: hopeagain@cruse.org.uk. We hope Joey’s programme can help you to feel less alone tonight.