Bereavement: The Irish Hospice Foundation has issued the first video-based training resource on encountering death, dying and bereavement in Ireland.
Minister of State at the Department of Health and Children Brian Lenihan launched the training pack at the foundation's offices in Dublin earlier this month.
The resource is targeted at those who train professionals and volunteers working with people encountering death and loss. It is intended for use by those who train and educate doctors, medical students, nurses, social workers, psychologists, chaplains and bereavement support volunteers.
The training resource pack contains a video or DVD copy of a 26-minute documentary, Give Me Your Hands, made by Limerick-based consultant in palliative medicine, Dr Sinéad Donnelly.
"This documentary explores how people, patients and families in the Irish context deal with dying and death," she said.
"The aim was to allow true stories to touch an audience - both health professionals and lay people - to encourage them to authentically explore the reality of dying and death. Although set in Ireland, international audiences recognise the universal themes and are deeply moved by Give Me Your Hands," she said.
Dr Susan Delaney, psychologist and bereavement services manger with the foundation, said trainers regularly mentioned that most video-based training materials were American or British. "This will be a valuable tool for the Irish context."
The educational method in the module offers a visual medium to explore issues of loss and death. The resource pack includes a copy of the film in DVD or video format, two copies of 20 still photographs from the documentary, a copy of the facilitator notes, and references and a glossary.
It is available for sale at www.hospice-foundation.ie