Grief Encounters is a weekly podcast series that looks at an issue that affects us all and yet remains so difficult to talk about: grief. Hosted by Venetia Quick and Sasha Hamrogue, the pair are hoping to open up the conversation around loss and create a modern platform for people to share their own experiences, and start open dialogue around the subject of death and all that comes with it.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for young people, both in Ireland and worldwide. When hearing figures such as that, it is not surprising that we have received a huge amount of interest and requests to cover this topic in detail. It really is something that affects most people around the country in some shape or form.
Our guest this week is Karen Docherty from Dublin. Her two boys Stephen, 30, and 22-year-old Graham Murray took their own lives within three years of each other, something she never thought would have happened to her family. Their story is complex and deeply moving.
Stephen her oldest son struggled with addiction all of his adult life. During the discussion Karen speaks about the mental anguish drug abuse played on their family life over this period. “We always thought it was addiction that would take his life”. The grief that comes with suicide is often laden with guilt, which Karen speaks about in great detail. She says this guilt stuck with Graham and ultimately played a role in his decision to also take his own life three years later.
Advocacy and campaigning is not something that comes easy to people, particularly when you are stuck firmly in the middle of your grief. Karen’s selfless and brave efforts in campaigning for better mental health resources for younger people, make her story even more astonishing. The ripple effect of suicide is something that is spoken about early on in the interview, but the positive ripple effect Karen’s campaigning work will have on families and individuals around the country cannot be understated.
If you’re looking for a safe haven to express how you feel, share articles, photos, memories and more, join the Grief Encounters Facebook Group. A place for support, compassion and empathy for those grieving.
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