CRY Ireland’s new helpline
By Geraldine Fitzgerald
You’ve probably heard of sudden cardiac death – it usually makes the headlines when it happens to a sports person, often in the middle of a game, to the horror of onlookers.
The very fact that it is so sudden, and the victims are young, makes it even more difficult to bear for the relatives left behind. Along with the shock and sadness comes concern that genetics are involved, and fear grows for the entire family.
CRY (Cardiac Risk in the Young) Ireland has launched a freephone helpline to support families grieving the loss of someone due to sudden cardiac death (SCD).
The helpline also supports people who are living with a lifestyle change because of a diagnosis of an inherited cardiac condition.
Founded in 2002, CRY Ireland is a self-supporting Irish charity aiming to provide access for families who have been bereaved by the sudden death of a young person to free screening and emotional support services.
Corkonian Shane O’Flynn lost his brother, Kevin to sudden cardiac death in 2015. Kevin was only 34 years of age at the time. In trying to understand what had happened to his brother, Shane came across CRY, where he is now a trained volunteer for the CRY helpline to support other families like his own.
Shane said “It is a privilege to help launch CRY’s freephone service. After losing my brother Kevin, having a listening ear and a team of support was crucial for me in coping with grief. I would encourage anyone who might be coping with the loss of someone to sudden cardiac death or inherited cardiac condition, to give CRY a call.”
CRY will provide access to clinical assessment and management to families who have suffered a loss from, or who are at risk from sudden cardiac death. They offer mentors, bereavement specialists in an empathetic environment to help all families, north and south of the border. All services are free.
“Many of us here at CRY, including our team of trained helpline volunteers have experienced the loss of a loved one to sudden cardiac death,” said Lucia Ebbs, CEO of CRY, “and we truly understand the significance of having a listening ear and support. Grief has no limits and it shouldn’t be dealt with alone.”