On November 5, 2018, four grassroots organizations in the field of grief processing signed a letter of intent to establish a Grief Center. The organizations are: Ný dágun ID. 441091-1689, Birta ID. 670514-1610, Ljónshjarta ID. 601213- 0950 and Gleym mér ei ID. 501013-1290.
The beginning can be traced to a workshop in March 2017 that Ný dágun held to mark 30 years since the beginning of its activities in 1987. The title of the workshop was: “What can we do better in serving the bereaved in Iceland?”
The #gerumbetur meeting brought together 28 people who worked in one way or another with bereaved people, from the health professions, the police, the National Church and the aforementioned grassroots organizations. The meeting came to the strong conclusion that services for bereaved people needed to be improved because the assistance offered was too scattered, inefficient and of various kinds. It would be most desirable to establish a center where bereaved people and others could access information and services in one place, by phone, visit or on a website. The view was then clearly expressed that support for bereaved people should fall under “public health work” as a natural part of promoting the health of society. Grief recovery aims to promote and support the mental, physical and social health of people after the loss of a loved one.
The four organizations decided to continue working with the results of the meeting. In November 2018, the approvals for the Grief Center were finalized and an ID number was obtained. A grant was applied for from the Ministry of Welfare to establish the operations and a total of 2.5 million ISK was received from the Ministry of Social Affairs and the Ministry of Health.
In 2019, work was underway to create a website and find a location for the Grief Center. In the same year, Hafnarfjörður was establishing a Quality of Life Center in the former St. Joseph’s Hospital, and the Grief Center board approached the town about collaborating to establish a Grief Center in the facility.
On September 11, a cooperation agreement was signed between Hafnarfjörður Town and the Grief Center for facilities at the St. Jó Life Quality Center.
On September 12, 2019, the Grief Center officially began operating at the St. Jó. Life Quality Center in Hafnarfjörður, as soon as the website was launched.
The logo of the Grief Center was designed by Bjarki Lúðvíksson at the White House. Bjarki draws inspiration from the grief process. The line represents the path to recovery that forms the heart symbol. The logo also shows two people talking about matters of the heart.
The mourning trees are lit at the beginning of Advent each year, and they glow with a warm, red light.
The idea behind the Mourning Tree is that all those who have lost a loved one can sit under the tree, take time and remember their loved ones who have passed away. Christmas and Advent can be a very difficult and painful time for those grieving. The Mourning Tree is also intended to raise awareness in society about the plight of those grieving who are grieving at this time of year.
There are now two mourning trees, one located in Hellisgerði and one in the Akureyri Park. With the advent of the trees, it is possible to offer a heartwarming and beautiful place that contains light and warmth for the bereaved.
Sometimes we can’t get to see our loved ones because of distance, so it can be good to have more places in the local area to spend time with ourselves and the memories of our loved ones. You could say that the Sorgartræn thrives on memories and thrives with them.
Hellisgerði and Lystigarðurðinn are both beautiful and magical places and ideal for tending to our mourning trees.
The Akureyri Park asks people to take care of plants under the tree.
The Bereavement Center annually recognizes those who have made a significant contribution to the well-being of the bereaved in Iceland. The recognition takes the form of a commemorative cup made by ceramic designer Kristín Sigfríðir Garðarsdóttir.
With this recognition, the Grief Center would like to thank the good contribution made to the bereaved and for raising awareness of the cause and the importance of grief processing as a means of promoting public health in society.
LÍFSGÆÐASETUR Í ST. JÓ
SUÐURGATA 41, 220 HAFNARFJÖRÐUR
sorgarmidstod@sorgarmidstod.is
Tel: 551 4141
ID Number: 521118-0400
Bank info: 0513-26-009753
Supported by the Directorate of Health
Sponsored by the City of Reykjavík
