HUGG Announced as Charity Partner of PHX Ireland in Two-Year National Collaboration

HUGG, Ireland’s national suicide bereavement charity, has been announced as the new charity partner of PHX Ireland, the country’s leading fully integrated healthcare provider. The two-year partnership aims to support HUGG’s vital mission of ensuring that no one bereaved by suicide has to face their grief alone.

Founded in 2017 by Fiona Tuomey following the tragic death by suicide of her 11-year-old daughter Milly, HUGG has become a cornerstone of postvention support in Ireland. With around 500 suicides recorded annually in the country—and estimates suggesting that each suicide can impact up to 135 people—more than 60,000 individuals may need bereavement support every year. HUGG addresses this need with compassion, providing a suite of services delivered by people with lived experience of suicide loss.

The charity offers suicide bereavement support groups, a telephone support line, resources on grief after suicide, as well as public webinars and remembrance events such as Say Their Name and Finding Hope & Healing After Suicide. Its latest initiative, Suicide Bereavement Pop-up Cafés, launched in Kerry and Waterford this April, aims to bring support directly into local communities.

The partnership with PHX Ireland extends across its three core subsidiaries: United Drug, Ireland’s largest pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor; McCabes Pharmacy, a leading retail pharmacy brand with 110 locations nationwide; and TCP Homecare, innovators in home nursing services and direct-to-patient care.

Speaking about the collaboration, Paul Reilly, CEO of PHX Ireland, said:

"We are delighted to announce our partnership with HUGG for the next two years. PHX Ireland prioritises the health and wellbeing of communities making the partnership a natural collaboration. Together with HUGG, we look forward to fostering positive change and providing essential resources to those in need. We are very excited to develop this partnership, creating opportunities for our teammates, colleagues and customers to support a very deserving charity.”

The partnership not only reflects PHX Ireland’s commitment to community wellbeing but also enables its employees to contribute directly. A Salary Donation Scheme will allow staff to donate to HUGG via payroll, with all contributions matched by the company—doubling the impact of each donation.

Fiona Tuomey, CEO of HUGG, welcomed the partnership:

"We are delighted to be chosen as charity partner of PHX Ireland and look forward to working across the organisation to further HUGG's vision of bringing hope and a pathway to healing for people who are bereaved by suicide. Suicide grief is different to other types of losses and needs unique support. We hope that through this partnership we can reach more people around Ireland who are in need of support."

Through this collaboration, HUGG is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact, continuing to bring hope and healing to those navigating the complex grief of suicide loss.

For more information about HUGG and its services, visit www.HUGG.ie.