Further work in suicide prevention is ‘urgent’, conference hears

Continued work in suicide and self-harm prevention in Donegal is ‘not only important, but urgent’, a major conference in Letterkenny heard.

At a time when the county has been beset by suicide tragedies, the ‘Connecting for Life’ conference at the Clanree Hotel was attended by over 130 people, including a range of community leaders and healthcare professionals.

The conference ran under the theme ‘suicide is everyone’s business’ and marked the midway point of the Connecting for Life Suicide Prevention Implementation plan 2022–2024 in CHO1, the HSE area which includes Donegal.

“The suicide prevention plan for CHO 1 and for Donegal is aptly named ‘Connection for Life’,” said Ciara Wray, the newly-appointed Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention in County Donegal.

“We want to ensure that, under this plan, every member of the community in Donegal has access to free training on suicide prevention.

“We have had challenges of ill health and the pandemic, the increased cost of living, the hardship of Mica on families and friends. The reality is that in the wake of the challenges, mental health and wellbeing can be compromised and people can feel disconnected.

“Every death by suicide is traumatic. It is clear to see that continued work in suicide and self-harm prevention is not only important, but urgent.”

Ciara Wray.

John Meehan, Head of the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, opened the conference and presented some of the findings of the Irish Probable Suicide Deaths Survey 2022 informed the conference that €317,000 has been allocated to CHO1, of which €95,000 is for Donegal, around the area of suicide prevention training.

Nationally, in a four-year period, 2,349 deaths were noted as being ‘probable suicide’.

In CHO1, which includes Donegal, there were 215 deaths by suicide in the same period. Of those, 79 percent were male with the highest cohort in the 45-54 age bracket.

Figures show that 46 per cent were single, 41 per cent were lone parents, with 33 per cent living with a partner or spouse and 25 per cent were unemployed.

“A very high percentage had adverse affects, be it stress, financial worries, addiction, separation,” Mr Meehan said.

John Meehan.

Some 42 per cent were known to have contacted medical services prior to taking their own lives and 60 per cent had a history of mental health issues.

Mr Meehan said: “We are determined to realising the goals and the actions and we will work closely with communities and organizations.”

“HSE NOSP works to realise the vision of an Ireland where fewer lives are lost to suicide and we are indebted to the tireless efforts of individuals, communities and agencies who have prioritised suicide prevention and mental health promotion in their lives and work.”

Dr Eve Griffin, a researcher at the National Suicide Research Foundation (NSRF) and Fiona Tuomey, Chief Executive Officer, of suicide bereavement charity HUGG (Healing Untold Grief Groups) delivered the keynote address.

The first-of-its-kind National Suicide Bereavement Survey garnered 2,413 responses, which asked a wide range of questions around experiences on suicide bereavement, impact on lives and the experiences in accessing supports.

Dr Griffin said:  “Worryingly, half of our participants reported poor current mental wellbeing, especially young adults. At the time of the survey, one-in-five expressed some thoughts of self-harm or suicide. 

“While those who did access support following their bereavement were broadly positive, a significant number of people did not access any help.”

Ms Tuomey founded HUGG  following the death of her 11-year-old daughter Milly by suicide in 2016. HUGG provides peer-support groups for those who have experienced suicide bereavement - led by people who have themselves lost a loved one to suicide.

Ms Tuomey said: “Nobody moves on from suicide bereavement, but they can move forward.”

Letterkenny native Tommy Ronaghan delivered a talk around the NOSP suicide prevention training. In 17 years as a trainer, he has delivered over 250 suicide prevention workshops to thousands of participants.

The LivingWorks corporation, which rolls out the training, formed in 1983. Tommy told how the various trainings, including ASSIST, SafeTalk, Tune Up and Understanding Self Harm are suitable for ‘anyone and everyone’. Over 2.5 million people have undertaken the programme worldwide and has been in Ireland since 1992.

Ciarzo and the Ephades played their newly released ‘Anxiety’ song, which was written by young people for young people during the Covid-19 pandemic and developed in partnership with Donegal Youth Service and Connecting for Life.

David Friel, an Irish Traveller, and researcher outlined the stark statistics that showed how the Traveling community is affected by suicide.

While Travellers account for only 0.7 per cent of the population, they account for 10 per cent of the male suicide figure and the rate of suicide among Traveller men is seven times higher than the general population.

Dr. John McCardle, Area Director of Mental Health Nursing Donegal Health Service and Chair of CfL Donegal Implementation Donegal said the conference represented a ‘shining example of community action on suicide prevention’.

Dr McCardle said: “The reality is that one in four people who take their own lives are in services in the year up to their death. This number is mirrored among those engaged in self-harming behaviour and it is clear that suicide prevention is everyone’s business. As a community it is about reaching in when others cannot reach out.”

Emotional support services in attendance at the event also included Grow, HSE SCAN and Pieta, Donegal Parent and Family Support Service, Family Resource Centre Network, Suicide Prevention Training, Pieta, Social Prescribers, ASCAIN, DTP, Letterkenny CDP, Foroige and the Mens Shed.

Are you, or someone you know, in crisis now and need someone to talk to?  Please do not be alone. If you are worried about yourself or someone you know it is important to get help as soon as possible. Everyone needs help from time to time.  Remember no feeling is final.  Asking for help is a sign of personal strength.

Mental Health Supports available:

Your first point of contact is your local GP. If it is late in the evening or at the weekend, contact your local out of hours doctor’s service - Donegal NoWDOC: 0818 400 911
Emergency Department: Letterkenny University Hospital
Contact the Emergency Services on 999 or 112
Call the Samaritans 24-hour Freephone listening service on 116 123; or visit www.samaritans.ie
Call the HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line, anytime day or night, for information on what other services and supports are available near you – Freephone 1800 111 888 or visit  www.yourmentalhealth.ie

Visit www.mymind.org  or www.turn2me.ie
Pieta, visit www.pieta.ie or freephone 1800247247.