Mental Health Minister Backs Suicide Bereavement Campaign

[Console Snowdrop]

Press release 20th March 2008


Minister for Mental Health Minister Jimmy Devins T.D. To Launch Major Campaign to Target Problems of Suicide

Dublin 3pm:

The Minister for Mental Health, Dr. Jimmy Devins T.D. has announced that he will be supporting a major national campaign to raise awareness and funds for suicide bereavement.

Minister Devins will officially launch Console’s National Snowdrop Campaign in aid of Ireland’s Suicide Bereaved next Thursday, 27th March 2008 at 12.30pm.

The Snowdrop campaign aims to raise awareness and funds for counseling services for the thousands of people in whose lives have been torn apart by suicide in this country.

Every suicide has a serious impact on at least six people, and with an average 500 suicides per annum in this country, there are very few residents in Ireland who have not in some way, been touched by the knock on effects of such a tragic death.

Console’s Snowdrop Campaign is vital to raise funds to provide the very specific type of suicide bereavement counseling services that are unique to this form of bereavement.

The campaign also aims to raise awareness and reduce the stigma associated with suicide in Ireland. Over the last few decades, and in particular since the decriminalization of suicide in Ireland just 15 years, Irish Society has become much more understanding and informed about suicide.

There is still a long way to go in terms of letting people know that there is help out there and encouraging them to seek help. Paul Kelly from Console says, in their experience very few people who take their lives actually want to die.

“They just can’t bear the pain and if they would just pickup the phone and call ourselves or other organizations like Aware or the Samaritans, they could find a lot of help and support”.


The Snowdrop campaign, which Minister Devin will launch next Thursday and will continue until the end of April 2008 sees the introduction of annual national Snowdrop Days where the public will be encouraged to support the important cause by purchasing a snowdrop pin as a symbol of hope for €3.

For people who may not have the opportunity to purchase the pin during that period, Console has also launched a special mobile phone text number. The public can make a donation to Console’s Snowdrop campaign by texting “SNOW” to 57030 for a one off cost of €2.50, proceeds of which will go directly to the Console Snowdrop campaign.

Major retailers, Dunnes Stores and Marks and Spencers as well as a host of businesses throughout the country will be supporting Console’s Snowdrop Campaign by selling snowdrop pins in all of their retail outlets in Ireland from launch day until the end of April 2008.




Ends

Editors’ Notes:

Console was established in 2002 by families that had experienced the grief of losing a loved one through suicide to help the thousands of people whose lives were torn apart by the devastation of this loss.

Since its foundation, Console has developed into a professional organisation, responding to the needs of those bereaved through suicide within the community. Console is a national service with offices in Dublin, Galway, Limerick and Waterford.

A host of high profile figures have come on board to support Console’s Snowdrop Campaign and these names will be announced over the coming weeks.

Major retailers, Dunnes Stores and Marks and Spencers will be supporting Console’s Snowdrop Campaign by selling snowdrop pins in all of their retail outlets in Ireland from launch day until the end of April 2008.


www.console.ie

[moongaze]

yes the more it is talked about the more people want to do it, so the research shows, some countries refuse to mention or report suicide in the media because of this reason.

[crosswind]

Console deal with the aftermath of suicide and there can be terrible trauma for those left behind, often with many unanswered questions. The stigma surrounding suicide in the past wouldn't have even allowed suicide to be talked about, coroners were slow to give suicide verdicts, it was illegal and burial was a problem so sociey in general swept it under the carpet. For families trying to deal with it there was only silence. Now at least they can talk and deal with their loss and help to ease the pressure from that loss and console deserve credit for helping with that.

While it is important to avoid detailed description of method and of glorifying suicide to prevent copycat, there is an important role in informing the public of a communities loss and of the terrible consequences for those left behind. It's also important to inform people who are in the midst of a suicidal crisis and those around them of services available and that there are other options to suicide. Giving people information to help them learn the life skill of knowing when to seek help could contribute to preventing big problems becoming more serious or catastrophic.

Campaign to prevent suicide by young men
Wednesday, 4 June 2008 11:57
Young men are three times more likely to commit suicide than women, according to Northern Ireland's Health Promotion Agency. There were 242 deaths by suicide recorded in Northern Ireland last year, of which almost three-quarters were men.

The agency launched an information campaign this morning aimed at encouraging men aged between 15 and 24 to seek help rather than cover up feelings of anxiety, distress or despair. It says that refusal to seek help or recognise the signs of mental illness is linked to tragic consequences.

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