Glanmire Suicide Awareness

People with thoughts of suicide usually want to talk to others about their problem but find it difficult to identify people willing to listen to them. Talking is very important and helpful – A suicide-safer community is a community that is alert to suicide and open to talking about it especially with those showing signs of thinking of suicide.

There is Peace to be found in the Churches of Glanmire, particularly during the quiet times when the Eucharist is exposed. God always listens and can comfort in ways beyond our understanding.

Remember the important steps of:

Tell – People with thoughts of suicide very often send out signals of some form to those around them indicating what they are thinking of.
Ask – If you detect these signals ask the person directly “Are you thinking about suicide?”
Listen – If the person agrees that they are thinking about suicide then tell them that “this is important” and that “you are now listening to them” – then take the time to listen without judgement.
Keep safe – Following listening tell the person that you now want to put them in contact with professional/trained help, engage the person in this decision and ensure that the contact is made.

Some important sources of help are:

1 life (24 hour) – 1800 247 100
HSE Suicide Prevention Helpline (6-10pm) – 1800 742 745
SouthDoc (out of hours Doctor) – 1850 335 999
Samaritans (24 hour) – 1850 60 90 90
Samaritans (text) – 087 2 60 90 90
Aware (Depression awareness) – 1890 303 302
HSE Farm & Rural Stress Helpline (6-10pm) – 1800 742 645
Glanmire Gardaí – 021 482 1002
Ambulance/Garda/Fire – 999/112
CONSOLE Suicide Bereavement Support – 1800 201 890
Irish Friends of the Suicide Bereaved – 021 431 6722
GROW (Mental health support group) – 1890 474 474
Youth Suicide Prevention Ireland – www.yspi.eu

From the Glanmire Suicide Awareness Forum

Why some people think about suicide :

Suicidal thoughts are not uncommon but most people don’t act on these thoughts and feelings of despair. For some, these thoughts and feelings may happen after experiencing a bereavement, relationship breakdown, the loss of a job, financial pressures or following emotional or sexual abuse. For others, it is a profound fear that they will be unable to cope with whatever has disturbed their peace of mind. Sometimes these thoughts occur without any apparent reason. People with serious mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and clinical depression or people who are dependant on drugs or alcohol are more likely to try to take their own lives. They may need specialist and sometimes intensive medical and psychosocial care either in hospital or in the community. Sometimes they may have little insight into their condition and urgent specialist help will need to be requested by a family member, friend or colleague. Some people who are terminally ill or severely disabled may feel their life is no longer worth living, even that they are a burden to their family. Others fear that they will experience great suffering in dying. What is needed is a response of love and care by family, friends and the wider community, and the assistance that good palliative care can offer. Assisted suicide is not the answer; it would only compound any sense of hopelessness and undermine the absolute value of every human life. Assisted suicide is illegal, and a change to the law would place pressure on vulnerable people – including those who are elderly, disabled, depressed, terminally or chronically ill – to request assisted death. Sometimes suicidal feelings may arise from a sense of loss or abandonment by God, worthlessness, a lack of meaning in life and an inner emptiness. Or it may be an overwhelming sense of guilt, or of low self-worth, of insecurity and purposelessness. Prayer, opportunities for spiritual conversation, the sacrament of reconciliation and the support of family and the parish community are very important. What to do if you are concerned about someone with suicidal feelings? If you are concerned about someone with suicidal feelings, phone the Samaritans or consult your GP. Samaritan 1850 60 90 90. Details of further resources and support can be found on the Samaritans website http://www.samaritans.org/ and also on Day for Life website http://www.dayforlife.org/.