Communities reach out with local support for suicide prevention
LOCAL communities in Co Galway which have had a considerable number of suicides are reaching out to each other in an effort to prevent further deaths.
A new initiative will work towards offering local support for families and individuals within parishes and it’s hoped that when more people get involved there will be a group of local trained people in each area that can be called to talk to those experiencing depression or mental health problems.
CAATCH – Corofin Athenry Abbeyknockmoy Turloughmore Community Health -- hopes to be a proactive response to the issue of suicide. One of the volunteers involved, Brian McDonald in Corofin, says the group is trying to identify local supports to make it easier for people who are in need of help to speak with someone they may already know who will be trained in suicide prevention skills.