THE OIREACHTAS cross-party group on mental health is planning further courses on suicide prevention and awareness for members of the Oireachtas and their staff, despite just one TD (Fine Gael’s Anthony Lawlor) and one senator (Labour’s Mary Moran) showing up for the first course yesterday.

Oireachtas administrative staff and assistants also attended yesterday’s half-day safeTALK course provided by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP).

Senator Moran told TheJournal.ie that yesterday’s session was “absolutely brilliant” and “very informative”.

Spokesperson for the cross-party group Labour Senator Susan O’Keeffe told TheJournal.ie that she was not disappointed with yesterday’s turn-out and that it is difficult to arrange fitting such events into members’ schedules.

O’Keeffe, who did not attend yesterday’s course, said it was more practical for her assistant to go to the first one but that she plans to attend the next session, whenever that can be arranged.

“Hopefully it’s before Christmas because you start build a momentum, so we must not let that drop,” she said.

The senator said that frontline calls regarding suicide and mental health issues are mostly taken by staff such as politician’s assistants and people who work in their constituency offices, and it is important that members of the Oireachtas free up these staff members to attend the training.

You can contact Samaritans on 1850 60 9090, or email jo@samaritans.org

You can contact Pieta House on 01 601 000 or email mary@pieta.ie

Read: TDs and senators to receive suicide awareness training >