EVENTS ARE TAKING place around the country today to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
A five kilometre memorial walk is currently underway in the Phoenix Park, organised by Console, the Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Bereavement Support organisation.
The walk is dedicated to the memory of those who have been lost to suicide and aims to raise money to raise awareness of the issue.
Console have also organised a ‘Climb of Hope’ at Croagh Patrick in Co. Mayo. A group of young men and women are taking part in a sponsored skydive in Galway in an effort to raise funds, while a concert will take place in Vicar Street in Dublin this evening featuring music by Original Rude Boys, Fiach and others.
Pieta House, the suicide crisis centre is calling for people to meet at the top of Grafton Street in Dublin and on Cruises Street in Limerick at midday to take part in a march to mark the day. They’re hoping that hundreds of people will take part in the ‘flash mobs’ and will be providing t-shirts bearing the slogan ‘suicide can happen to anyone’.
Yesterday president Mary McAleese addressed Console’s National Suicide Conference in Dublin, and lit a candle in memory of those who’ve lost their lives, and those who have been affected.
RTÉ reports that Pieta House has seen an increase of 40 per cent in the number of people coming to them for help since the start of the year. Last year an estimated 486 people died by suicide in Ireland.
You can contact Samaritans on 1850 60 9090, or contact them via email atjo@samaritans.org.
You can contact Pieta House on 01 601 000 or email mary@pieta.ie
If you are running an event to mark World Suicide Prevention Day then please leave the details in the comments section below.
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