Suicide prevention campaign to be launched in Westport

Suicide prevention campaign to be launched in Westport


Anton McNulty

A CHANCE reading of an article in a British newspaper while waiting for a train in Picadilly Station in Manchester has resulted in the establishment of a campaign to highlight helpline numbers for people who feel depressed or suicidal.
The 50/50 Phone a Friend awareness campaign will be officially launched in the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport on Wednesday, January 26 at 8.30pm, with South Mayo Coroner, John O’Dwyer a guest speaker. Specially commissioned plaques containing 24-hour helpline numbers will be placed on the toilet walls where members of the public have access such as pubs, schools and workplaces.
The brainchild behind the campaign is Westport man, Joe McGuire of the Mayo Wheelers Cycling Club whose interest in depression and suicide awareness stem from an article he read while waiting for a train in Manchester.
In the article, police authorities were apologising to the family of a 44-year-old man who committed suicide after ringing the police station seeking help. He was advised by the member to; ‘Crack on. I’ll call an undertaker’.
“That sparked my interest in promoting suicide awareness,” Joe explained. “Obviously, I felt great sympathy for the man who died and his family but I also felt sorry for that policeman because he didn’t know any different.”
Joe said he found that there was a degree of ignorance around Ireland towards suicide and many people in positions of authority were unable to point him in the right direction when he enquired about support organisations. He said that 50/50 Phone a Friend aims to end that kind of ignorance and make people aware that there is help out there.
A solid, coloured plaque was commissioned, which displays the contact details from the Samaritans, Aware, 1life, Rape Crisis Network Ireland, Childline and the Garda Confidential Line. The 50/50 Phone a Friend organisation will be based in Westport and it is planned to display the plaques in toilets around the country, starting in Westport next month.
A number of community groups such as the Lions Club movement have come on board to support the campaign. Sergeant Pat Lavelle from Westport Garda Station is on the board of the group and he told The Mayo News  that he was delighted to get involved in an important public campaign.
“When you see the plaque you will notice all the phone numbers and know that there are people out there who can help you if you feel depressed. It is a good idea and we hope to get as many plaques in public places so people can receive information to get help. A lot of people are struggling in today’s society and it will help both young and old people,” he said.