‘Have the conversation’ urges SOSAD chief

Suicide awareness and prevention charity SOSAD is continuing to provide services in County Cavan for anybody who needs to avail of them - thanks to the generosity of local people.

“The text messaging service is closed but everything else is still open and fully operational,” Cavan co-ordinator Christine Wynne assured.

The suicide awareness and prevention charity continues to rely on fundraising to provide its other services including a phone line and counselling as it waits a decision on Government funding.

“We still don’t know about funding, that takes months to come through,” she said, adding that “fingers crossed” if they get the HSE Section 39 funding they will be able to re-open the messaging services.

Ms Wynne said this funding would give the charity the ability to plan and “make additional services [available] moving forward.”

“At the moment we can’t do that,” she pointed out.

“We’re hoping that the Minister in the interim can do some interim funding but we haven’t heard about that either.”

“The phone line service is still there 24 hours a day,” she highlighted.

The charity had to put a “plea” out to the public who have organised fundraisers and events.

“That’s what’s keeping the doors open at the moment,” she expressed.

SOSAD is continuing to provide counselling, which is “busier than ever at the moment”, their 24-hour phone line service, their Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) group and their drop-in centre.

Financially, the future of the service is “not as bleak as what it was a couple of weeks ago”.

“The public have stepped up and have helped us in that.”

“We’re hopeful,” she added.

If you are suspicious that someone you know may be thinking about suicide, Christine said “you have to have the conversation”.

“That’s the biggest thing; don’t be afraid to use the word, ‘are you thinking about suicide?’; ‘Are you contemplating taking your life?’”

“Don’t leave them on their own, if it needs a team of people to come together to make sure that person is not on their own, then own so be it.”

If people need “immediate attention” Christine said to call 999.

“The most simplest thing is to ask the person what would they need in that moment in time that would stop them feeling that way.”

If you are contemplating taking your own life, Christine said:

“Reach out to a helpline, talk to somebody.

“There’s loads of people out there who will answer the phone or take the call.”

She said that no matter what you’re going through “it will pass”.

“Look forward a week or look forward two weeks or even sometimes to look forward to the following morning.”

“Especially at night time, things looks better in the light of day.”

Christine said the service is “extremely busy”, particularly this week.

“We have an extraordinary team here who are doing that [providing bereavement services].”