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URRIS Community
Development Group, in association with the Clonmany
Community Resource Centre, held a very successful
two-day ASIST workshop in Suicide awareness and
prevention.
More than 20 participants from different backgrounds
within the community took part in the course which
gave them the skills to identify if a person of
their acquaintance is giving a signal that they are
contemplating suicide, and how to intervene and get
more help.
ASIST stands for: Applied Suicide Intervention
Skills Training. ASIST trains participants to help
reduce the immediate risk of a suicide and increase
the support for a person at risk. It helps them seek
a shared understanding of reasons for suicide and
reasons for living.
Paul McLaughlin, chairperson of the Urris Community
Development Group, described the participants as
simply ‘people who care’.
He said they came from a diverse range of
backgrounds such as teachers, care givers, and
health workers whilst others were concerned parents,
concerned members of the community.
“We as a community are delighted that so many people
gave up their free time to participate in this
course. There was great learning involved both from
the facilitators and from each other.
“When I first contacted the HSE coordinator, Sarah
Meehan, we discussed what we needed for our
community to hold this workshop.
“I assured her we would have the numbers and we
certainly would have a great facility, the Clonmany
Community Resource centre as our venue.”
Mr McLaughlin was "amazed" at the number interested
in doing the workshop.
“Beibhin Mullins, resource centre volunteer who
helped co-ordinate the event, and me had to turn
several people down as we had surpassed the number
of places available.”
He added:” I would like to thank all the
participants for their time and efforts, many thanks
also to both the excellent facilitators on the
course Anne Gallagher and Monica Freeburn, but
special thanks must go to Kathleen, Beibhin and the
staff and volunteers of the resource centre who
looked after the group so well.
“It was great to see the community pool together its
resources enabling as many as possible to
participate in this course.
“We want the message to go out in a clear and
empathic way, that people do care.
“More than 20 in our community have learned new
skills in helping by doing the ASIST course.
“Talk to someone, your local doctor is a good start,
things may not seem so bleak in a week's time,
although it doesn’t feel like there is much support,
help is just around the corner.
“Personally what I have taken from this course is
it’s really good to talk, but, sometimes it’s more
important to listen.” (Inishowen Independent)
• If you, a family member or a friend have been
affected by suicide and you want to speak to someone
in confidence, contact the Samaritans in Derry on
04871 265511 or in Letterkenny on 07491 20999 |
