Katie’s bright idea to help those who feel alone
Four years ago when Katie was 15, the suicide of her older cousin, Lisa, who was 21, hit her hard.
But the dark clouds that surrounded her inspired her with an idea of bright lights to shine out and help others who feel alone.
Katie, who was honoured recently being named Limerick Person of the Year has embarked on business studies at the University of Limerick. As well as studying, she has a part-time job in Amee’s Fashions in Cecil Street and has joined a movement to bring the message of mental health awareness to young people.
She recalls that when her cousin Lisa lost her life to suicide, Katie found hope in a dream: “One night I had a dream of Lisa standing on Thomond Bridge and all of a sudden everything around her lit up and she stepped back. Unfortunately that was not the reality. I knew then I had to do something with the idea that came to me in a dream.”
So after radio interviews, newspaper reports, and collaboration with the local authorities, Thomond Bridge was lit up with eight lights — known as Lisa’s Lights.
“It really took off after an interview I did with Joe Nash on his Limerick Today show on Live 95 FM. I started work with a local member of the council, Councillor Daniel Butler, and the council authorities could not have been more helpful.”
Local company, Alphaset, designed the light-boxes which were made with a very hard plastic and the eight lights were attached to the main power line on the bridge. Each has a separate message which Katie came up with having talked with members of the HSE suicide prevention and mental health departments.
“Each message is positive and life affirming and the lights are a permanent feature on the bridge. They come on with the bridge spot lights at night. They are just there and if somebody passes on a dark night, the lights are nice to look up at, particularly if you have had a bad day,” she explains.
Katie was very close to Lisa: “We were like sisters and she was always in our house in the Dublin Rd.”
Katie wants Lisa’s Lights to encourage young people to talk to each other: “Talking like it is OK not to be OK and start getting young people to talk about mental health. So far the campaign has been just fantastic. We have had stories appear in the media in South Korea. The Lisa’s Lights message has gone international and I feel it has worked.”
Lisa has also found time for romance in her life — but even there she’s worrying. She has been with he “sweetheart” Christopher Collopy, 19, who has cystic fibrosis, for the past five years.
“Christopher was in college, but didn’t like it and took up soccer coaching. It’s what suits you that’s important. There will always be something. Christopher is off to Canada doing soccer coaching for he summer. He is absolutely amazing with his coaching career. It was my idea for him to apply for the soccer academy coaching camp in Canada. Now he is doing what he loves and wants to pursue a career in soccer coaching. He will be away four months, but we will be in contact on Skype and the iPhone. I have only been away from him for a week since we started going out so it will be different. But we’ll get on with it as we’ve been together long enough.”
Things are going well with Christopher’s health: “He has not had to be admitted to hospital for nearly six years with the cystic fibrosis and he’s on a new drug which has changed his whole life. When he’s in Canada I’ll miss him and worry about him. The joys of being an adult.”
