Students urged to talk if feeling down
Counsellor and suicide survivor Damian Martin told more than 600 students from schools in Cork City that suicide was “a permanent solution to a temporary problem”.
“There is no problem you have that can’t be fixed,” said Martin, who attempted suicide in 2008 by driving through Dublin City with his eyes closed.
It was after a family friend, John Quinn, who lost his son through suicide, said those words to Martin that he decided to dedicate himself to getting well.
Martin told how he was “feeling like shit” at the time of his suicide attempt.
He had isolated himself from his family and friends and felt he had nobody to talk to. “I put my foot to the floor. I drove through Dublin City centre. It’s a miracle I didn’t crash and I didn’t hurt anybody else.”
Martin, who was 22 at the time, was stopped by gardaí and taken to a station.
He later attended Pieta House, a centre for the prevention of self-harm and suicide, for 11 months and came out “a completely different man”. He now works there.
He said all young people experiencing difficulties should talk to each other.
“I’m walking, living proof that talking helps. I crawled myself out of a hole.”
“It’s OK to cry... so what? It’s OK to have your bad days. It’s allowed.”
The conference was organised by four fifth-year students at Mount Mercy College in Cork City, along with Suicide Aware.
Other speakers yesterday included James Barry and Ruth Baker from Headstrong, the national centre for youth mental health; Ian Delahunty of Suicide Aware; and Marie Creegan, lecturer in social work at University College Cork, who said human understanding was the most effective weapon against suicide.
“It’s not that people want to die, they just can’t go on one day more,” she said.
Ms Creegan said suicide was preventable and that it was important to look after our mental health by eating properly, getting enough sleep, taking exercise, and having fun.
She said the signs of depression and suicide are not always recognised, and could include sleeping and eating disturbances, difficulty concentrating and being overly self-critical. “If you are feeling any of these, talk to someone,” she said.
One of the student organisers, Niamh McCarthy said they decided to hold the conference because they felt suicide was a closed issue and its devastating effects needed to be highlighted.
Contact Headstrong at: www.headstrong.ie; or call 01 4727010.
Suicide Aware, the Cork- based voluntary support group, launched a new website last night.
Designed by the group’s charity partner, social media agency Media Manager, suicideaware.ie will provide support, advice and information to people struggling with suicidal thoughts, and people concerned about loved ones.
“Our slogan, ‘light in darkness’, shows people that there is a better way and that by talking to someone about their problems, they can find that light again,” said chairwoman Pat Behan.
“We need society to be more aware of the fact that suicide is so prevalent and we need to address this, to get people talking about it and to really listen to people who are suffering.”
The organisation urged people to call 1850 60 90 90 or 1800 24 71 00 to speak with a trained counsellor.
* Donations to Suicide Aware can be made at the Suicide Aware Trust Account, Bank of Ireland, 32 South Mall, Cork, sort code 90-27-68 and account no: 27772561.
Check out suicideaware on Facebook and Twitter.
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