Samaritans focus on mental health carers

THE Cork Samaritans yesterday launched a week-long campaign to target people caring for relatives with mental illness.

“This year we are focusing on the silent sufferers of mental illness,” a Samaritan’s spokesman said.

People living with someone with depression as well as those caring for people with anxiety or other psychiatric disorders were encouraged to contact the Samaritans this week.

It is estimated that one in 14 people will go through a period of depression in their lifetime.

“There is a population of 400,000 in Cork. That means there could be up to 4,000-5,000 people going through some kind of depressive episode,” the spokesman said.

“Each of those would have 10 people around them, family and work colleagues who are affected by it. And who is there for them?

“These people may start to ‘spiral’ themselves. This is a group that’s sometimes forgotten.”

The Cork branch will hold an open night in the city next Wednesday night to look at the issues faced by people indirectly affected by depression or other mental illness. Carers were encouraged to attend.

“We exist to give people emotional support. But we are not the only people out there offering support,” the spokesperson said.

“We are also traditionally seen as a last resort but we want to encourage people to talk to us before they get to that stage.”

The Cork branch of the Samaritans dealt with 23,000 calls from the city and county last year - that represents up to 65 calls a day.

The voluntary body has 140 highly-trained volunteers.

They operate a confidential 24-hour service for people experiencing feelings of distress or despair that may lead to suicide.

Meanwhile, a survey is being conducted on the effectiveness of a Samaritan’s awareness campaign which was run in cinemas last month.

The ‘It’s good to talk’ advertisement ran for four weeks. It will run again next month.

The open night takes place at the Clarion Hotel in Cork on April 27. Details from Cork Samaritans 1850 60 90 90; email: [e-mail] or www.samaritans.org