Suicide support group going national

A SMALL support group set up less then three years ago in North Tipperary to help people bereaved by suicide, is growing into a nationwide movement.

Living Links, which was formed in Cloughjordan in 2003, has affiliated branches in 11 counties and cities. The founders of the organisation said its growth reflects a suicide epidemic which claims more than 500 lives a year nationwide.

Living Links evolved out of the Mid-West Regional Suicide Bereavement Committee which was established in 2000 to address the needs of the bereaved.

Living Links is made up of a volunteer workforce who visit families and individuals in their homes, if necessary, and is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Retired garda sergeant Michael Egan, one of the founding members of Living Links, said: “When I was in the garda I talked to students at the Templemore college on suicide. We formed a committee locally in North Tipperary to offer outreach support to people bereaved by suicide. One of our members, Fr Tom Hannon, the parish priest in Cloughjordan, came up with the name Living Links and it grew from that.” Callers to Living Links are given details of all the services which deal with suicide and suicide prevention.

Mr Egan said: “We can arrange to get volunteers who undergo special training to call to a person in the home or arrange to meet them at a place of their choice. Our organisation is based on an Australian model of counselling.

“In north Tipperary, we have a team of seven volunteers and we are in the process of training a further 23. With the growth of Living Links, we now have our own constitution and are registered as a charity. We never thought it would take off throughout the country to the extent it has.”

Living Links has volunteer groups working in North Tipperary, Limerick city and county, Clare, Kerry, East Cork, Meath, Dublin city and county as well as Galway city and county. Volunteers are being trained to serve Kildare and Mayo.

Mr Egan talks and gives advice to new groups.

“Our whole aim is to ensure that people bereaved by suicide get whatever backup and support they require,” he said. “If we get a call, a volunteer will meet that person within 24 hours.”

Living Links can be contacted in Limerick (087 7998427), North Tipperary (087 9693021) and Clare (086 0565373).