Woman launches campaign to help Beat The Blues

A WOMAN who lost her father and brother to suicide within a year has launched a wristband campaign to raise money to combat depression.

Orla McDonnell, 26, is spearheading the bilingual ‘Beat The Blues’ initiative to help AWARE fund programmes to teach teenage schoolchildren cope with emotional stress.

The bands, which also include the ‘Gread an Ghruaim’ message in Irish, will be available on streets today to coincide with World Mental Health Day.

Orla’s father and brother committed suicide in 2001 and 2002 respectively.

“Suicide has now become the most common cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds in Ireland,” said Orla, from Terenure, Dublin. “I feel very angry that the Government doesn’t give enough funding to support programmes to combat depression and suicide and it’s left to victims’ families to fundraise themselves on the streets.”

The bands will be available in several sponsoring stores such as Golden Discs, Arnotts, AIB and cafe chain Cafe Sol.

Donegal band The Revs and students from Dublin’s Gonzaga College, where Orla’s brother, Fergal, was a past pupil, will also help with distribution.

Colleges and universities will run workshops this week to promote awareness.