Awareness can reduce suicide: Samaritans

MAKING emotional health a mainstream issue is the key to reducing Ireland’s high suicide rate, according to the Samaritans’ new director of Ireland Suzanne Costello.

A number of suicides could be prevented if society in general was more accepting of the fact that people do experience emotional stress at some time in their lives, she stressed.

“We know there is a huge demand for our services from people experiencing all sorts of emotional stress. We provide an outlet to take these people out of isolation,” she said.

“Many people may not be able to talk to their friends and families even if they are surrounded by them. By providing an outlet for anyone suffering any distress or emotional distress to shore those feelings in confidence, Samaritans is a simple but vital service in a complex and confusing world.”

Ms Costello said the Samaritans wanted to make people aware of the stresses they come under at home and at work so that they will be better able to deal with them.

It was crucial, however, that society realised that emotional stress was a fact of life and reached out to those experiencing an emotional crisis.

“It is great that people under huge emotional pressure can read about the issue in newspapers because they realise that they are not alone and there is someone who can help them.”

The Samaritans can be contacted at 1850 609090.