Students urged to talk if feeling down

The importance of talking to someone if you are feeling down or have concerns about one of your friends was highlighted at a conference for second-level students aimed at breaking the stigma surrounding suicide.

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.