County with high rates of suicide launches service in effort to save lives

A service to prevent suicide has been launched in Co Kerry, which has one of the highest rates nationally of people taking their own lives.

Kerry LifeLine aims to reach out to the community in different ways, according to Geraldine Sheedy, the director of the South West Counselling Centre (SWCC). “It will provide a light to people when all they can see around them is darkness,” she said.

Kerry LifeLine will provide free one-to-one counselling to people who are feeling suicidal, or who are in crisis, and it is hoped they will have easy access to help when they need it.