Suicide crisis centre urges people to reach out to men in distress

Pieta House suicide crisis centre is appealing to the public to reach out to the men in their lives in a bid to reduce male suicide.

Eight out of every ten people in Ireland who take their own lives are men, and it is with that in mind that the centre has launched its Mind Our Men campaign.

It hopes to equip friends, family and colleagues with the information needed to help men in distress.

Pieta House CEO, Joan Freeman, said it could prove to be the key to reducing suicide numbers in Ireland.

Ms Freeman said: "There are huge components that prevent suicide, like the HSE and the others like organisations like ourselves, but we are missing the third element.

"That is families, friends and colleagues and we are begging people to come to our website, look and see what the signs and symptoms are and the triggers.

"Be alert to them and then to be the link between the person who is in distress and organisations like ours."