The first Living Links group was set up in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary, in May 2002, when a small group of local people got together in direct response to a suicide in the community. The event was tragic and cataclysmic for the people and there was a huge sense of inadequacy on the ground as to how to provide appropriate community support and a consequent sense of failure as a community.
The objectives of Living Links objectives are:
To provide support and outreach to those bereaved by suicide.
To increase awareness and understanding of suicide and its effects on individuals, families and communities.
To liaise and exchange information with similar support groups nationally and internationally.
To support and encourage relevant research.
To produce leaflets and associated literature to be provided to survivors.
To liaise and provide families with information on health services available in the region, and the referral pathways to such services should such professional counselling be required.
To provide and facilitate a group healing programme, on a needs basis, for the suicide bereaved.
To encourage the suicide bereaved and/or suicide affected to establish and foster an ongoing support group among themselves.
Sixteen trained volunteers are now available in Mayo to offer confidential, practical, support and information to families who have experienced a death by suicide. At the request of the family, the Suicide Outreach Support Person can call to the home or meet at a location appointed by the family.
The outreach worker can provide information and practical support concerning the following areas: the funeral, the inquest, entitlements, what to say to children, how to deal with the neighbours, help the person to clarify his/her personal grief, connect the person to other support services in his/her area, provide information on suicide and attempted suicide and be there, as a friend, for the person.
The Living Links listening/support service is free of charge and available to any person in the community including emergency personnel, gardaí and clergy, etc, who have in any way been affected by suicide. Mayo Living Links Branch is launching its phone number on September 9. Training was sponsored by Mayo Mental Health Association. Living Links’ patron is Daniel O'Donnell.
The support phone number is 086 040 6666, email [email protected]
