“Shocking” and “disturbing” is how Westport native Joe McGuire describes the ever increasing and alarming suicide statistics in Ireland. Next month the outspoken suicide awareness campaigner is to launch www.talkaboutit.ie a new west of Ireland based voluntary group that aims to bring suicide into the public arena.
“We simply have to talk about it. For too long suicide and depression were hidden away in rural Ireland and people were left to suffer alone. Suicide is not a taboo subject anymore. Families that experience this awful tragedy want to talk about it, because a problem shared is a problem halved,” commented Mr McGuire. www.talkaboutit.ie is being launched to promote awareness of suicide and depression in Ireland and the group advocates that talking about the problem is the best treatment. The two main points of focus on the website will be a rural based suicide and depression awareness network and to lobby the Government to reconsider its suicide awareness policies.
“I believe that people with mental illness need medication but people with depression need to talk about it. I think people are slowly beginning to understand that talking to somebody about a problem can often be more effective than taking a tablet,” stated Mr McGuire.
“The demise of the small rural country pub and the lonely isolation of people in their own homes is having a massive impact on people’s mental health at present. Something has to be done. Some sort of transport or community support has to be provided to get rural people out into the community again and in particular allow people to talk again.”
Mr McGuire is adamant that a new “dangerous drinking at home” culture is now fast emerging in rural Ireland and that the once vibrant community spirit and rural camaraderie associated with every village around the country has been completely eroded by “daft” and “over-the-top” government policies. www.talkaboutit.ie will be launched on Tuesday December 6 in The Mill Times Hotel, Westport, at 8.30pm.
