The GRASP Life Foundation, a charity set up to support people struggling with suicidal thoughts and families bereaved by suicide, is providing a free Drop In Clinic in The Tirhugh Resource Centre, The Mall, Ballyshannon.
MED Partnership committee member, Molly Reynolds from Creevy knows first hand the pain of such bereavement. Her son Mark tragically took his own life in 2009. She is one of the founders of STOP (Suicide, Teach, Organise, Prevent) and is also involved with the GRASP Life Foundation.
She told a local newspaper (Donegal Democrat):
“I call it the silent cancer. We need to be able to talk about it and to know that it’s okay to be in bad form.
We would always advise everyone who is going through difficulties to use all of the statutory supports that are available and especially, to consult their GP.
However there are times when people are in crisis and for one reason or another they are not able to access the support they need. It’s at times like these that organisations such as the Samaritans, STOP, and GRASP are here to help.”
“In addition to ensuring that there is someone ready and willing to listen 24/7, at the end of the telephone, we also thought it would be helpful to provide a space where people can come in and chat with a trained professional in total confidentiality.
The new Drop In Centre will open at the Tirhugh Resource Centre, The Mall, Ballyshannon, from 11.00am to 4.00pm on Tuesdays from January 15th 2013.”
Molly went on to say; “We would like to thank Donegal South Forum and Erne Enterprise, who are both supporting this project. Their help means that we can provide this service free of charge.”
It is not necessary to make an appointment but, if you wish to do so, please ring the GRASP Life Foundation on 087 418 8053 or 086 682 4760.
More information is also available on www.grasplife.ie
(Article take from Donegal Democrat, Thursday,10/01/2013, Page 3)
Suicide has come tragically into focus with the recent suicide of Junior Government Minister Shane McEntee in Meath. Unfortunately, the issues surrounding mental health are no respecter of age, gender, race, religion or socio economic background.