Meet our charity partners - Console
National suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console have become the Westmeath Independent’s first partners in an innovative campaign designed at supporting people in crisis in our community.
Our Charity Support Initiative campaign is aimed at highlighting pathways of help and hope for those most in crisis through the Westmeath Independent’s pages and online platforms.
Console offers counselling services and a free 24-hour helpline support (1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444) to people in crisis and those bereaved by suicide.
And over the next six months, readers of the Westmeath Independent and the other titles in the Celtic Media Group stable will see advertisements aimed at letting people in crisis know that there is help and hope available from Console.
“We know that previous advertising of our services through Celtic Media Group has resulted in lives being saved, and we are so grateful to be the first recipients of the charity support initiative,” said Console CEO and founder Paul Kelly.
“Seeing a service advertised in a trusted local newspaper, and through its online platforms, is often the encouragement that people in crisis need to pick up the phone and reach out for help.
“We are so grateful to Celtic Media Group for partnering with us on this original initiative and we would ask people who are reading this to be aware of our free helpline, which now takes over 3,500 calls a month.”
Frank Mulrennan, CEO of Celtic Media Group, was delighted to launch the initiative and stressed that the Group’s readers and social media followers will play a vital part in carrying Console’s message of hope.
“CMG are at the heart of the communities we serve in our circulation areas in Dublin, Meath, Cavan, Westmeath, Offaly and Mayo, and we are delighted to be able to use our reach to help those who are most in need.
“Alongside our 165,000 print copies, we have over 100,000 active Facebook fans, and are highly engaged with our audience on a daily basis.
“We are delighted to use our large and active readership and social media base to help to save lived in the community alongside our first charity partners Console.
Console has full-time counselling centres in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Wexford, Galway, Kerry and Mayo. It also offers services in Kildare and Athlone and has recently opened a service in London.
Counselling is available for any individual, couples, families or children who have been affected by suicide.
Console can be reached at any time on freephone 1800 247 247 or by texting HELP to 51444 and many resources and useful information can be found at www.console.ie.