Series of Athlone suicide awareness seminars continue

The HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster will continue a series of suicide awareness sessions entitled the "Gatekeeper Community Education Programme". The sessions take place over a six week period in the Shannonbank Training Centre and run for approximately two hours from 7.30 - 9.30 p.m. each evening. The programme has been developed by the Suicide Resource Office of the HSE Midlands as part of an overall suicide prevention initiative and as such covers a broad range of topics. The Community Education Services of Co. Westmeath V.E.C. have invited the Suicide Resource Service to deliver this Community Education Programme within their local community. The topics covered aims to develop thinking around the subject of mental health in general, its relevance to our lives of today, and the need and importance of maintaining our own mental health and general sense of well-being. As suicide is not an isolated event, but one which is culminated by a crisis or a series of crises in the lives of many individuals, prevention of suicide must be broader ranging than merely focusing on this issue in isolation. Urging the public to attend these sessions, Josephine Rigney, Training & Development Officer, HSE Suicide Resource Office said, 'The sessions are open to the public and we would urge people to come along this Wednesday. The programme is for everyone who has an interest and concern for themselves and their families and also those who have an interest and commitment to developing community links within their local area - the natural 'Gatekeepers' who are the back bone of all communities.' Attendance at the programme is open to all members of the general public and community and is free of charge. If you would like to attend, please contact Nuala O"Brien, Community Education Facilitator, Co. Westmeath VEC on 090 6407004 or Josephine Rigney, Training & Development Officer, Suicide Resource Office HSE on 057 86 64513. The next two seminars are: 29th April: "Suicide - The Reality" : Josephine Rigney, Training & Development Officer, Suicide Resource Office, HSE; 6th May: "Mental Health and Happiness: Finola Colgan, Development Officer, Mental Health Ireland.