Initiative to mark world suicide prevention day

Today, September 10, is World Suicide Prevention Day and a number of initiatives are being held to mark the occasion.

It's an annual awareness-raising event organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). This year's theme is about understanding the impact that reaching out to people at risk can have in preventing suicide, and ultimately in helping to save lives.

The team in the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention is encouraging people to consider the role that offering support may play in helping to prevent suicide. The act of showing care and concern to someone who may be vulnerable to suicide can make a big difference in their lives.

A number of events are taking place nationwide, to mark the day.

In the Midlands, an Ecumenical Services of Remembrance and Hope will take place in Christ the King Cathedral, Mullingar, at 7.30pm, while a service, Songs of Hope and Inspiration, took place in Tullamore on Sunday.