The Society of St Vincent De Paul (SVP) has confirmed that it has
received training from the Irish Association of Suicidology to enable
its volunteers identify clients likely to be suffering from mental
health problems.
In a statement SVP confirmed that the initiative started after the
Irish Association of Suicidology (IAS) saw an article in a national
newspaper last Christmas outlining the depths and complexity of the
problems facing people assisted by the SVP due to the economic crisis in
Ireland.
Following contact from the IAS to SVP Head Office, a joint training
initiative was put in place and funding was secured for the initiative
from the National Office of Suicide Prevention.
According to SVP this training initiative has provided mental health
awareness training with the focus on three modules, the recession and
suicide, identifying the warning signs in others, and understanding
bereavement.
The training programme is tailored specifically to the needs of SVP
volunteers and staff.
The programme provides them with the skills to
support clients in a more informed manner.
It will also assist those
training to take care of their own mental health in the course of their
work.
After a number of pilot sessions that were run on a regional
basis the training is set to be run on a national basis in the coming
weeks.