Yet again I find myself writing to you all, especially those who read this blogspot in Ireland on this most sensitive issue.At the moment, I am personally aware of 6 people who in the space of 10 days have now taken their own lives.
The average number of deaths in Ireland per annum is 450 deaths by suicide, which averages just over 1 a day - a number totally unacceptable.
What astounds and angers me, and indeed many others over the last few days, is the lack of response from the newly elected Government which will shortly be going on holidays after the very difficult task of getting themselves elected and then settled into their plush offices and draw down their extortionate pay packets.
State Action
Not a whimper from Mary Harney, our somewhat Minister for Health or indeed the new Minister for Justice Brian Lenihan (one time Junior Minister for Children in Ms Harneys' Department of Health) nor indeed from Ms Mary Hanafin, the re-appointed Minister for Education.
These Ministers need to get together once and for all and start dealing with an issue which has gone unheeded for the last few years and initially declare something akin to a state of emergency to begin to deal with this issue.
A national campaign needs to be undertaken by the Government involving cross organisation co-operation with State agencies and effectively get to the grassroots in every community and the sooner the better.
Community Unity
In every community, there is some organisation or grouping which exists such as Community Watch, Scouting Organisation and even down to the local GP, District Nurse, Garda, Priest, Social Worker to mention just a few.
Working together, these qualified personnel are more than capable of keeping an eye on possible happenings amongst the population indicative of potential suicides...but this as we are all aware is difficult even at the best of times to be aware of.
In relation to younger children, and let us not forget that they are also taking their lives, our teachers have a difficult job and need as much support as is possibly available to identify and address such possible action by their charges.
Family
Within families, and let us not deny this, there are difficulties which result in so many different things but when it results in a suicide it has a devastating effect on the family as a whole and individually.
Many members of many families have felt depressed after such an event in their family life that they too then decide to take their own lives and again plunge their family into another never ending spiral of pain and suffering.
A State Response
From living and working as I do in a community setting, it is important I believe to have as much co-operation between all people in the community to get together and see how this can possible be prevented understanding however that it is often more inevitable than we would wish it to be.
May I suggest the following:
* Suicide Task Report - be enacted immediately and the Suicide Task Force be established on a permanent basis with funding from the Ministries of Health, Justice and Education and in an independent office and remit of its own;
With the co-operation and consolidation of available resources within the Ministries of Health and Justice, the following could be established:
* Regional Task Forces - be established with priority given to the areas most affected at present, established along the current HSE Area boundaries;
* Local Task Forces - be established on a county by county basis engaging the necessary personnel from within the health service to facilitate the setting up and maintaining of the Local Task Force;
* Community Task Forces - be established and again give priority to areas most recently affected and other high rate areas including community leaders and the local GP, Garda, District Nurse, Teacher and Priest to mention just a few and indeed Parents Councils in schools and the community council.
These Task Forces would all work together and establish local contacts right up through the chain to Ministerial rank and directly into the Suicide Response Task Force Office (SRTFO) to give an overall and national overview in collating information that can be then disseminated to local and community task forces.
Education Response
In this area alone, the Department of Education could
* Start organising information services for teachers so as to make them more aware of possible suicidal child(ren) in their charge;
* Distribute information and advice documents to teachers, parents councils and parents in general;
* Organise in school information evenings for students and advise them of such details as contact names and numbers of those on Community Task Force they can engage with;
Pastoral Response
It is personally difficult to come to terms with the death of anyone but more so in a situation such as suicide as often there has been no indication of it possibly happening.
Sometimes answers are sought where there may well be none and this makes it all the more difficult not just for the immediate family and community but indeed for us as clergy. How do we answer the 'Why?' question in such circumstances?
To be honest we cannot and indeed should not!!!
As much as anyone else in a community, we are also called by our vocation to shepherd the souls of our faith community and must do everything we personally can to assist as much as we possibly can and that is very simply done,
* Be open in mind, ears and heart to the youth in our parishes;
* Be open with the door at ALL times because none of us knows the day nor the hour when we will be called;
* Make ourselves aware also of possible vulnerable parishioners (of all ages etc) in the community and ensure regular visits;
* Work with the Community Task Force and contribute to both its establishment and maintenance.
These few thoughts of mine are just that for now, but personally I believe they could, if acted upon and indeed swiftly so, may lead to a reduction in the numbers and incidents of suicide. I am a firm believer that we all have a moral duty towards those in this type of situation and to others who may also be considering taking their own lives. It begins with each and all of us.....
Healing Mass Service
In Ennis Cathedral on next Monday night, June 25th, 2007, Bishop Willie Walsh shall officiate at a special Mass of Healing for the local Travelling Community in the parish of Ennis and indeed the Diocese of Killaloe.
The Travelling Community has had recent troubles with 3 suicides within the community itself in Ennis, but there has been grave exception to the Bishop making the comment that the settled community may well reflect on it having a role and part in contributing to such suicides within the Travelling Community.
Personally, that remark is nothing short of contemptuous towards the settled community by the Bishop who should well remember who it is pays for his keep!!! This is not the place to address this matter but let it be for the moment and I will return to it in due course in the light of other issues currently being generally discussed by locals down there.
Again, I say to those of you out there, the link list to the side of this blog contains all the necessary links to assist you irrespective of your current position and again I repeat my offer to those of you who may wish to amke contact me...by all means do so...
I will get back to you and if you wish to leave contact details such as a telephone number by all means do so and I will do whatever I possibly can to help you. I will not ever judge you or otherwise but I will guarantee you an open ear...you are not alone...
Sotto Voce