The HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has published new guides to help people get through the distressing time following the death of a loved one."Tragically, suicide is a phenomenon which affects a wide circle of people, many of whom feel isolated and burdened following the unforeseen death of a loved one," the NOSP said.
"For those bereaved by suicide, making sense of the death and coping with feelings of rejection, anger, guilt and disbelief can be extremely difficult issues for family and friends."
Almost 500 people each year die by suicide in Ireland. The highest number occurred in 2001, when 519 people took their own lives. According to Central Statistics Office figures, the number of deaths by suicide has doubled since 1980.
The You Are Not Alone information booklet provides counsel, advice and practical information on coping with the unexpected death of a family member or friend.
The guide covers areas such as how to break the news to children, arranging a funeral, dealing with neighbours and advice on money matters and the deceased's estate.
An updated directory of bereavement support services was also published.
The new booklets will be distributed to GPs, coroners, Gardaí and undertakers and will also be available through the NOSP and regional resource officers for suicide prevention.
Meanwhile, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern has apologised for comments he made in a speech Wednesday morning in which he suggested that he did not know how people who engaged in cribbing and moaning about the economy did not commit suicide.
Mr Ahern had been speaking about people who talk down the economy during his speech to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions conference.
“Sitting on the sidelines, cribbing and moaning is a lost opportunity. I don't know how people who engage in that don't commit suicide because frankly the only thing that motivates me is being able to actively change something,” he said.
He subsequently apologised for what he described as a bad choice of words, saying he had not meant it that way.
Living Links, a support group, said it received several calls and e-mails from upset families within hours of Mr Ahern's remarks.
"Someone who was recently bereaved by this awful event that has taken place in their family, maybe in the last week or month, would hear the Taoiseach saying something like that when they're feeling extremely raw and hurting," spokeswoman for the group Teresa Millea remarked.
The programme for Government contains a pledge to reduce the rate of suicide by 20 per cent by 2012.
It promises new initiatives to target people most at risk and to provide better support services for marginalised groups.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Disclaimer
No responsibility or liability shall attach itself to either myself or to the blogspot ‘Clerical Whispers’ for any or all of the articles placed here.
The placing of an article hereupon does not necessarily imply that I agree or accept the contents of the article as being necessarily factual in theology, dogma or otherwise.
Sotto Voce