A CAMPAIGN highlighting the growing plight of suicide in the taxi industry and the general public is set to be launched over the coming days.As part of the nationwide move, from Monday, November 30, to Sunday, December 6, hundreds of suicide prevention information packs are to be publicised and sold by taxi drivers across the country.
The campaign, named Rogha after the Irish word for choice, has been organised by the Taxi Drivers of Ireland organisation to highlight the recent surge in suicides in this country.
In the first three months of 2009, there has been a 43% increase in deaths by suicide compared to the same period last year, with a single taxi branch in west Dublin witnessing three deaths alone in late summer.
The campaign , supported by the Samaritans, Aware and Suicide or Survive, will include information highlighting that help is available.
Among the provisions of the suicide prevention awareness packs available as part of the campaign will be:
* Two door magnets to place on the back doors of taxis, each containing contact details for Aware and Samaritans.
* A booklet called Life’s Little Survival Kit from the charity, Suicide or Survive, which will be placed in the rear view mirrors of taxis and on passenger doors.
Taxi drivers and members of the public who wish to participate can receive their packs from the SIPTU taxi branch office on Kilmore Road, Artane, Co Dublin, from Wednesday.
Documents will also be available from the Samaritans on Marlborough Street in Dublin city, and from the Suicide or Survive group on Main Street, Arklow, Co Wicklow.
While each pack costs €33, all funds will go to the Samaritans and Suicide or Survive.
A spokesperson for the Taxi Drivers of Ireland organisation said: "If we can help just one person to choose to make that call to any of the three participating organisations then we will have done what we set out to do."
* Suicide or Survive, lo-call 1890 577577
* Aware lo-call 1890 303302
* Samaritans, call-save 1850 609090
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