EXPERIENCES OF SUICIDE: Working with marginalised young people and listening to their experiences of suicide is the theme of Sean McCarthy's talk tomorrow at 8pm in the Bank of Ireland Arts Centre, Foster Place, Dublin.
McCarthy is the suicide resource officer with the Health Service Executive. This talk is the third in a series entitled From Fragility to Resilience and is organised by the Samaritans in response to the recently published National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention. See also www.dublinsamaritans.ie/february
Admission to the talk is free but tickets must be pre-booked by calling tel: 01-6712261.
SUICIDE BEREAVEMENT GROUP: A suicide bereavement support group has been set up by psychologist Coílín O'Braonaín and psychotherapist Johanna Treacy. The group will hold meetings on the first Saturday of each month, starting on March 4th from 11am-noon. The Congress Opportunity and Information Centre, Springfield House, Harmony Row, Ennis is the venue. Admission is free. More information is available from Coílín O'Braonaín on tel: 087 7784061. Meanwhile, Console, the Bereaved by Suicide Foundation, has updated its website. See www.console.ie
CHANGE ONE THING: Brian Lenihan, the Minister for Children at the Department of Health and Children, has shown his support for the healthy living campaign run by Boots chemist. Entitled Change One Thing, the campaign encourages people to identify one area in their life they would like to change and advises them on how to go about achieving their goal. The campaign focuses on six key areas - smoking cessation, weight loss, stress management, looking great, positive eating and getting fit. Brian Lenihan resolved to take more exercise during 2006 as his Change One Thing goal.
PSORIASIS MEETING: The Psoriasis Association of Ireland for the North County Dublin/Louth area is holding its inaugural meeting in Skerries, on March 6th. Among the speakers will be Anne Marie Clark, clinical nurse manager, Mater Hospital. A series of meetings are planned this year throughout the two counties.
The condition, which affects over 100,000 people in Ireland, is incurable but is not contagious. It occurs on any part of the body appearing as raised, dull, red patches. People suffer both physically and psychologically from the condition.
The meeting will be held in the Mourne View Community Centre, Skerries, at 7pm on Monday, March 6th. For further details contact Louise Lamari at 087-6458716 between 4-6pm.