Madam, - I hope it proves to be significant that the Government has published its strategy for action on suicide prevention, Reach Out, at the same time as the World Health Organisation, on World Suicide Prevention Day, stresses that the prevention of suicide is everybody's business, not just the responsibility of experts.
Samaritans is a community response to suicide and emotional crisis. Trained volunteers give their time and effort with the ultimate aim that fewer people will end their lives through suicide. While suicide, and the feelings that give rise to it, are often very complex, Samaritans' approach is simple. At any hour of day or night there are volunteers available to support those in crisis and in danger of ending their own lives.
Samaritans and other voluntary groups working in this area need the support of everyone in the community to help boost awareness of the services available to help people in crisis. A key issue behind the titling of the Reach Out strategy is just how few suicidal people seek help before making an attempt on their lives. The more that everyone in the community knows about and promote organisations like Samaritans, the greater the chance that someone consumed by suicidal feelings might feel able to reach out and make a call or send an e-mail.
A community-based charity such as Samaritans has limited financial resources to advertise its telephone number in a commercial advertising environment. Therefore for World Suicide Prevention Day, Samaritans Galway have developed a "You're not alone" window sticker intended for display on shop windows, on car windscreens, or in any other prominent public places.
There are many other similar initiatives, such as volunteer recruitment campaigns, underway in other Samaritans branches throughout Ireland. I hope that as your readers inform themselves of the strategy by reading this weekend's newspapers, they will be moved to get involved. - Yours, etc,
GERARD OCONNOR, Volunteer and Director, Samaritans Galway.