26 deaths by suicide in Galway in 2005

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Written by Administrator

Wednesday, 07 February 2007

Twenty-six Galwegians died as a result of suicide in 2005, according to the Central Statistics Office (CSO).

The figures indicate 21 people living in Galway County and five in Galway City died by suicide. However, the figures are not final, as the CSO must wait two years for the outcome of any outstanding inquests.

The figures come following the tragic death of a 27-year-old Cork mother Eileen Murphy, and her four year old son Evan at the Cliffs of Moher, who had bought her tickets for the bus tour and stayed in Galway the previous evening.

Console House, 26 Bowling Green, Galway, provides individual and group support for family and friends bereaved by suicide. According to a spokeswoman, "Console counsellors recognise and are sensitive to the uniqueness of each loss through suicide. We endeavour to meet the needs of each bereaved person. The waiting list for counselling currently is two to three weeks."

She said, "When someone dies through suicide many feelings may emerge such as disbelief, guilt, anger, sadness, despair or fear. The intensity of these feelings can leave people feeling confused and unable to manage everyday living. Those bereaved may begin to question the meaning of their own life in light of their tragic loss."

"This search for meaning in life can often leave a person feeling isolated from others that do not seem to understand or able to help. Counselling can offer a safe place where the unspeakable may be spoken and the unthinkable thought about, with the support and confidentiality of a counsellor. The counselling relationship provides the bereaved with the space to express their feelings and thoughts that come with their grief, working towards bringing back some sense of order and security into their personal life in the aftermath of suicide," the Console spokeswoman said.

Console's monthly suicide bereavement support group provides an opportunity to meet other people who have been through a similar experience. The group provides a safe setting where free expression of grief is acceptable and confidentially is assured.

It provides a national freephone helpline (1800 201 890) from 9am to 5pm. This helpline is a confidential listening service for people bereaved through suicide.

The Galway Lions Club is spearheading a project, which will provide the ASIST or Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training programme in Galway City and County in the coming months. This programme was instrumental in reducing the suicide rate in Canada by as much as 40 per cent in the past ten to 12 years. A meeting has been organised in the Ardilaun House Hotel for Wednesday, 21 February at 8pm.

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