Applications for funding, 2024
March 2024: HSE Donegal Mental Health Service and the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention are seeking applications for once off funding of between €5,000 and a maximum of €15,000 from local community and voluntary groups. This funding is aimed at initiatives to reach at risk/vulnerable groups in relation to improving their mental health and wellbeing, and reducing the risk of self-harm and suicide.
Connecting for Life Donegal, Midterm Conference
The Connecting for Life Donegal 2022-2024 Midterm Conference - Suicide is Everyone’s Business - will take place on Wednesday 19th April 2023 (9am to 1:30pm) in the Clanree Hotel in Letterkenny. The free conference will be followed by a light lunch and provide an opportunity to come together as a community. It will feature voices of people bereaved by suicide and focus on priority groups, including the Traveller community, young people and people with dual diagnosis, among others.
The conference is suitable for community leaders and health care professionals. To book a place, or for more information, contact Ciara Wray (HSE Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, Donegal) - email ciara.wray@hse.ie or call 086 8379909.
Suicide prevention training
A range of suicide prevention training programmes is available through the HSE, and as part of Connecting for Life, Ireland's National Strategy to Reduce Suicide. For example:
LivingWorks Start is an online, interactive training programme that will give you the skills and knowledge to keep others safe from suicide. It will help you identify people who are at risk, confidently ask them about the topic of suicide and connect them with resources that can help them stay safe.
safeTALK (Suicide Alertness for Everyone) is an internationally recognised half-day training programme that prepares participants to recognise and engage with people who may be having thoughts of suicide and to connect them to suicide first aid resources.
ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two-day skills building workshop in suicide first aid. Participants are trained to reduce the immediate risk of a suicide and increase the support for a person at risk.
The Understanding Self-harm workshop provides opportunities to improved knowledge, awareness and understanding of self-harming behaviour.
Support information
A GP - A GP can offer support for anyone in crisis. If possible, ask someone to come along with you. Find a service near you:
HSE Mental Health Services - If you are being supported by a mental health team, or have been in the past, contact the service for support in a crisis.
Samaritans - Samaritans services are available 24 hours a day, for confidential, non-judgmental support.
More mental health services and information - Visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie for information on how to mind your mental health, support others, or to find a support service in your area. You can also call the Your Mental Health Information Line on 1800 111 888, anytime day or night, for information on mental health services in your area.
