With a new year upon us, Pieta – Ireland’s national suicide prevention charity – is using the opportunity to raise awareness for its bi-annual ‘SIGNS of Suicide’ campaign. The organisation’s Helpline team received 99,042 calls and texts last year and delivered over 51,000 therapy hours, highlighting that it is more important than ever that people are mindful of the ‘SIGNS of Suicide’ and know what to look out for in loved ones.
Pieta is encouraging people to ‘swap the small talk for the big talk’ and open up to a family member, friend, or trusted confidante. Talking to loved ones about emotions is a difficult, but important, first step and can help alleviate distress before things spiral or escalate. It is essential that anyone struggling with suicidal thoughts seeks help from a trained professional.
WARNING SIGNS
If someone you know is struggling, remember to follow the three simple steps of A.P.R – Ask, Persuade, Refer. Doing so could help save your loved one’s life.
Warning signs to watch out for include: Sleep disturbance; Isolation; Giving Away Possessions; No Interest in Anything; Speaking of No Future.
As part of this year’s campaign, Pieta has partnered with wellness influencer Nathalie Lennon and singer songwriter Aaron J Harte. Also, Pieta has an ongoing partnership with Sam’s Barbers – with many young people viewing the barbers as a safe space where they can be vulnerable and speak freely about their feelings.
Pieta’s qualified counsellors specialise in suicide prevention and tackling self-harm. The charity operates centres at 20 locations across Ireland as well as a Free 24/7 Crisis helpline. All services are provided free of charge and no referral is needed. For more information and help, please visit www.pieta.ie
