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The people who use Diadhuit’s services are of all ages and come from all sections of society. Photo: 123RF

The Mallow-based suicide prevention group Diadhuit is expanding into Fermoy and Mitchelstown. It was decided to formally branch into both areas as people from there were already accessing the services provided by the group which recently became a registered charity.

The group, the first if its kind in the country, offers a free professional psychotherapeutic service to adults in North Cork who may be contemplating or have previously attempted suicide. Qualified psychotherapists offer clinical psychotherapeutic one-to-one support to clients giving them the opportunity to talk to someone in confidence about their current thoughts and feelings and to share and learn about their situation and its dangers.

This level of support allows the client access to their dedicated psychotherapist for a 12-week period by the way of a face to face meeting on a weekly basis and direct contact by phone on a 24/7 basis if required. The group can also arrange crisis intervention, if necessary.

People must be referred to them by a GP or other healthcare professional and must be over 18. They've been operating for the past five years and have also drawn people from the Kanturk, Buttevant and Charleville areas. Mallow county councillor John Paul O'Shea is chair of Diadhuit.

Psychotherapists working with the group must meet strict criteria. The group currently has four psychotherapists and are able to call on more if needed. Pat Maher is the psychotherapist for the Fermoy and Mitchelstown area.

The group is being launched in Fermoy with the support of the local Suicide Bereavement Network. The network is up and running a year now in Fermoy, providing support for those who have suffered the loss of a loved one through suicide.  They meet at the resource centre once a month. The resource centre is also the venue for the launch of Diadhuit on Wednesday next, December 4th at 7.30pm.

The group must fundraise to provide the service. All money raised locally will stay locally, Paddy Byrne, the local contact for the group, says. They're planning to hold a pub quiz in Fermoy shortly to raise money and a Remembrance Tree for Christmas is also being considered as a fundraiser.

Paddy Byrne says the people who use Diadhuit's services are of all ages and come from all sections of society. Statistics they've gleaned from recent audit forms shows that 64% of patients have attempted suicide in the past. 31 people have completed their service to date and 11 people are currently receiving help. 52% of their patients are women. Only a third are unemployed.

Their review of services also shows that the average sessions completed by patients is just over seven.

Asked if he thinks more people are finding it difficult to deal with everyday life in the current economic climate, Paddy Byrne believes that is undoubtedly so. "People can't cope," he says.

Anyone who'd like more information about the group can contact John Paul O'Shea on 086-8903154 or Fermoy-based Paddy Byrne on 086-3642010. All are welcome to next Wednesday night's launch.

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