Press Releases
PIPS Newry and Mourne Official Opening of New Premises 20th June 2008
On June 20th 2008, PIPS Newry & Mourne officially opened their new premises at the McGrath Centre, Margaret St, Newry. This event was the culmination of much hard work by the group and has been made possible through support from Newry & Mourne District Council who has kindly leased the premises to PIPS Newry & Mourne. It will also be a base for the Protect Life Resource Centre, which has been funded by the Southern Health And Social Care Trust (SHSCT), under the auspices of the NI Suicide Prevention Strategy - Protect Life (A Shared Vision). In addition, funding secured through the strategy has made possible the post of Community Development Worker for PIPS Newry & Mourne.
Seamus McCabe founder of PIPS Newry & Mourne said that in 2003 PIPS (Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self-harm) was formed by people whose families had been devastated by the experience of loss to suicide. It is a community-based initiative committed to building relationships and working in partnership to reduce the impact of suicide.
The aims of the group are:
- Save lives
- Offer advice and support to those affected by suicide and self-harm
- Encourage people to seek help and reduce the stigma of suicide
- Increase the communities awareness around issues about suicide and self-harm
- Signpost people to places that offer help in their area
- Provide information and training
Newry and Mourne is a community that has been blighted by suicide over the years. In the past it has not always received the attention and resources appropriate to the challenges that these issues present. These are, therefore, significant new developments for the work of PIPS N&M and for our community. They will assist us in delivering and further developing a variety of responses and in building on the important partnerships already established with different agencies and groups. PIPS N&M also plan to establish a number off Outreach Centres in the Newry & Mourne area and information about these Outreach Centres can be obtained by contacting:
Seamus:
- Tel: 028 302 66195 (Office)
- Mobile: 07707039799
- Email: info@pipsnewrynadmourne.org
- Web Site: www.pipsnewryandmourne.org
Official Opening Agenda
New Premises
PIPS Newry & Mourne
CONTENTS
MC for event, Marian Cully, Chairperson, PIPS Newry & Mourne,
Foreword, RT Honourable Lord Mayor, Councillor, Coleman Burns.
Speaker , Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy MP. MLA
Speaker, Mr Danny Kennedy MLA
Official Opening, Mr Peter Walsh, Kilkeel
How it began, Mr Seamus McCabe, Founder PIPS N&M
Establishing Links, Mrs Melanie McClements, Assistant Director of Promoting Wellbeing for the Southern Trust
Website: www.pipsnewryandmourne.org
Contact Details: info@pipsnewryandmourne.org
(Newry Democrat, Ulster Gazette, Mourne Observer, Mourne Outlook and the Excaminer all ran the article below)
In recent years there has been much publicity around suicide most often with regard to major cities like Belfast or Dublin. But suicide is an issue relevant to all areas. It is a social phenomenon that impacts on all communities and knows no boundaries of politics, religion, culture or class. It is a major public health issue but it is preventable. Elsewhere, suicide rates have been reduced when there has been a collective and co-ordinated approach that destigmatized and resourced mental health services, that provided structures and services promoting positive mental health and, supported families and communities affected by suicide. This is a social problem that requires a social process where Government and government agencies, Health Services, Churches and local communities work together.
Although Newry & Mourne may not have received the same media attention as some other places, this area is not exempt from the shadow of suicide. Many families in this part of the country have been devastated by the loss of a loved one who has taken their own life. In the major cities services have been shown to be inadequate; in areas like Newry & Mourne the gaps are even more acutely felt. Things have begun to change, however, with the inception of a regional Suicide Prevention Strategy last year. But this will take time consolidate and filter through.
As with the Suicide Prevention Strategy, often the initiatives and impetus for change has come from within communities themselves. PIPS Newry & Mourne was set up by local people in 2003. At the time there was little public awareness about the fact of suicide in the community with even less support for families and friends suffering the pain of stigma and loss. The aims of PIPS Newry & Mourne have been, ‘ To raise awareness and to educate; Provide support to those left behind and those at risk; To encourage from within the community the development of a co-ordinated strategy in partnership with all those whose responsibility, work or simply genuine concern, is the emotional health of people.’
On the 30th May 2007, PIPS Newry & Mourne launched their latest initiative, a Help Card that was designed and produced by the group. The card encourages and facilitates people who feel themselves at risk to talk and seek help. The card provides suggestions to focus the mind of those in distress and also contact numbers for support. Encouraging respect for help seeking behaviour is an essential protective measure imperative to the prevention of suicide and the development of positive attitudes to mental health. This card is a tangible reminder of this and a tool to bridge the gap between moments of despair and reaching out for help.
The goal is for every person to have one of these cards in their wallets or purse so that it is readily available to them. Not only should this card be used for self help but we strongly encourage people to use it for their friends if they are seen to be in some difficulty. We want everyone in the community to engage with this initiative and carry this card. Any person or group requesting a Help card/cards should contact Marie Mobile No: 07707039799 or Click Here to Download the Help Card.
This is a community initiative premised on the importance of a, ‘whole of community,’ response to a complex social problem - ‘Social connections save lives’.