Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council is the first local authority to provide safeTALK suicide alertness training for elected members and council staff.
Hosted by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Mary O’Dowd in partnership with one of her chosen charities for the year – PIPS Hope and Support – the training session took place earlier this week at Craigavon Civic Centre and was attended by elected members, the council’s Interim Chief Executive Charlene Stoops and staff.
The workshop aimed to equip attendees with the skills and confidence to recognise when someone may be struggling with thoughts of suicide and to connect them with appropriate support.
Underlining the importance of having open conversations about suicide and ensuring people feel empowered to seek help when they need it, the Lord Mayor said:
“Every life lost to suicide is one too many. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a community left devastated by loss.
“Both elected members and council staff have an important role to play in supporting the people we serve and recognising when someone may need help during difficult times. Although we are not mental health professionals, we can help make a difference by recognising the signs that someone may be in crisis, engaging in supportive conversations and guiding them towards the help they need.
“I am proud to work with PIPS Hope and Support to deliver this training. By increasing our awareness and confidence to have these often difficult conversations, we can help ensure that people feel seen, heard and supported and most importantly, know that help is available.
“Suicide prevention is everyone’s responsibility and together we can help create communities where no one feels they have to face their darkest moments alone.”
SafeTALK, which stands for Suicide Alertness For Everyone, teaches participants the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, KeepSafe. The Southern Health & Social Care Trust-recognised programme provides practical guidance on identifying signs that someone may be at risk, engaging in supportive conversations and connecting them with professional support.
Founder and Chief Executive of PIPS Hope & Support Seamus McCabe who delivered the training said:
“It was a pleasure to deliver the safeTALK suicide awareness workshop to the Lord Mayor and many of her colleagues.
“The workshop focused on recognising the signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, having the confidence to ask directly about suicide and knowing how to connect that person with the appropriate support.
“My sincere thanks to the Lord Mayor and everyone who participated for their openness, engagement and willingness to address what can often be a difficult subject.
“Suicide prevention is everyone’s business and by becoming more suicide-alert, we can recognise when someone may be struggling, start potentially life-saving conversations and help connect them with the support they need.”
To learn more about PIPS Hope and Support and safeTALK suicide alertness, visit https://www.pipshopeandsupport.org/.
If you’d like to find out more about the Lord Mayor’s upcoming events and fundraising initiatives, or make a donation, please contact the Lord Mayor’s Office on 0330 0561 030 or email .
