This article is from page 8 of the 2012-07-17 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
IN THE last year Clare Suicide Bereavement Support has received more calls than ever before.
Spokesperson for the voluntary group Owen O’Mahony cannot be sure however if the increase in numbers can be attributed to an increase in deaths or the change in the group’s name from Living Links in the past 12 months.
Either way the organisation is proving a necessary support in County Clare as more people seek out its service.
The group is run completely by volunteers and provides one to one befriending at home or at an agreed location, family support and a healing programme. A monthly group support meeting is also held.
“We don’t approach people we feel that is intrusive. We wait for people to contact us,” explained Mr O’Mahony, adding it was essential that the bereaved know this help was available.
He said while people eventually learn to go on and live their lives the most difficult issues to resolve for most is the question “why”.
“They really don’t find an answer to it but they learn to take up activities and live again,” he added.
As many as eight volunteers work for the service which now has a premises in the Roslevan Shopping Centre, Ennis.
Mr O’Mahony stresses that the volunteers are not councillors but will help someone find such support if it is required.
Mostly people get a lot off their chest through the service and begin a healing process.
“People find if they can talk and realise what they are feeling is normal it helps,” explained Mr O’Mahony.
Those wishing to contact Clare Suicide Bereavement Support can do so by calling 086 0565373 or 087 3698315 or get further information on www.claresuicidebereavementsupport.com.