Events last Saturday included the lighting up Enniskillen Castle, a special planting of a “Tree of Hope” in Belleek, by the Darkness Into Light team, and a sponsored cyclathon and coffee morning by Community Family Support Programme on Monday that raised funds for Fermanagh Bereaved By Suicide Support Group based in Aisling Centre. 

 

However, the events are continuing this weekend and on into the autumn, with a growing number of initiatives cropping up in communities around the county as efforts continue to raise awareness and provide support for those with mental health difficulties and their families. 

 

This Saturday, September 17, for example, the Cycle Against Suicide will be rolling into town. Starting at Enniskillen Castle, where there will be stalls and information on support services, the cycle will continue onto Carrybridge where there will be a speech, then onwards around the county and back to Enniskillen. 

 

One of those organising the event is local councillor and mental health practitioner Raymond Farrell. He said the statistics on the number of suicide deaths in the North spoke for themselves, pointing out the number of suicides had jumped by almost a fifth in the last year. 

 

“I was really startled by the figures,” said Cllr Farrell. “Between 1968 and 1998, 3,600 people lost their lives in the Troubles. From 1981-2012, 3,300 people lost their lives to suicide. That’s massive.” 

 

Cllr Farrell is also organising an event in north Fermanagh along with psychiatric nurse Mary Leonard in Pettigo next month. The event at Termon Centre on Saturday, October 1, will have speakers and stalls and is aimed at providing help and support for the community. It has been organised in response to a number of suicides in the area over the past few years. 

 

Other upcoming initiatives include Living With Suicide, a retreat on Lough Derg on Wednesday,  September 21. For more information contact Fr Cathal Deery, Aghadrumsee. 

 

There are ongoing counselling and support services at the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen, and at the Oak Healthy Living Centre in Lisnaskea, who will be running a series of events in October, which is mental health month. 

 

At the Arc Healthy Living Centre in Irvinestown, initiatives are also ongoing and the centre recently highlighted the reality of suicide through youth drama. 

 

“The group delivered a very impactful piece focusing on a young person experience of bullying, anxiety, coping with home, study and how seeking help can be mistakenly perceived as attention seeking,” said Jenny Irvine from Arc. “The feedback from the audience was incredible and there was definitely an increased empathy in regards to the mental health pressures young people face.”

 

Ms Irvine said the production, by 15 local young people, was a very thought provoking piece and deserved a wider audience. Those interested in learning more about it or seeing the play, contact Arc on 68628741.