Rita Cassidy
A PETITION set up last year calling for a 24/7 suicide drop-in centre for Fermanagh has received thousands new signatures in the past two weeks, in the wake of a number of tragic deaths in the county over Christmas and New Year.
The petition, which can be found at change.org, was set up by Enniskillen woman Rita Cassidy and calls on the director of adult mental health and disability services at the Western Trust, Trevor Millar, to establish a local round-the-clock support service for those in distress. At the time of writing, it had well over 3,700 signatures, with that number rising by the hour.
Ms Cassidy, who runs the “Enniskillen family, friends and neighbours” page on Facebook, said she initially set the petition up after three local people died by suicide at Christmas last year. She then reopened the petition last week after hearing four more families had suffered the loss of a loved one this year.
“The town is back in shock again,” said Ms Cassidy, adding the whole community had been profoundly effected by the recent tragedies. Indeed, when she posted the petition to the Facebook page, it received 300 new signatures over night, with people commenting to say they themselves had personal experience of suicide.
Ms Cassidy, who has also been heavily involved in the recent protests against health cuts at SWAH, is now taking her campaign one step further.
In May past she secured a meeting with Mr Millar regarding her campaign for the drop-in centre, but said there had been little movement from the Trust since.
“He said the right thing, but nothing changed,” she said. “The talk is cheap, it’s the action that is needed.”
Ms Cassidy, who herself has lost a family member by suicide, said Mr Millar had said the Trust were carrying out a pilot scheme in Derry similar to what she had been calling for.
“I had suggested one or two nurses to train up volunteers. We’d be a bridge to the mental health team,” she said. “We know we’re limited, but we have the experience of loss through suicide. What bigger experience could you bring to the table for a suicide 24/7 drop-in?
“I asked if there was no way we could set up training. He said they were trying it in Derry and they would try it for six months.”
Ms Cassidy said that was seven months ago, and she had not heard from Mr Millar since. She is now looking to set up a committee help bring her campaign for better support services forward, stating “they can’t silence a team.”
“I’m hoping to get the support of some medical professionals and concerned citizens,” she said, adding it would mean they could carry out fundraising also.
If you are interested in joining the committee, or volunteering, you can contact Ms Cassidy via the Enniskillen family, friends and neighbours Facebook page, where you will also find regular updates.
To read more.. Subscribe to current edition
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere