STOP put forward as nominee for national awards
The invaluable work being carried out by the Dromahair based organisation STOP (suicide, teach, organise, prevent) has been recognised by both Eileen Carr of Rehab and local MEP Marian Harkin who nominated the group for the Quinn Healthcare People of the Year Awards. The group must now wait for the list of nominees to be whittled down to the final six before they know whether or not they will be receiving an award.
The group was founded under tragic circumstances when the McTernan, Kearins and Fallon families all came together having lost a family member to suicide. The group attempt to highlight the issue of suicide and people who are suicidal.
In 2005 the group hosted a conference in the Abbey Manor Hotel, Dromahair and ever since have continued their work of creating awareness throughout the country.
Secretary, Mary McTernan's reaction to the news that the group has been nominated for an award was one of joy.
"It would be lovely to make the final six and we are very grateful to Rehab and Marian Harkin for putting our name forward," Mary said.
Of course those involved in STOP don't carry out such endeavours for awards, although the recognition which it deservedly brings about brings with it an important opportunity to further highlight the good work that the group are constantly involved with.
"We have dealt with so, so many people who were feeling suicidal. In the past three years we have had roughly 180 calls and subsequently refferred these people to the Samaritans or A&E," stated Mary.
The group which is entirely voluntary, run the STOP Bereavement Group which caters for people in Sligo, Leitrim, Longford, Roscommon, Cavan, Mayo and Northern Ireland.
Also when a family is bereaved through suicide, if the family don't contact STOP then Mary said that the group attempt to make contact with the family.
The benefits of the group are obvious and as Mary said herself "We are saving lives."
STOP, since its inception, has consistantly fought to highlight the lack of funding allocated by the government for suicide prevention and mental health illness despite the fact that more people die as a result of suicide than on the nation's roads.
Long term they are hoping to obtain their own premises in an effort to expand the service which they are currently able to offer. However, Mary feels that it is important that further funding becomes available from the government to tackle the issue.
Contact has been made with Minister Jimmy Devins and the group are awaiting a date at which they will be able to hold a meeting.
Mary added that members of the group travel all over the country to speak particularly in schools when requested to do so.
"We work very hard and will continue to do so," commented Mary.
The People of the Year Awards, organised by Rehab and sponsored by Quinn-Healthcare provide a unique opportunity for the Irish public on both sides of the border to honour outstanding contributions by individuals to life on the island.
Past winners of People of the Year Awards include John Hume, Mo Mowlam and Veronica Guerin.
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Weather for Carrick-on-Shannon, Ireland
Thursday 17 May 2012
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