A place to turn to in the aftermath of a suicide

When suicide strikes a family and community its impact is far reaching. First of all there is the suddenness of this tragedy, the realisation that the deceased is gone. Then there are funeral arrangements, a wake, the whole shaking hands process to be gone through before they are lowered to their final resting place or their ashes are scattered somewhere meaningful to the deceased and their family.

What then? When all the formalities are over, the family have time to start asking questions, seeking answers. Grieving in their unique way. But where do they turn to for help? As suicide has become an increasingly hot topic for debate and discussion within the media, we must not forget that behind the figures and statistics are real families and communities whose lives have been utterly turned upside down.

Pat on the back for Enda and co

The bright sunshine which lightened the hearts of everyone this week was matched with some exciting news for the Sacred Heart Hospital in Castlebar. The €11 million funding which was allocated to bring the facility up to HIQA standards, hopefully in time for the 2015 deadline, was greeted with genuine relief and happiness across the county.

This is not just a Castlebar good news story, but one which affects families the length and breadth of Mayo who have had positive experiences with the excellent staff at this facility.

A monumental breach of trust

The harrowing and shocking scenes shown on RTÉ Primetime Investigates programme ‘A Breach of Trust’ on Tuesday night featuring a number of named childcare facilities repulsed and shocked the nation.

You didn’t need to be a parent to feel outrage and anger as we saw scenes of childcare workers throwing little children to the ground like rag dolls, swearing at them, and strapping them to chairs. Imagine then what the parents of these innocent little beings were thinking.

More Editorial

• A place to turn to in the aftermath of a suicide
• Pat on the back for Enda and co
• A monumental breach of trust
• People power prevalent at LEADER public meeting
• Think before you type
• The power of the high vis
• Frontline workers being hung out to dry
• Mayo is rising — let’s all rise together
• The time for cynicism is over, embrace the Gathering and run with it
• A nation united in grief and anger
• The unusual mindset of the Irish
• The right decision but not an easy one
• Bloggers beware — Twitter defamation case settled
• Three and a half times more people now die by suicide than on the roads
• Offer support to those who might be feeling lonely this Christmas
• There is not much more we can take
• Shop local campaigns kicking into gear
• Our Gathering is no scam but an opportunity to be seized
• Do not suffer in silence from cyber-bullying
• We will have our victory dance