Gerry Adams Unveils Mural on Suicide Prevention

West Belfast MP Gerry Adams unveiled a mural in Albert Street in the Lower Falls area of Belfast, on the issue of suicide prevention on, Sunday September 23. The mural is the work of the Falls Youth Providers and local people and provides information on help lines available for those at risk.
Relatives bereaved as a result of suicide were also present.
The title of the mural is ‘There is light at the end of the tunnel’. The Falls Youth Providers consulted with young people about what type of mural they would like and they came up with a suicide awareness mural. The mural is dedicated to all the young people in the falls area, to give them vital phone numbers of essential services.
The numbers have been broken into two categories which are day time numbers and night time numbers. Local young people participated in both the design and the painting of the mural. This gives the young people of the area ownership of the mural and there are two message boards at each side of the mural which will allow residents to write a message on the board on the day of the launch. The Falls Youth providers will also be delivering a small card with both the day and night time essential service phone numbers to all the houses in the Falls area.
Speaking after the unveiling Gerry Adams commended all of those responsible for the mural including the Falls Youth Providers, the Falls Youth Project, the artists and young people.
Adams said that information is crucial in helping those who are at risk from suicide.
“The number of reported suicides in Ireland have risen by more than 25% in the last ten years. North and west Belfast have been particularly affected. Tomorrow’s conference and the decision last week by the Health Committee of the Assembly to investigate this issue will provide opportunities for widespread discussion on this vital matter”,  Adams said.
Meanwhile, as part of its ongoing campaign on suicide prevention, Ógra Shinn Féin has produced a short film on the major issue which is the biggest killer of our young people in Ireland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mDpSjFS52Y
Speaking on the short film, Ógra National Organiser Barry McColgan said,
“Suicide has reached national emergency levels in Ireland, especially amongst the youth, and young males in particular.”
“The short film is intended to raise awareness around the national tragedy of suicide, and to encourage everyone to play their part in order to prevent more people taking their own life.”
“On the issue of suicide prevention, Ógra Shinn Féin have to date held public talks, leafleted extensively, met with government ministers, held vigils, organised ASSIST workshops and now this is a further extension of the campaign to raise its profile and encourage others to get active in Suicide Prevention.”