Union goes it alone with anti-suicide notices at Belfast park
A WEST Belfast group which yesterday erected permanent signs at Cave Hill Country Park without council permission, in an effort to discourage people from taking their own lives, said it has received inquiries about rolling out the initiative in other areas.
Steven Pollock, chair of the Unite union’s Shankill community branch, said the organisation decided to act without informing the local authority as it feared “red tape” would delay or prevent the signs’ installation. Cave Hill is council property. Originally, the group had planned to install 12 signs around Cave Hill yesterday morning, but Steven said that some of the signs were held over, after inquiries were received about putting them up elsewhere.
Steven, who lost his uncle to suicide 14 years ago, said that the council had been in touch with the group to request a meeting — but to date hasn’t asked that the signs be taken down.
“People know that something like this needs done, they’re just glad someone is trying to do something,” Steven told the Belfast Telegraph.
“If we help one person, it has been worthwhile.”
It is understood that the council currently has no plans to remove the signs.
A Belfast City Council spokeswoman said: “This is a very sensitive and complex issue, and council is part of a multi-agency task group looking at ways in which we can try to address suicide in public spaces, and provide support and signposting for anyone in distress.
“We were not approached by Unite regarding its plans to erect signs on Cave Hill, so did not grant approval for this.
“We will be seeking a meeting with the Unite representatives, inviting them to link in with us on our existing work.
“We are working on a range of ideas including signs with positive messages and information on how to seek help, which we hope to place on Cave Hill as part of a pilot initiative in early November.”