Pieta sows the seeds of hope
DARKNESS INTO LIGHT PLANTS TREE IN MEMORY OF THOSE WHO HAVE LOST LIVES TO SUICIDE IN DROGHEDA
THERE’S no getting away from it; the past seven months have been tough, and have brought difficult or dark days for many, but there is hope and support at hand.
Sunday was World Mental Health Day and to support that positive message, Pieta - Ireland’s leading suicide prevention charity - joined in initiative to plant ‘ Trees of Hope’ in over 100 locations across the country.
Drogheda Darkness into Light in conjunction with Louth County Council planted a tree at the weekend in St. Dominic’s Park in memory of all those affected by suicide in the area.
The charity is asking its supporters to get involved by planting a tree, as a symbol of hope and solidarity with those who are struggling with suicidal ideation or who have been bereaved by suicide. May is the month when Pieta’s Darkness Into Light walk, proudly supported by Electric Ireland, typically takes place. Darkness Into Light serves as a much-needed fundraiser for the charity, and is a commemorative event in remembrance of those who have lost their lives to suicide.
It’s also never been more important to share your feelings, and let someone with experience help you through your crisis.
With that in mind Pieta has launched a new nationwide, free video counselling service. The
new service will be provided in addition to Pieta’s phone therapy and ‘in-person’ counselling service which the charity provides across 19 locations nationwide.
Since the beginning of March, and the pandemic, the Pieta crisis helpline has answered over 10,000 calls directly relating to suicide,
self-harm, and suicide bereavement.
The new, free video counselling service, which consists of a session with a specialist therapist, now aims to bridge the gap for those who may be restricted through lock-down or for whom their local Pieta centre is not yet open due to Covid.
To avail of Pieta services, which are free of
charge, please visit www.pieta.ie for all centre contact details. Pieta provides 24/7 support – if you are suicidal, self-harming or bereaved you can contact Pieta 24/7 via the Freephone crisis helpline on 1800 247 247, you can also text HELP to 51444 (standard message rates apply).