Become a suicide alert helper with SafeTALK in Mitchelstown

SUICIDE is something that has sadly touched the lives of many and after someone has taken their own life, their loved ones and people within the community are often left wondering if there were signs they should have seen or something they could have done to have prevented such tragedy.

On Thursday, May 5 the HSE will provide free suicide prevention training in Mitchelstown through the Safe Talk programme.

Safe Talk prepares participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide First Aid resources. These specific skills are called suicide alertness and are taught with the expectation that the person learning them will use them to help reduce suicide risk in their communities.

SafeTALK suicide alert helpers are trained to: • Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid signs of suicide • Identify people who have thoughts of suicide • Apply the TALK steps to connect a person with suicidal thoughts to people and agencies that can help

While the training is suited to everyone who wants to help prevent suicide and wants to become suicide alert, it is not suited to someone recently bereaved by suicide.

The training takes place in Mitchelstown on Monday evening May 5 between 7pm and 10pm.

Anyone interested in taking part can apply by submitting an application form which is available from

Ballyhoura Development Ltd., Baldwin St., For enquiries you can email: sallen@ballyhoura.org or phone 025 85213.