Galway suicide watch to be launched in the city

renegademaster

I presume those of you on facebook have heard about this already but if not here ye go.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Galway-Suicide-Watch/246126262241549?fref=ts

About
Galway Suicide Watch is an action plan to combat the many river suicides and attempted suicides in Galway city, and is at the beginning of a long journey

Mission
Galway Suicide Watch- Mission Statement:
To extend a helping hand, and a listening ear to those individuals who are contemplating suicide in Galway city,
To intervene, and
To guide these troubled ones to the professional help that is available.

Description
Following a number of lost lives on the River Corrib and individuals being pulled from the river, it was decided to launch an action plan to combat this problem in Galway, and reduce these tragic incidents.

Galway Suicide Watch is not going to be an overnight success.
It will be a very long, and possibly frustrating journey.
The ultimate goal is to get 'Patrols' up and running on the River Corrib and it's surrounding area. We hope to provide a service based on the very successful service provided by the CSPP Suicide Prevention Limerick, who patrol the River Shannon and it's four bridges in Limerick city by means of volunteers on pedal-bike and power boat.

What Galway Suicide Watch needs is publicity. We do not have a website.
We do not have any links to local or national government. We need people to 'like' and share our Facebook page. We need manpower, volunteers, leaders who can bring our hope into a reality. ANY help whatsoever will be accepted and appreciated.

We want to prevent any more families from losing loved ones to suicide in the River Corrib. Unfortunately this will be impossible but if in 10 years time we look back, and one person will have been helped, then it will all be worth the effort.
We need your patience.

List of Support Services:
1Life, National Suicide Prevention Helpline - 1800 247 100
Samaritans, Listening Service for people who are lonely, despairing and suicidal - 1850 609 090
Childline, A confidential phone line for children and young people - 1800 666 666
Console, Bereaved by suicide National Helpline - 1800 201 890
Mill St Garda Station - 091 538 000
Salthill Garda Station - 091 514 720

cats.life

A bit late for some but hoping its not to late for others. pick up the fone. if there are posters put up with fone numbers on them it may save a life.

FouxDaFaFa

I hope it takes off and I sent him a message to volunteer when it gets off the ground but there are so many points in Galway that you can enter the water if you want to end your life that it's going to be very difficult.

2rkehij30qtza5

I know a lot of people have Facebook pages but a lot of people also do NOT have Facebook pages. So these people are completely out of the loop for this new, very worthwhile service.

So would you consider setting up a website too...that's googleable? So if someone types in for example 'suicide Galway' into google...the website pops up.

Domain names can be set up very cheaply (for a few Euro a year) and you can use free services such as weebly to set the website up.

ETA: if people are contemplating suicide in Galway and if they do a google search on places where they may enter the water etc. or woodlands around the city..then it would be helpful if this page popped up in the google search...so I think while a facebook page is a good idea..it's not enough and a webpage is also needed.

Also, add in 999 and 112 onto the list of numbers. For emergency services, whether it's Gardaí, ambulance or fire...this is the means to contact them.

Mrs OBumble

Zeke Freezing Koala wrote: »

ETA: if people are contemplating ... in Galway and if they do a google search on places where they may enter the water etc... ..then it would be helpful if this page popped up in the google search....

What - so they could find out where the volunteers will be patrolling, and thus how to avoid them?


I know the folks behind this mean well, but it really worries me that untrained volunteers are behind it, and could possibly make things worse - eg in the quote above, there was an alternative method hinted at that really didn't need to be there.

Fair play to people for wanting to do something to help - but unless you have skills in emergency psychological intervention, you're best of sticking to activities to promote positive mental health behaviours and community engagement.

Gremlinertia

The guy behind it has volunteered with oranmore civil defence and completed the ASIST program to help intervene in such situations where someone may be at risk, i am hoping he intends on getting volunteers places on the course also, i'm intending on volunteering, but only if i can get my place on an ASIST course soon..

2rkehij30qtza5

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

eg in the quote above, there was an alternative method hinted at that really didn't need to be there.

You often hear of people having planned a suicide in advance. So if someone happens to be online and is planning something like that it would be a good idea if positive options such a group that can help comes up in search results. That's the point I was making.

mikom

Nets..........Suicide police.
It's backward we are going.

FouxDaFaFa

I was concerned that there could be a situation where a bunch of well-meaning volunteers could run into someone about to jump and not know what to do but reading the piece in the Indo today makes it sound like volunteers would be expected to do some training.

I think a separate website could be a good idea, if only to provide a non-Facebook space where people could express their interest.

flynnlives

mikom wrote: »

Nets..........Suicide police.
It's backward we are going.

have to agree!

How about the state actually invest properly in mental health services and awareness?

They did it in a huge way in Australia and managed to change the stigma of mental health in a massive way.

But this is Ireland, where the mayor will go on radio and suggest that nets be put in place! An embarrassment.

Mrs OBumble

mikom wrote: »

Nets..........Suicide police.
It's backward we are going.

Disagree.

They (or other barriers) are one part of an effective strategy.

Not the whole strategy. But an important part of dealing with impulsive self-harm behaviour, which isn't easy to assist with longer term mental health interventions.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/190/3/266.full

mikom

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Disagree.

They (or other barriers) are one part of an effective strategy.

Not the whole strategy. But an important part of dealing with impulsive self-harm behaviour, which isn't easy to assist with longer term mental health interventions.

http://bjp.rcpsych.org/content/190/3/266.full

They are a last ditch attempt to push the suicide figures away from the bridges.
A public letter saying "We are shit out of ideas folks"........... "We surrender"... a great message to send out
Maybe we could rename one of the bridges Foxconn bridge and get all Galway workers to sign a statement promising not to kill themselves and pledge to “treasure their lives”.

timmy00

As someone who lost a relative to suicide off a bridge in town, I would be very forthcoming with a bit of help for it

amiable

Why do this organisation think they can just demand the use of The Fisheries Tower? This building is privately owned. I take it they have enquired about using a room in Jury's Inn too.

Genuine question, is that particular bridge often the bridge that has been most used for suicide in the city? I ask this as if it isn't then are they wasting time setting up there.

Laviski

are they going net the walkway from jurys to Born as well?
as they can easily jump in there also.

....
...
..

more bubble wrap.

Gremlinertia

Most people who intentionally enter the water do so from the middle of the bridge so the current takes them.. If you enter from the side and are not committed to a suicidal act then you can generally get back out somewhere along the arch.. Point being, people rarely enter the water intentionally from the banks, netting at the bridges, once it doesn't disturb view, trap rubbish etc it could prove to be a good deterrent.

Fisheries tower idea seems somewhat pointless, if volunteers are ASIST trained, they should hopefully be able to deter/delay a suicidal person until emergency services arrive, they have to be within speaking distance to do that..

The biggest problem is there isn't a national cohesive strategy for the number of suicides in this country, but that's a far bigger topic than this thread covers i guess.

Laviski

if they are determined for death by drowning
they will enter the river from any location.
its an inconvenience brought on to them which some may say will make them think twice about their action, i would say it could make their decision more absolute.

better funding for the existing resources is a far more worthy cause in light of the recent charity scandals, as funding for essentials charites has being reduced throughout the recession.

amiable

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Most people who intentionally enter the water do so from the middle of the bridge so the current takes them.. If you enter from the side and are not committed to a suicidal act then you can generally get back out somewhere along the arch.. Point being, people rarely enter the water intentionally from the banks, netting at the bridges, once it doesn't disturb view, trap rubbish etc it could prove to be a good deterrent.

That would depend on the current. I've seen plenty of strong currents in the river there that would sweep you away if entered from the banks.

inisboffin

Laviski wrote: »

its an inconvenience brought on to them which some may say will make them think twice about their action, i would say it could make their decision more absolute.
.

Horribly sad to say, in at least one person's case, they seemed to change their mind after jumping and called for help but it wasn't enough. People do change their minds sometimes.

Gremlinertia

amiable wrote: »

That would depend on the current. I've seen plenty of strong currents in the river there that would sweep you away if entered from the banks.

It wouldn't be common knowledge is my point really..

amiable

Gremlinertia wrote: »

It wouldn't be common knowledge is my point really..

It wouldn't be common knowledge that a strong current could sweep you away? Not sure if serious

Gremlinertia

amiable wrote: »

It wouldn't be common knowledge that a strong current could sweep you away? Not sure if serious

Jeebus, strong current at the banks, ot thread goes ot..

amiable

Gremlinertia wrote: »

Jeebus, strong current at the banks, ot thread goes ot..

Good point and well made

Birroc

amiable wrote: »

That would depend on the current. I've seen plenty of strong currents in the river there that would sweep you away if entered from the banks.

Absolutely, never underestimate any river's ability to pull you in no matter where you enter. During the wetter months, with most weir gates open, the whole river Corrib is a death trap from weir to estuary. As I write that I recall that several people have "gone in" upriver in Dangan and across at Menlo. The river is relatively slower up there but there are some very deep pools. Barriers/nets wont be viable there.

Birroc

flynnlives wrote: »

have to agree!

How about the state actually invest properly in mental health services and awareness?

They did it in a huge way in Australia and managed to change the stigma of mental health in a massive way.

But this is Ireland, where the mayor will go on radio and suggest that nets be put in place! An embarrassment.

It's worse again, this state is dis-investing in mental health services right now. The bloated bureaucracy that is the HSE is cutting expenditure on mental health services all sides, so they can continue to waste it on useless middle "management".

snubbleste

Fiddles on 2 July refers to:
Approximately a month ago,there were seven suicides in one week in Galway. There were two alone in Moycullen. That was across a range of ages. In a period of two months over the last three months, two friends of my 19 year old son took their lives. https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2014-07-02a.336#g366

Is that true?

antoobrien

snubbleste wrote: »

Fiddles on 2 July refers to:
Approximately a month ago,there were seven suicides in one week in Galway. There were two alone in Moycullen. That was across a range of ages. In a period of two months over the last three months, two friends of my 19 year old son took their lives. https://www.kildarestreet.com/sendebates/?id=2014-07-02a.336#g366

Is that true?

During May 5 people committed suicide in a week, this may be the time frame being referred to.

http://connachttribune.ie/black-weekend-shows-scale-suicide-crisis-galway/

Long Gone

Five people in one week in a county the size of Galway is absolutely shocking. I'm not sure that a "suicide watch" in Galway City is going to make any difference whatsoever though. What's needed is something to stop people getting to the point of such total despair that they seriously consider ending it all. The present and past governments have a lot to answer for as regards where they've taken this country to....

snubbleste

antoobrien wrote: »

During May 5 people committed suicide in a week, this may be the time frame being referred to.
http://connachttribune.ie/black-weekend-shows-scale-suicide-crisis-galway/

Thanks.

Was the suicide watch set up after all? I did not see anyone around the Salmon Weir bridge last night..

antoobrien

snubbleste wrote: »

Thanks.

Was the suicide watch set up after all? I did not see anyone around the Salmon Weir bridge last night..

There's a facebook page, but it hasn't been updated recently.

It looks like the criticism the idea got from the likes of console may have seriously damaged the concept.

Mrs OBumble

antoobrien wrote: »

It looks like the criticism the idea got from the likes of console may have seriously damaged the concept.

Or maybe they took on board feedback from organisations with expertise in the area that concept they proposed had some serious flaws to start with.

antoobrien

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Or maybe they took on board feedback from organisations with expertise in the area that concept they proposed had some serious flaws to start with.

Could be, but there's been utter radio silence since May. Take that to mean what you will.

Long Gone

It was just an absolutely stupid idea - Yes there is a problem, but setting up a so-called "suicide watch" in Galway is completely pointless and will have no effect whatsoever on the suicide rate.

MargeS

Well I know someone who made an attempt recently but someone on patrol had noticed them and kept an eye on them. As a result when they jumped the person on patrol called the emergency services and they were pulled out before reaching open water.
I realise that a passer by may have done the same thing but if there is some one specifically looking for jumpers it might prevent some suicides.

Long Gone

MargeS wrote: »

Well I know someone who made an attempt recently but someone on patrol had noticed them and kept an eye on them. As a result when they jumped the person on patrol called the emergency services and they were pulled out before reaching open water.
I realise that a passer by may have done the same thing but if there is some one specifically looking for jumpers it might prevent some suicides.

Link to the alleged incident ? - Where is this meant to have occurred ? - I follow local news very closely and I am totally unaware of this alleged incident having taken place in Galway City..... I am also very sceptical that the response times of the emergency services (who do their best as we know) would be adequate for the situation described.

If some people want to carry out "suicide patrols" (and have the spare time on their hands to do it....) good luck to them... In the unlikely event that this prevents a suicide, great.

However, as I've already stated I am very far from convinced that it will make any difference whatsoever - If anything it is a distraction from the real problem.

sgthighway

Long Gone wrote: »

I am also very sceptical that the response times of the emergency services (who do their best as we know) would be adequate for the situation described.

Galway Fire Service have been doing a lot of training for their Swift Water Rescue Training and are quick on scene. Not everything gets to the news. Galway has very poor media. Normally they rely on each other for the news. If one doesn't report it the rest won't know about it.
Agreed it doesn't address the real issue but it is no harm.

WhiteWalls

Did this ever materialise, ie, suicide watch in Galway?

ciano1

WhiteWalls wrote: »

Did this ever materialise, ie, suicide watch in Galway?

Yes
https://www.facebook.com/galwaywaterwayspatrol/?fref=ts

Discodog

Calling it a waterways patrol is a very good idea. During the summer hundreds of people congregate at Spanish Arch. People can just as easily end up in the water by accident. The patrols can also check that the life buoys are in place.
The ideal would be cctv as the river access is so long.

2rkehij30qtza5

Could the group petition the City Council to install adequate barriers particularly around the canal. Not all people, particularly young men who are found in the river and canals, commit suicide. Some fall in accidentally after a night of heavy drinking.

ETA: when I was in college a friend of mine fell into the river while trying to go to the toilet into the water...had s few drinks on board. Luckily he was rescued as he managed to cling on to some vegetation at the edge of the river. It's a serious risk

snubbleste

Zeke Freezing Koala wrote: »

Could the group petition the City Council to install adequate barriers particularly around the canal. Not all people, particularly young men who are found in the river and canals, commit suicide. Some fall in accidentally after a night of heavy drinking.
ETA: when I was in college a friend of mine fell into the river while trying to go to the toilet into the water...had s few drinks on board. Luckily he was rescued as he managed to cling on to some vegetation at the edge of the river. It's a serious risk

The issue there is self-inflicted alcohol poisoning

2rkehij30qtza5

snubbleste wrote: »

The issue there is self-inflicted alcohol poisoning

With two large colleges in Galway, drunkeness or 'alcohol poisoning' as you put it, is inevitable. Students and indeed others who like to go out and enjoy themselves can invariably drink too much. When their inhibitions are down, they might see the canals or rivers as good places to relieve themselves. Not saying it's a right thing to do but it happens...every night of the week. The issue is that there are zero barriers around much of the canals and people have fallen in as a direct result of that. Curbing drinking is one element but that's not a short or even medium term solution. Erecting some kind of aesthetically pleasing fencing would most certainly reduce the number of accidental drownings, of which there are many.

ben.schlomo

Zeke Freezing Koala wrote: »

With two large colleges in Galway, drunkeness or 'alcohol poisoning' as you put it, is inevitable. Students and indeed others who like to go out and enjoy themselves can invariably drink too much. When their inhibitions are down, they might see the canals or rivers as good places to relieve themselves. Not saying it's a right thing to do but it happens...every night of the week. The issue is that there are zero barriers around much of the canals and people have fallen in as a direct result of that. Curbing drinking is one element but that's not a short or even medium term solution. Erecting some kind of aesthetically pleasing fencing would most certainly reduce the number of accidental drownings, of which there are many.

What percentage of the student population are falling into the river/canal on a regular basis to justify barriers being put in place.

biko

ciano1 wrote: »

Yes
https://www.facebook.com/galwaywaterwayspatrol/?fref=ts

Excellent, all the best to them!

gordongekko

ben.schlomo wrote: »

What percentage of the student population are falling into the river/canal on a regular basis to justify barriers being put in place.

Saving just one life would make it justifiable. Why how many do you think need to fall into it before barriers should be put in place?

ben.schlomo

gordongekko wrote: »

Saving just one life would make it justifiable. Why how many do you think need to fall into it before barriers should be put in place?

If, if, if. Why not just cover them all completely and then while we are at it put a window in front of the beaches and along the Prom, that should help too.The crux of the issue is the attitude towards and volume of alcohol consumed. Until their is some form of radical change in those then barriers etc will be of little to no use.

gctest50

Why not install retractable toilets and bring the place into the 19th century at least

gordongekko

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If, if, if. Why not just cover them all completely and then while we are at it put a window in front of the beaches and along the Prom, that should help too.The crux of the issue is the attitude towards and volume of alcohol consumed. Until their is some form of radical change in those then barriers etc will be of little to no use.

Well thats not true. A barrier by its nature will stop someone falling into the canal.

LoonyLovegood

I've nearly fallen in without drink on me, it's only I fell at the right place to end up with a nasty bruise all up my middle from the current fence thing.

Discodog

Proper railings/barriers will go up but only after a tragedy. That's how it works here.

Mrs OBumble

ben.schlomo wrote: »

If, if, if. Why not just cover them all completely and then while we are at it put a window in front of the beaches and along the Prom, that should help too.The crux of the issue is the attitude towards and volume of alcohol consumed. Until their is some form of radical change in those then barriers etc will be of little to no use.

Ahh, barriers on the edge of a sheer drop into a fast moving river are a vastly different thing to barriers across a beachfront. Barriers won't stop the truly determined. But they will stop accidents - and some accidents do happen.

Agree that we also need better psychiatric services, a mindset change towards alcohol and drug use. And toilet-training for that matter: pissing in the street or in the canal is simply not OK.

But we also need barriers which are sympathetic to the visual environment, and effective.