Counselling Help to 20 Suicidal Irish People

Summary

Hope Trust plan to expand existing counselling offered in the Athlone and Galway areas of Ireland, particularly to those who self harm or have suicidal thinking. This project would subsidise 200 more counselling hours and 50 more support group hours, to those who are in need. Ireland has one of the highest rates of suicide for young people under 19 in Europe and Hope Trust seek to offer help and hope to those struggling with poor mental health.

$30,000
total goal

$8,551
remaining

196
donors

3
monthly donors

1
fundraiser

3
years

Challenge

There is an increase in self harming in Ireland, starting from 10 years old but mostly amongst teens and the homeless. Provisional figures for suicide in 2019 show the age group most affected being 55-64 years of age, with three times more men than women losing their lives. Most counselling support is concentrated in cities, whilst less is offered in the midlands, or the west of Ireland. Funding to meet these needs has decreased due to financial constraints and attention on Corona Virus.

Solution

Hope Trust offer low cost, holistic counselling and support in the midlands and west of Ireland where clients can explore issues cognitively, emotionally or spiritually. Our target group are people who may be isolated or disconnected within the community, or feel they are not coping with life issues. The emphasis is on finding hope and purpose in life and in so doing addressing poor mental health. We are now offering counselling online which is more inclusive to outside areas.

Long-Term Impact

Once a person finds purpose for their life and addresses negative thought processes they are better equipped to be productive in their families and communities. Offering a reliable counselling service in a situation where there is limited support provides a community with a resource that offers hope if members of their own families are affected by suicidal thinking. This impacts not only the person being counselled, but their whole family as well. We aim to address isolation.