An Irish politician has been inundated with pleas for help after his 24-year-old son took his own life.
Fine Gael councillor Peter Roche has revealed he has been inundated with calls from people contemplating suicide.
The Irish Independent reports that Roche told a World Suicide Prevention Day Conference in Dublin that he receives weekly calls from desperate people.
He is now liaising with suicide bereavement and prevention agency Console to help those who contact him.
Roche said: “I think a lot of people prefer to make the personal contact because they feel better understood or something.
“Dozens have contacted me, and it’s good to know you can make a difference to people’s lives. Not many weeks go by when I wouldn’t have one or two making direct contact with me.”
The Dublin conference was scheduled ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Monday.
Roche told delegates that it is important for him and his family to speak about their own tragic loss.
He said: “It can be pretty difficult to accept that we didn’t take the opportunity to talk to Colin about this, but it’s nice to know we’re making a difference to somebody else. I see it as a tribute to my son.
“We get inspiration from Colin. I do this because I know it is working. It would be useless and selfish of us to just deal with our own loss. We can help others.”
The report says that Colin took his own life in a shed behind the family home in Galway in November 2010.
He had phoned his older brother, Alan minutes before to say he was sorry for what he was about to do and express his love for his family.
The paper says Alan immediately contacted his parents, who were at home at the time but by the time his father had rushed to the shed, Colin was dead.
Dad Peter said: “We were a regular family with four sons, all busy and successful. All of a sudden our lives were turned upside down.
“While we try to remain positive we are still struggling to come to terms with our terrible loss.
“We have a family wedding this weekend and those occasions are horrendously difficult. But the drive to keep going and help others comes from Colin.”
4 Comments
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.IrelandNorth | Sep 10, 2012, 06:57 AM EDT
Two previous acquaintences took their own lives. It's virtually impossible to know what's going on for people. Many people just detach from the outside and turn inwards, unable to articulate their problems. Sometimes psychotherapists of varying descriptions try very controversial tactics to confront the ego of their patients, alas sometimes to tragic effect.
borefield | Sep 09, 2012, 06:05 PM EDT
So sorry for your loss. My nephew died by suicide in late July in Ireland. He was my sister's only child. He left a wife and three young sons, a multitude of broken hearts, physiological grief and so many "Whys". There was a family wedding two weeks later, yes, it was very difficult. As with all tragic events comes some good, to see the family and friends support, everyone lending a shoulder to cry on, financial help and offers of continued support and help was great solace. Don't know if the parents will ever come to terms with it, his wife and children are getting counselling and hopefully young enough to move forward. God Bless you and your family, you will be in my prayers.
Searlit | Sep 09, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT
Sorry for your loss, Portia777.
Portia777 | Sep 09, 2012, 02:18 PM EDT
Try Dr Harry Barry- he will tell you to hurry up and get it over with as he did to me re my son.