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Positive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Women and Children 2011- 2013

SI Federation Conference 2013

SI Republic of Ireland - National Project

Sarah McCormack National Co-ordinator

Focus on Education

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Context - Worldwide

• Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in the world, especially among young people.

• Nearly one million people die by suicide each year. This corresponds to one death by suicide every 40 seconds.

• Suicide is the biggest cause of death amongst men and women under the age of 35.

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Context – Republic of Ireland • In any year an average of 10,000 individuals

present at Emergency Departments from deliberate Self Harm. Many have repeat visits.

• Highest % is women

• All of us need to understand and look after our mental health:– What is it – It is fragile – No mental health – no health at all

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What is this project?

What can Soroptimists do for Suicide Prevention and Positive Mental Health ?

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Soroptimists HSE Mental Health Ireland

Project Objectives

The Project - Three Parties Involved

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Objectives

• To assist with making information more readily available in the community

• To assist with the work for the removal of stigma associated with mental health

• To assist with the work to build a more suicide alert community

Not a fundraising

project

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Update Reports

Soroptimist Education

Step by step guide

The project pushing us out o

f our “

comfort zone”

Visit Clubs – educate/Encourage/Lead

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Action transforming lives :

• National objectives, national framework, national guidelines – Some national actions

• But clubs have total freedom to design their own activities – Be creative!

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Examples of Project activities

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National activities

Soroptimists produced Youth support card – circulated through the clubs to the youthCard distributed to schools, shops, clubs and circulated at all Soroptimist events

Soroptimist Girls Public Speaking competition - Mental Health Topic on the list of presenting topics

“Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed of, but stigma and bias shame us all’ Bill Clinton.

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National activities

Green Ribbon - Fighting Mental Health stigma – May

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National

SafeT.A.L.K. provided free by the HSE . First aid course to get the community more aware of signs and symptoms of suicide

• Soroptimists promoting and organising these talks.

• Will have >350 people – Soroptimists and general public complete this course

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Club Activities

Soroptimists teamed up with different organisations in their area:

• Events held for the Youth – linking in with colleges • Some focused on cyber bullying and bullying in

general • Some held art and poster mental health

competitions• Activities – get the youth “doing” being involved -

musical evenings, balloon competitions etc

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Club Activities

Events for the General Public – Endless and Creative! • Expert Groups and with keynote speakers • Open debate forums • Guest speakers – some got TV personalities • Information stands at all events – distribute information • Participated in PIETA Darkness into Light 4 a.m. walk • Linked the project in with International Women’s Day –

Total Health and Beauty !• Ecumenical Service for World Suicide Prevention Day, 10th

September• Educational events of different types for World Mental

Health Day 10th October.

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Castlebar

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Public Speakinggirl

Naas/Newbridge

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Mullingar

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Soroptimists – What do we gain? • Expanded our networks ----- • More visible in the community – engaging work• People like what we are doing – see us in action in a

project that is challenging but so much needed • More people know more about Soroptimists• Encouraging new members ….. • We Soroptimists have “grown” surprised ourselves!

Educate Empower Enable Educate

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Positive Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Women and Children 2011- 2013

SI Federation Conference 2013

SI Republic of Ireland - National Project

Sarah McCormack National Co-ordinator