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Curry GAA club help promote new suicide prevention training

The Curry GAA club in Sligo played a central role at the launch last week of a new, free, online suicide prevention training programme, ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’, designed to save more lives from suicide in Ireland.

Developed by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP), ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ is for everyone, especially for people who are supporting a loved one or someone in their local community. It helps participants to identify people who might be at risk of suicide, confidently ask about suicide, keep them safe, and connect them with resources that can help and can be accessed here: https://traininghub.nosp.ie/

Prior to its launch, the NOSP were keen to test the training and through their longstanding partnership with the GAA asked whether some club members would be interested in completing it and providing some feedback. The Curry club, who lost three beloved members of their club and local community to suicide in a six-month period just over two years ago, put their hands up and recruited members including representative of their adult and juvenile executives, coaches, and players from both the men’s and ladies’ adult teams. The recording of their impressions and experience of the training made for powerful viewing at the launch in Dublin last week of ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’, which was attended by Mary Butler, TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older Persons. Speaking at the launch, she said:

"Everyone has a role to play in suicide reduction and this easily accessible resource will help many people develop the skills to talk comfortably about suicide, and support those in distress, as well as further dispel societal discomfort with speaking openly about this issue. Let’s Talk About Suicide’ aligns with the goals of Connecting for Life, our national suicide reduction strategy, and its focus on stigma reduction, mental health promotion, and early intervention.”

An Uachtarán CLG, Jarlath Burns, praised the Curry club for their contribution to this important work.

“There are too many GAA clubs that share the pain experienced by the Curry GAA club in losing cherished members to suicide and our thoughts remain with all those within the Gaelic Games family bereaved by suicide.

“It is important, especially for the men out there, to know that asking for help is a sign of strength and not a sign of weakness. We are fortunate to have so many of our players challenge the stigma around suicide and mental health by speaking publicly about their personal experiences. Last weekend we also witnessed thousands of members participate in Darkness into Light in their local GAA club and by doing so support the work of Pieta but also demonstrate their willingness to talk openly about suicide.

“This new training equips us with the skills to do that and I would encourage all our adult members to complete it so the GAA can continue to challenge the stigma around suicide and support those in need of help to access it.”

The Curry GAA club in Sligo played a central role at the launch last week of a new, free, online suicide prevention training programme, ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide'.

The Curry GAA club in Sligo played a central role at the launch last week of a new, free, online suicide prevention training programme, ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide'.

Colin Regan, GAA Community & Health manager, contributed to a panel discussion at the launch of ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’, outlining some of the GAA’s significant work in the field of mental health promotion, suicide awareness, training, and response.

This work includes:

  • A collaboration with the NOSP to promote suicide awareness training through the Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs programme and the Association’s health and wellbeing voluntary committee structures
  • A partnership with Samaritans Ireland (celebrating ten years in 2024) promoting their 116-123 freephone helpline to members who may be experiencing any form of emotional distress or who would just benefit from a non-judgemental chat with a training individual
  • A partnership with Movember and the GPA to deliver in clubs across Ireland ‘Ahead of the Game’, Movember’s evidence-based emotional literacy programme designed for the teenagers in sports clubs
  • The development, following the tragic death by suicide in 2013 of Galway hurler Niall Donohue, of critical incident response resources and protocols, including specific advice and guidance for clubs/counties bereaved by suicide

“I’d like to thank John Niland and Jean Walsh and all the Curry club members who contributed to this video. The night we recorded it was a powerful night in Curry and their honest and open feedback really resonated with those at the launch last week,” Colin told GAA.ie.

“Pretty much every club that we work with in the aftermath of a suicide asks the same thing – what can we do to reduce the risk of it happening again in their community? Undertaking the ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ training is an evidence-based step that can reduce the risk of suicide not only in your club and community but in your circle of family and friends too.”

About ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ training:

On average, it will take 60 minutes to complete, but participants can work at their own pace. It is an introductory programme that is suitable for anyone over the age of 18.

It is recommended that anyone recently bereaved wait 12 months before engaging in this type of suicide prevention training. Participants do not need to complete any training before ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’. In fact, it is a helpful introduction to the topic for anyone considering attending more comprehensive training programmes in the future. These might include more advanced face-to-face programmes (such as safeTALK or ASIST) available from the HSE.

Let's Talk About Suicide online training programme can be accessed at https://traininghub.nosp.ie/