Running for suicide awareness in the Dublin mini marathon

What an amazing photograph in many of the newspapers today. 40,000 women (and one or two badly made up men) of all ages running for various good causes throughout the country. €14 million is expected to be raised by the runners in this years event which is simply mind boggling. My sister ran in it a couple of years ago and said it was one of the most memorable days ever.

In the sea of 40,000 yesterday were 4 women running for Console, the charity which supports and helps people suffering a bereavement through suicide. The only reason I know this is because I made up 4 tee shirts on Friday afternoon for the runners. The photograph on the tee shirt was of a young man of 21 years who committed suicide last year. Across the top of the tee shirt I put the words “We’re running for James” and below the photograph, 2nd June 2008 which would have been his 22nd Birthday. I made a further tee shirt with his photograph the next day which had “I love you Daddy”. Very sad but this type of request is something which I get all the time.

2 weeks ago, a lady came to me with a small photograph in a keyring. She wanted her son extracted from the 21st Birthday scene in the photograph and put on a new background. I worked away while she stood to my side. I heard a sniffle and turned to see her tears. She then told me he had committed suicide and she just wanted to talk to someone about it.

So I just listened to her. I couldn’t really say a lot other than I was sure he didn’t want to cause her any hurt and that she will probably never know why he did it (no note left). I said he looked like the life and soul of the party, she nodded and said he was. I just said to try to remember him as he was and all the good times. I finished up the photoshopping and printed off the new photographs for her and she was happy with them and thanked for the chat. I just hope she’s doing ok.

There are far too many young lives being lost tragically to suicide. Many will point out that more young people die from suicide than road accidents and yet there is far more emphasis put on road deaths. Are we, as a society, too afraid of the elephant in the room to tackle the problem of depression and suicide with more vigour? Is it something which we are unconfortable talking about? if someone says they are depressed do we pretend not to hear?

Men find it harder to communicate their feelings, so it is no surprise to learn that men make up the bulk of suicides in Ireland which have risen from under 2 deaths per 100,000 population in the 1970′s to 9.6 per 100,000 population in 2006. Shocked? I was.

I read a piece on Paul’s website earlier about Aston Villa forgoing their usual big sponsorship deal next season. They will will instead carry the name of the Acorn’s Children’s Hospice. This partnership deal will help raise awareness of the the charity in the UK and abroad.

Maybe the GAA or the FAI could look at doing something similar with the various groups working in suicide awareness and prevention. It would make a refreshing change from the usual bank and booze sponsors. Just a thought.

Header image photograph by infomatique and used under a creative commons license.