The 10^th of September is World Suicide Prevention Day. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) have titled the theme for the years 2024-2026 “Changing the Narrative on Suicide”. Changing that narrative is about shifting from a culture of silence and stigma to one of openness, understanding and support. The campaign in Drogheda aims to change that narrative by raising community awareness of the resources available to support those experiencing mental health difficulties and reduce the stigma associated with this. ‘Let’s Talk About Suicide’ posters; Preventing Suicide Together posters; and 24/7 crisis support cards are being distributed to a variety of locations across Drogheda (see listing below).

The Policing and Drugs subgroup of Drogheda Implementation Board, led by members of An Garda Síochana and HSE Mental Health Services, are delivering a campaign throughout the month of September, which is suicide prevention and awareness month. The campaign seeks to enhance community awareness of resources available to support those experiencing mental health difficulties and reduce the stigma associated with this and is in response to action 2.8 of the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan.

The campaign aims to get information on supports for those experiencing mental health difficulties to locations where our community spend their day to day lives. Details of the campaign are listed below. If you would like some resources for your service or think we should target other locations let us know at [email protected].

• Keyrings with the QR code leading to this link have been provided
  • for all South Louth An Garda Síochána vehicles.
  • for all Louth County Council and Louth Fire Service vehicles.
  • for voluntary emergency service vehicles (eg Red Cross, Order of Malta, Boyne River Rescue, etc)
• Louth County Council are lighting up buildings green on the 10^th September to mark World Suicide Prevention and Awareness Day
• Packs with suicide awareness and prevention resources are being delivered to
  • Local churches (including international churches)
  • Retail, hospitality, pharmacies, gyms, sports clubs, and doctor/dentist surgeries across Drogheda
  • Youth Services
  • Support services such as Drogheda Women and Children’s Refuge; Drogheda Homeless Aid; Lifestyle Development; Connect FRC; Louth Local Development
  • Lourdes Stadium
  • Lourdes Community & Recreation Centre (Boys Club)
  • Lourdes Hospital
• Information and resources, including green ribbons, will be given out at National Service Day in Drogheda on the 14^th September
• Appropriate Information and resources are being shared directly with specific communities via Connect Family Resource Centre and Louth Local Development
• Drogheda Library are hosting a talk (date to be confirmed); will have resources available to the public; are putting information on their digital screens. Louth Library Service staff will wear green ribbons on 10^th September and beyond
• Drogheda BIDs and Drogheda Chamber are including articles in their newsletters to members; businesses are being encouraged to get involved in the campaign
• Drogheda United are giving their match on the 27^th September over to the campaign, all attendees will receive a green ribbon and a card with crisis support numbers on it.
• Louth Sports Partnership are circulating information to sports clubs in the town encouraging them to get involved.
• The community of Drogheda is being encouraged to wear green ribbons and to get involved in the SeeChange Green Ribbon campaign via press and social media campaigns.

Green Ribbon campaign

Another element of the campaign is to encourage everyone in Drogheda to get behind the SeeChange Green Ribbon campaign during September. Shine’s annual Green Ribbon campaign aims to spread awareness about all mental health difficulties to help end mental health stigma.

The Green Ribbon campaign asks us all to

• Support inclusion and understanding by wearing a green ribbon
• Empower yourself with the knowledge to challenge stereotypes about mental illness
• Encourage others to become part of the social movement

= CHANGE

To order free green ribbons go to the SeeChange Website.