A NEW support service for those bereaved by suicide has just been launched in Fingal, promising to provide vital support at what is a devastating and confusing time for families. Fingal Bereaved by Suicide Support Service (FBSSS) is a voluntary comnmunity service set up by various local agencies in response to the increasing demand for support for individuals and families bereaved by suicide and the new service was officially launched by Mayor of Fingal Councillor Gerry Mcguire. 'The launch went very well and there was a lot of goodwill and good energy for such a negative topic,' said Mary Forde from the Fingal Counselling Service, who worked with the HSE and Fingal Leader Partnership to establish the new organisation. In Ireland today more people die by suicide than by heart attacks or in road traffic accidents Swords and the surrounding areas are experiencing a continuous increase in the numbers bereaved by suicide. In response to this growing need for support, Fingal Leader Partnership, H. S.E Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention Officer, Fingal Counselling Service, CYC Youth Service and local Gardai came together, held a number of meetings resulting in the setting up of this new support service. 'It is the volunteers who will be doing the home visits and they are trained to listen and provide support when its needed,' explained Mary. 'This new service is open to so much and it will grow and develop as time goes on. When we started the Fingal Counselling Service back in 1994 we had no idea of the number of people who would use it and we have no doubt the same will be true of the Bereaved by Suicide Support Service,' said Mary. Death by suicide is sudden and often unexpected. It is a tragic life changing experience with devastating effects for those left behind and those bereaved by suicide are faced with intense grief together with feelings of anger, guilt, self-questioning, self-doubt, shame and shock, according to Mary. 'The general feeling on the night was that this is something which is really badly needed. The reason we held the launch was to let people know that we are here. The people who so badly need this service are already there, we just need to connect with them,' she said. 'We will visit families as soon as they have been bereaved or 20 years down the line, it doesn't matter when they need the support we'll be there. It has been proven that every suicide touches 100 people so the ripple effect is huge.' Mary said another positive move in terms of support services available is the appointment of new Mental Health Suicide Prevention Officer Róisín Lowry after an absence of more than a year following the departure of Caroline Lennon Lally. 'We have that link back with the HSE now which was missing for so long and it is fantastic because initially that was the stimulus for us to do this, they approached us and asked us to do the training.' Funding and support for the new service was provided by ESB Electric Aid, HSE Lottery Fund, Swords Lions Club and local businesses and individuals. If you have been bereaved by suicide and would like a home visit contact 086 7347353.

- FIONA MAGENNIS