LIMERICK’S city and county councillors have been asked to support a call for a vacant building to be made available to provide a shared space for the voluntary suicide prevention and search and rescue teams operating in the city.
The Board of the Haven Hub charity this week wrote to all elected members of the council stating that a shared space is a realistic option for the voluntary groups with shared costs, responsibilities, and use of the building.
They have also asked Limerick Suicide Watch, Treaty Suicide Patrol, Limerick Land Search and Rescue and Tipperary Search and Rescue to come together on the agreement of a shared space rather than separate applications that would require several premises.
Supporting the proposal, Limerick Land Search and Rescue Chairman Calvin Prendergast said they were “willing and happy to work alongside any of the groups in the interest of the most vulnerable people in our city”.
The Haven Hub group has suggested that the Arthur’s Quay Tourist office would be a perfect location for a shared space, even if it was only on a temporary basis.
In a statement to the Limerick Post, the Haven Hub directors said that with Limerick continuing to have the highest suicide rate in the country, they believe the city desperately needs voluntary organisations to have a collaborative approach to the fight against suicide.
Currently providing out of hours support to people in distress and wellness courses in the community, Haven Hub is planning a crisis cafe where people who are struggling late at night can get support from suicide prevention and peer support trained volunteers.
The group currently rents a small room near the city centre and believe a nighttime cafe would encourage people to see it as a support they can use even if they are only looking to talk with someone.
Chairperson Leona O’Callaghan, said that an appropriate premises when there are so many buildings lying empty would be a longer-term solution for those who need support, but also for the organisations” moving from pillar to post to keep their services available.”
