The Haven Hub was established in December 2019 to provide late night support to those in emotional distress or at risk of suicide. The trained volunteers sacrifice their Friday and Saturday evenings to open the doors from 8pm to 1am for anyone that needs a safe place to be supported. They have completed over 790 interventions since opening and expanded beyond Limerick to Ennis and other areas.
In the past number of years they have also delivered over 150 evidence-based courses free of charge in the community focused on wellbeing and early intervention. These include Mental Health First Aid, Decider Skills, QPR Suicide Prevention and Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP). Their chairperson Pat Doran explains “ While the Haven Hub will always ensure we support those in crisis experiencing suicidal thoughts, we see massive value in the early intervention piece. Sometimes by providing a small amount of support in the early stages to a person that is struggling, they can avoid a mental health crisis and return to wellness. Our evidence based courses such as WRAP and Decider Skills focus on teaching skills to people to recognise their early warning signs, avoid crisis, regulate their emotions, tolerate distress in healthier ways and build a network of support.
Other courses we provide helps those in the community to recognise the signs of a person experiencing a mental health difficulty such as anxiety, depression, substance misuse, suicidal thoughts or psychosis, and gives them tools and skills to respond appropriately. The aim is to help the person to keep safe & access longer term supports if needed. We are a firm believer that these courses need to be provided free to the community so that finance is not a barrier for access”.
Founder of The Haven Hub Leona O’Callaghan affirms “ The community of Limerick are full of some of the most awesome people, people we are losing to suicide and depression, our sisters, our children, our parents. We need to come together to help those that feel alone to know we care in the moments that they feel nobody does. This is the reason we now have regular evening classes and get-togethers such as our walking group, self-defense classes, mindfulness and a support group for trauma survivors. Loneliness is often at the heart and root cause of struggle, the answer to that is a safe environment where someone that is struggling with confidence and social skills can come and know that they will be understood and supported. I have met some of my closest friends myself through these groups that combine connection, friendship, support and fun”.
Karol Canty, who joined the Board of Directors this year, continues “It is exciting times for The Haven Hub at the moment. We have finally had a lease signed with the council to have our own premises, hopefully from September. We have some awesome new volunteers and board members that bring much needed new energy and ideas to the organisation. We are responding to the needs in the community with new supports such as our multicultural events to integrate those living in Limerick from other countries that need support alongside the Irish that have fewer opportunities due to mental health challenges, socio-economic and other difficulties. We have brought people together from all over the world to connect, share the food from their countries, have fun such as canoeing and treasure hunt around Limerick, and most importantly to support each other. We have also set up a support specifically for young people who will do wellness courses and fun activities such as Survival Island overnight retreat at the end of this month. Everything we offer we provide free of charge thanks to the fundraising in the community and some funding provided by The Ireland Funds, Limerick City and Co Council, Communities Integration Fund & An Pobal Community Centres Investment Fund along with Pranic Healing Centre & The ESB Energy for Generations Fund & LCETB Summer Activities Fund.
