World Suicide Prevention Day Candlelight Vigils

by Ciarán Sat Sep 08, 2007 14:04

In Belfast on Monday 10th September, pink and blue balloons will be released outside Corpus Christi church in Ballymurphy at 1pm to remember all who have lost their lives as a result of suicide.

by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethics Mon Sep 10, 2007 21:17

Poem by Thomas Hardy, from 'The Going'

Why did you give no hint that night
That quickly after the morrow's dawn,
And calmly, as if indifferent quite,
You would close your term here, up and gone
Where I could not follow
With wing of swallow
To gain one glimpse of you ever anon!

Never to bid good-bye,
Or lip me the softest call,
Or utter a wish for a word, while
Saw morning harden upon the wall,
Unmoved, Unknowing
That you great going
Had place that moment, and altered all.

I shiver and shudder with the final line 'Had place that moment, and altered all'. Suicide for those left behind alters all. The guilt, the sadness, the desire to follow......rips your life to shreds with doubts as to why?

If only something mysterious could have happened, a chance call, visit and the 'broken reed' could be put back together making life so different. But then I know that the suicidal thought is so all consuming - you ensure no mysteries, it is a choice relating to a despair that you feel at a given moment in time.

This world needs more compassion, kindness - we need to listen to people, not dismiss them as having nothing worthwhile to say.

To the people who embrace this deep despair, try to alter the thought, allow somebody to say hello as they pass by......anything that can distract you. I say a programme on suicide. A young teenager was on a street and quite by accident spoke to another teenager. More than a decade on, they were friends and the Groom turned to his bestman and told his story of how he nearly.......and how glad he was that he did not.....

In case you do not know but a 'broken reed' is a broken person. I recall this from a special friend who had to undertake a drama exam. She was asked to play the part, she had never heard the expression, the examiner was English, my friend's interpretation was quite unique....

Thomas Harry is a quite exquisite writer of a social dimension of 1800 England......Of Human Bondage, and Tess of the D'Urbivilles are two books I recall.......

Michelle Clarke

Quotation
'If you are too small to make a difference try sleeping with a mosquito'
Dalai Lama

No matter how strong the despair, seek the light.....think of the candle blowing in the wind.

by Suzanne Kinsella Wed Apr 23, 2008 11:42

A friend of mine told me about a site called www.gonetoosoon.com i created a page for my brother John Kinsella who died on November 12th 2007. (Dublin) it has been a huge escape from the pain and grief but it has also been a lifeline for both myself ,familly and friends and it has helped us to deal with the pain and get us through a lot of milestones......
the people on the site have been so kind to us too. and u can just write something about the one u lost, add photos, a song or light a candle.
i hope this can bring comfort to a lot more familes.

god bless.

Sue.