Eden Suicide Prevention Programme coming soon to Claremorris ‘Hope for the future’

Suicide is not an easy subject to talk about but that’s all the more reason to do so. Too many of our loved ones are being lost to suicide. We’ve made huge progress but it’s clear so much more is needed to break the stigma and to make support more available and accessible.

Partnership and collaboration is key to this change, as ultimately, we are stronger together. Suicide or Survive developed the Eden Programme in 2003, based on the personal experience of our founder Caroline McGuigan, who attempted suicide and survived.

The HSE partnered with SOS in 2015 to make the programme available to people in Mayo, Roscommon and Galway.

The Eden Programme is for people over the age of 18 years who have attempted or thought about suicide. It runs one morning a week for 26 weeks for up to 16 people at a time. It is a pioneering, innovative, educational programme that offers a welcoming, safe, and supportive space where people can explore their experiences, develop the skills to monitor and manage their mental health, and build a range of supports.

The ultimate aim is to support people to move away from suicide as an option of choice in times of crisis. Eden acknowledges that it may take time for participants to consider life rather than death, recognising that the journey to healing cannot be rushed.

The key to why Eden works is the fact that it empowers people to harness their own strengths and provides them with tools they can use to promote their own mental wellness. The focus on choice is key. Participants are offered a range of tools that they can use or adapt to meet their individual needs. This is central to our ethos of empowerment, respect for lived experience, and meeting people where they are currently at.

This community-based approach to suicide prevention is crucial if we are to continue