Peter Moroney being honoured recently by the Mayor of Drogheda, Frank Maher for his work in supporting those affected by suicide through SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters).

SOSAD suicide support group for Cavan

Volunteers are now being sought for a new suicide support group being launched in Cavan in September. Peter Moroney, founder of SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters), already operates in Drogheda and Navan, providing support for those whose lives have been touched by suicide. SOSAD provides a variety of services including a 24-hour emergency line, counselling and suicide intervention. "We need about 40 or 50 volunteers in Cavan so that we can provide the service in Cavan," says Peter Moroney. "All volunteers will be given training and at the moment we are looking for co-ordinators, administrative staff, counsellors, suicide intervention officers, group facilitators, and fundraisers," he added. With alarming numbers of people committing suicide in Cavan in recent years, Peter hopes that the launch of SOSAD will help to reduce this number. He revealed that there is already "a marvellous response" to the news that SOSAD plans extending its services to Cavan. Two men in Cavan who are doing superb work on the ground together with others are Brendan Fay and Noel Barkey from the Living Links Organisation. SOSAD having been putting their counsellors at the disposal of Living Links in Cavan at very short notice already. Both men agree that SOSAD is an excellent organisation and their work fits in very wellwith the aims of Living Links. They are delighted that a SOSAD office is opening in Cavan and will be involved in the big push for volunteers. The registered charity has already established links with other local agencies and SOSAD will work closely with agencies such as the Gardaí, hospital and social workers. "We will have a telephone emergency line, which will operate 24 hours a day, as most of the calls we get come when darkness falls," he says. There will also be individual counselling for those affected by suicide, a bereavement support group and support for those who have attempted suicide. While suicide affects people of all ages and backgrounds, Peter says that in urban areas young people are most at risk, while in rural areas it's older people. What SOSAD aims to do is to let people know that there is hope and to assist them access supports that will help them get over the difficulties they are facing. Anyone who would like to volunteer to help SOSAD open their Cavan office should phone 041-9838754. If you or anyone you know is affected by suicide, contact SOSAD at 041-9838754 or log-on to SOSAD's website www.sosadireland.ie Inspiration for SOSAD It was the death of his son Simon through suicide in 2003 that led Drogheda man Peter Moroney to found SOSAD (Save Our Sons and Daughters), a support group for those affected by suicide. As he struggled to come to terms with the loss of his 16-year-old son, Peter, who was working in EPC in Dundalk at the time, Peter Snr discovered that there was little or no support for those left behind. With his wife Valerie and sons Wayne and Lee, Peter began doing research into suicide in Ireland. "The first thing that really shocked me is the huge amount of people dying by suicide in Ireland each year," recalls Peter. He was also appalled at how little support there is for people at risk of suicide, for those who had attempted suicide and for the families left behind. "We realised that we weren't the only ones, that everybody is in the same boat, that people were searching for help," he said. Appalled at the lack of resources provided by the government and HSE to tackling this problem, Peter and his family decided to do something to help others. Using the information, which they had garnered, they set up the website to help others who found themselves in similar circumstances. "We set up the website www.sosadireland.ie and we thought that was it, that was our contribution to helping to stem this tragedy," says Peter. However, the response was such that they soon realised that more than a website was needed. "People were ringing and getting in touch with us looking for support and I found that what we thought was unique to our own family at the time wasn't - that it was rife throughout the country. People were searching for help but they couldn't get it," says Peter. They went ahead and set up the registered charity SOSAD, opening their first office and counselling rooms in Drogheda in September 2008. "Since we opened, 152 people have received free counselling in Drogheda alone and last year we dealt with 290 calls," says Peter. They extended the service to Navan in September 2009 and are now planning to open in Cavan and Dundalk this September. Peter was honoured for his work in helping to prevent suicide when he received civic award from Drogheda Borough Council last year.