SOSAD Ireland

SOSAD Ireland (Save Our Sons And Daughters) is an Irish charitable organisation focusing on suicide prevention and bereavement support started in 2006. It currently has offices at Trinity Street, Drogheda, Co Louth, Irleand.

Aims and Goals

The focus of SOSAD Ireland is on suicide. It aims to provide help and assistance to those bereaved by suicide and also to those considering taking their own lives.

This is achieved by communicating with local services such as the HSE [http://www.hse.ie Health Service Executive] and various schools and churches. Through this communication and other means much advertising is done and those involved attempt to get people to talk about suicide and to confront any issues they may be having.

Origins

SOSAD Ireland was started by Peter Moroney, along with the help of family and friends in 2006. The decision to start this charity arose after the second son of Peter Moroney committed suicide following a long period of depression.

It is noted that before and after the death of his son that Peter Moroney was appalled at how poor the level of help and support was in Ireland for people in similar situations. This, and a need to confront other problems relating to mental health in Ireland led Peter Moroney to begin working on SOSAD Ireland.

History and Events

So far SOSAD Ireland has held and benefited from many events since January 2007.

In January 2007 it held the first Simon Moroney Memorial Pool Tournament in O'Caseys of Drogheda. This was a popular contest and was won by Derek Smith, the current Irish number one seed pool player. This event was such a success that is now an annual event. In March 2008 the second tournament was finished, with Derek Smith yet again taking first place.

In the summer of 2007 SOSAD Ireland presented the River Lights memorial on the Boyne River in Drogheda. Almost five thousand candles were lit and floated on the Boyne River to remember those who had committed suicide in the previous ten years. The night was a great success with support from local politicians, clergy and local band Ventilin Pimps. Several hundred people turned out in rain and cold air for the night. This event will be repeated in 2008 and is planned for late in May.

In October 2007 an informational, party and musical event was held in The Star and Crescent in Drogheda. The aim of this day was to inform as many people as possible of what was happening in Ireland in relation to suicide and also to start to break the tabboo on speaking about suicide.

In February 2008 students from the Event Management course in [http://www.dkit.ie Dundalk Institute of Technology] organised a Texas Hold 'Em Freezeout tournament in the [http://www.droghedapokerclub.com Drogheda Poker Club] . A little over one hundred men and women turned up and competed in the tournament.

Support Groups

SOSAD Ireland is currently holding monthly support groups, for the suicide bereaved in the Rose Room of the Drogheda Partnership. This involves an informal chat session and guest speakers from other suicide and mental health support groups.

Help and Support

SOSAD Ireland has received support and advice from other organisations such as [http://www.samaritans.org/ The Samaritans] , [http://pipsproject.com/ Pips Project] , Louth County Council and the HSE. This support has been on an advisory level and not financial.

Several companies have contrbuted financial support and services to SOSAD Ireland. These include [http://www.esb.ie The ESB] , [http://www.alcoa.com/global/en/home.asp Alcoa Volunteers of Alcoa] , Byrne Curtain and Kelly Accountants and [http://www.angloprinters.ie/ Anglo Printers] .

External links

* http://www.sosadireland.ie