UNISON is holding a Press Conference to launch information posters “Don’t Cry Alone†At Third Floor, Galway House (Opposite Yorkgate) Friday 29th June at 1.00pm.
PRESS STATEMENT
Today UNISON Youth will launch a promotional campaign in the hope of saving young lives in Northern Ireland. In an informative suicide awareness poster initiative UNISON has published posters and leaflets with contact details for a range of support agencies.
UNISON is the largest public sector union in the UK and is calling on members of the Assembly to provide adequate funding for community groups and mental health services on the ground.
“We are very concerned about the increase in the number of young people contemplating taking their own lives, we wanted to reach out and let them know that help is available†said UNISON Youth Committee member Lynsey Moore.
In the year 2006, 291 people have taken their lives. Edward O’Donnell saw an opportunity to help “As a union member I believe that it is important that people’s mental wellbeing is an issue, we have access to so many workplaces, where people could see this informationâ€.
The UNISON Youth Committee has been working on this project for over a year. The idea came about after consultation with a range of organisations such as PIPS and West Belfast Suicide Support group and mental health organisations. UNISON currently supports members to access the ASIST Suicide Intervention training and branches have made donations to groups working in their area.