Living Links is a suicide bereavement support organisation.  The first group of Living Links was set up in Cloughjordan, Co Tipperary in 2002.  Following a suicide in the local community a small group of people got together to reflect on how they could support the family.  They felt inadequate in providing appropriate community support to the bereaved family.  Thus the Living Links was founded by a retired Garda Sergeant, Michael Egan, the Parish Priest Fr. Tom Hannon and some local people.  It has spread throughout the county and also to other counties in Ireland.

Living Links requires that volunteers take part in a four day intensive training course before beginning to work for their local group.  I was trained in 2003 and am part of the steering committee for Tipperary.  We completed a training programme for volunteers which included Sr. Rita Corry at the end of March.

The Living Links group provides outreach and support to those bereaved by suicide.  All the services are free.  We depend on local groups fundraising to finance the Living Links.  The following fund raising events took place in the past year:
(a) A young man organised a Michael Jackson concert.
(b) A farmer put on a vintage Silage Cutting and Threshing.
(c) A Wellness Centre advertised their therapies for a day and asked for a donation.
(d) A Christmas swim in Lough Derg raised a lot of funds for the group.

We also aim to increase awareness and understanding of the effects of suicide on families and communities.  We have produced leaflets and associate literature to raise awareness of our existence.  Our service includes a monthly support group meeting for families bereaved by suicide.  This group is facilitated by a trained facilitator who lost a son through suicide.

Members of Living Links also provide information to families on the procedure for inquests and accompany them to court as this is a big ordeal for them.  We liaise and provide families with information on health services available in the region.  Sometimes it may be necessary to suggest that they avail of professional counselling as we are a listening and support group.  Another service which is provided by Michael Egan is a visit to post primary schools to talk about the myths and facts of suicide.

All contacts are made by the families themselves and we do not visit them unless requested.  These requests go to the co-ordinator who assigns the outreach worker to particular families.  We meet the family in their own home or at a neutral venue.

Patricia Greene rsm
South Central Province