About
Who we are
Founder/CEO – Caroline McGuigan
* CEO – Suicide or Survive
* Co-Ordinator – No Panic Ireland
* Qualified psychotherapist (Trinity College)
* Tutor/Facilitator (Maynooth College and Community Projects)
* Mental Health Advocate
* Amnesty International – Mental Health as a Human Rights Issue
* Member of the Expert by Experience Advisory Group
* Trained WRAP Facilitator
Caroline has experience of personally attempting suicide and the limited services provided. She spent 8 years as a user of the psychiatric services, leaving her with an in-depth knowledge of the medical model, how and why a person is diagnosed and the treatment they may receive in Ireland. She received a Social Entrepreneurs Ireland Level 1 Award in 2006, and a Level 2 Award in 2007.
Caroline was part of a very powerful documentary “I See a Darkness”
In the programme, Caroline along with her husband John pieces together her journey towards her suicide attempt and her subsequent recovery. Today, Caroline has two young children and has become a trained counsellor. Her story, alongside the moving testimony of her husband and friends, is a ray of hope in this dark arena.
Alan McLean (Accountant) Director and Chairperson
* Graduate of DCU – BA (Accounting and Finance)
* Fellow of the institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
* Partner in Buggy McLean Chartered Accountancts, specialising in Corporate Recovery soluntions
* Previous held Finance Direcrtor and Managing Director roles in a number of Irish Businesses
Reason for being involved in SOS – I believe that SOS provides vital services in an area sadly under-resourced by the public health system, while at the same time maintaining a personalised and compassionate approach which encourages those effected by Suicide to engage and seek help
Helen Allen – Director, Secretary
* Founded and participated in Community Co-op.
* Member of Women’s Action Network
Reason for involvement in SOS: “I have personally been affected by an attempted suicide and the impact it has on a family. SOS’s ethos of respect, genuineness, understanding and the opportunity for an individual to look at life rather than death makes sense”
Deirdre Moore – Director
* B Social Science, B Financial Services
* 20 years working in Financial Services principally as Relationship Manager in Corporate Banking AIB. Worked with companies in a broad range of industries and in-depth knowledge of operating in the corporate environment.
Reason for involvement in SOS: “I have known Caroline personally for many years prior to her being involved in the area of mental health and I am very impressed with her commitment and belief in establishing SOS and in trying to make a difference in the world of mental health. Caroline has kept me informed over the years of the work of SOS and I have on occasions being a sounding board for ideas regarding the corporate sector. I would now like to use my experiences to help Caroline and SOS in their endeavours to bring SOS to the next level”
John Pender – Director
* 3rd year student in TCM/Acupuncture
* 20 years experience in the motor trade ranging from professional trade to business owner
Reason for involvement in SOS – passionate belief that given the right environment people can take back control of their own lives
Eleanor Farrell – Director
* BSc (Joint Honours) in Computer Science and Statistics – UCD, Msc in Computer – Griffith College Dublin, MBA – Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, UCD.
* Currently Head of Commercial Strategy and Planning in Vodafone Ireland. Previously worked as a management consulting with McKinsey & Co. focusing on strategy and performance improvement across a range of consumer-focused industries
Reasons for involvement in SOS: Mental health is an area that is under-served in Ireland and is a real challenge for our country. Not for profit organisations have a great opportunity to create momentum in this sector and offer access to high quality mental health services. I believe that SOS in particular has the right model and the right capabilities to make a significant and sustainable difference in the lives of many people currently suffering from mental illness and that is something I want to be involved in.
Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel has continuously supported and encouraged SOS’s Founder in the work of SOS. Its members are:
* Social Entrepreneurs Ireland
* Denis O’ Brien, Founder, Communicorp Group
* Maria Mulcahy, Denis O’Brien Foundation
* Andrina Moore, Denis O’Brien Foundation
* Maurice Healy, CEO, The Healy Group
Robert Carley – Strategic Consultant
* Married to Jean and have 5 children
* Over 20 years experience in the Financial Services Industry and now run my own Training and Communication Company
* Conducted Personal Development and Business Courses across the world and am passionate about helping people to achieve their personal best.
Reasons for being involved in SOS – Having been introduced to Caroline and SOS for the purpose of creating a Presentation Video piece, I was so convinced of the worth of the organisation and its unique offerings to the realm of Mental Wellness, that I became a Director.
Caroline Douglas – PR Consultant
Caroline is a communications expert with over 20 years experience within the Communications and Public Relations departments of leading technology and banking organisations. She has direct responsibility for areas including Media Relations, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sponsorship and Issues & Crisis Management as well as Event Management. Caroline relishes using all of these skills at Suicide or Survive to help the organisation raise its profile and challenge mental health issues in Ireland.
Organisation Development and Advisory Board
* Pearse Finnegan
* Trudy Hayes
* Michael Nash
* Mick Coughlan
* Nicola Byrne
Mick Coughlan
* Registered Psychologist with the Psychological Society of Ireland for the past 20 years
* Associate Fellow of the Society
* Graduated from UCD 86 and completed Masters Degree in 88
* Attended Trinity in 2000 and completed graduate Dip. In Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
* Currently the Principal Psychologist in National Learning Network
Reason for involvement in SOS: Believe totally in the vision of providing community services for people to both educate and prevent against the escalating reality of numbers committing suicide. Need to prevent through dialogue and education.
We are extremely fortunate to have the input of the above organisation and individuals. Their involvement is invaluable to the development of SOS but above all that their willingness to be a part of turning the tide of suicide is priceless.
