Caroline McGuigan, CEO, SOS said, “The SOS Challenge is one of our most popular fund-raising events and I would strongly urge anyone who wants to support our mission, and have a great day doing so, to pull together a team and get involved!  Each year we introduce new activities and everyone who takes part enjoys a truly entertaining and action-pack event. But importantly, the more people who get involved and raise funds for SOS, the more we can do to educate our communities and raise awareness of mental health wellness and suicide prevention.”.

How does the SOS Challenge work?
To enter the event, teams of four are required to raise €200 per team (€50 each).  It is tradition that teams take to fancy dress for the day, adding to the overall enjoyment of the day.   There are prizes for best dressed team; fastest team and, for the first time this year, any team that raises over €500 will be entered into a draw for a grand prize.

The SOS Challenge is divided into four tasks, one at each of four locations along the DART line and this year’s activities will include the following fun events:
•         Guinness & Oyster tasting – Dalkey
•         Planks & Wellies Challenge – Blackrock
•         Assault Course – Fairview
•         Karaoke with Dublin Fire Brigade – Dublin City Centre

Registration takes place at 1pm on Saturday 28th April , 2012 at Mac Turcaills (Tara Street, Dublin 1) and after the challenges, the teams are required to return to Mac Turcaills for the exciting grand finale.  Teams can relax as the winning teams are announced.  The event is wrapped up with a band and DJ set.

Anyone interested in taking part in the SOS Challenge should book their place by contacting Louise SOS – 1890 577 577  or  visiting www.suicideorsurvive.ie.

Monday, January 23rd, 2012: Vodafone and Dublin GAA are delighted to announce a unique initiative for the first games of the Allianz National Football and Hurling Leagues that will deliver a timely boost for promotion of mental health issues in Ireland.

The country’s largest total telecoms provider is to vacate its jersey sponsorship for the much anticipated opening Croke Park Spring Series football league clash with Kerry and hurling league meeting with Galway for the Suicide or Survive Charity (SOS) www.suicideorsurvive.ie. This is the first time a jersey logo will have been handed over by a sponsor to a charity for a competitive inter-county match.

The undertaking, which will see the SOS logo replace Vodafone’s for the two games, was initiated by and is being promoted through the Vodafone Ireland Foundation, which provides funding annually to a number of Irish charities.  SOS – an Irish charity focussed on breaking down the stigma associated with mental health and supporting those affected in getting access to quality recovery services – is one of Vodafone Ireland Foundation’s existing charity partners.

The two match initiative – for the eagerly awaited football league opener against Kerry on Saturday night, February 4th in Croke Park and the first hurling league game against Galway in Pearse Stadium on February 26th – will be built around a ‘Talk, Listen, Change’ (TLC) theme.  The objective is to encourage people enduring stress and other mental health challenges to open up about their difficulties, seek the support available and by doing so effect a positive change in their mental health.

Announcing the initiative, Vodafone Ireland Strategy Director Paul Ryan said:  “Mental health issues are more prevalent in Irish society today than ever before and suicide is now the leading cause of death among young people.  That shows how serious the problem is and the Dublin jersey is a great platform to raise awareness of these issues from.  We are delighted to support the ongoing campaign around mental health issues by setting aside our logo for the Suicide or Survive charity for these games.”

Said Dublin GAA CEO John Costello:  “We didn’t have to think twice when Vodafone came to us with the idea of swapping their logo for that of the Suicide or Survive Charity for these games.  With one in four people experiencing mental health problems at some stage in their lives, it is essential that organisations like Dublin GAA and the GAA get behind efforts to encourage people to talk and look for the help that’s out there.”

CEO and founder of SOS Caroline McGuigan described the joint Vodafone-Dublin GAA initiative as one of the most important developments since the organisation was established.  “This is a wonderful gesture by Vodafone and Dublin GAA.  It’s the biggest opportunity we have had as a charity to reach and educate people about mental health issues, not least breaking the stigma around them.  Between confirmed suicides and undetermined deaths, it’s estimated that 600 plus people die to suicide each year. That’s a two people per-day average, three times the number of deaths in 1980, for example, and three times the number of people killed on our roads.”

The Dublin Spring Series in Croke Park will this year involve the footballers’ opening Allianz League clash with Kerry on February 4th, which has the Tyrone v Kildare game as a curtain raiser, plus two football and hurling Allianz League double headers.  As with last year’s Dublin Spring Series, the fixtures will include interval performances by some of the country’s best known entertainers.  Value is at the core of the Dublin Spring Series initiative, with the events very much priced for the family.  Adults can attend all three events for just €30 while a child’s ticket for the three fixtures will cost just €10.  Single match tickets are priced at €13 and €5 respectively. The Dublin County Board has also embarked on an innovative revenue share scheme whereby €1 from every €3 generated from ticket sales by Dublin clubs will be returned to them.

I look forward to sharing our journey as we move forward in SOS.

I join Dil and the team on Global Village on Newstalk every two weeks and I am really enjoying working with everyone.  Its wonderful to get the opportunity to talk and discuss mental health in its fullness and challenge the stigma that exists and to realise mental health belongs to all of us and that we can build up our resilience and learn from one another.

We are off to Athlone I.T. tomorrow again to work with the wonderful students.  We will be giving the presentation “I see a darkness” at 4.00 really looking forward to meeting everyone.  We will be in Castlebar I T on Thursday delivering a wellness workshop to the students.  Again the power of collaboration its great to be working together, learning together and sharing together.

I have to say I feel very bless and privileged with the fantastic team I am a apart of both inside and outside SOS and take absolutely none of it for granted.

I am good in all of this, my energies dip just like everyone else and my challenge is to allow them to dip and keep my wellness strategies in check on a daily basis, from talking to others I know I am not alone.

Will keep you updated.  Take care

Caroline

I listened to their strength as they spoke about how they are in life now and what it took for them to sit on a panel and share the loss of their children through suicide.  I listened to the message they had for each and every one of us….talk, keep talking!

I then shared my own personal experience of suicide and the turmoil that goes on inside a person’s heart and head when they are looking at death as an option to stop the pain.  I also spoke about my absolute love for life with all its wonder, laughter and complete messiness!!

I listened to Robert, my wonderful friend and our amazing MC, who spoke of putting our hand out and telling those around us – “I have your back”!    I watched as he brought us all together in the most loving and gentle way possible.  Allowing all of us to engage in a very  tough but necessary conversation.  As I watched this man, my heart hurt for him knowing he himself had lost his beautiful wife, Jean, only five weeks ago – due to an aneurysm.

I looked out at the students.  Young, energised and listening.  Listening like I have never seen before to the real stories, the real pain, the real sorrow and the hope.  That’s what was so unbelievably touching about this week.  I walked away feeling drained, exhausted, full of tears.  But hopeful too, so, so, hopeful  and inspired by my wonderful friends  and the audience.  I felt I belonged.  I felt a part of life.  I felt valued and above all I felt loved.  From talking to some of the beautiful students afterwards I realised I was not on my own.

I can, at times, feel deflated by being told “you have not got a chance – things won’t change.”!  But not anymore…….I feel very privileged and humble and full of love and hope.

Thank you all for  a very, very, special week.  When times are tough in my life I will dip into the memory of this week and the hope I have walked away with.

Caroline

On Friday, 11th November, 2011, Karen and The Dolans will perform at the Sallynoggin Inn.  The aim of the night is to raise funds for Suicide or Survive (SOS), a charitable organisation that raises awareness of mental health issues in Ireland and  provides services & supports aimed at suicide prevention.
Tickets for the event cost €12 each and can be purchased by contacting Louise at SOS on 1890 577 577.

WHAT:             Joe Dolan Tribute Night in aid of Suicide Prevention
WHEN:             Friday, 11th November, 2011
TIME:             Doors open at 9pm and the band perform at 10pm
WHERE:         Sallynoggin Inn, Sallynoggin, Co Dublin

About Karen & The Dolans (www.karenandthedolans.com)

Karen & The Dolans performed with their ‘Uncle Joe’ for over 20 years and now Adrian and Ray Dolan are carrying on their family’s great show-business tradition with their new group Karen and The Dolans. Featuring outstanding Dundalk singer Karen Karroll on vocals, the five piece band recently released their new single,  ‘A New Word For Sorry’.

Both Adrian and Ray admit that being part of Karen and The Dolans is like starting out again. “We did think it was the end until we met Karen and heard her voice, now it’s a new beginning. There’s a new energy and great excitement. We’re back on the road and it’s as exciting as ever, breaking new ground, and taking on new fans.”
Adrian also likens Karen to his late Uncle. “Like Joe, Karen has a ‘true voice’ with a terrific range,” he says.  “Karen can sing just about anything without ever losing the feeling. She has a strong, remarkably honest voice which, in a way, is continuing the tradition.”

This voice was heard by Peter Callander, the Multi Award Winning Songwriter and Producer, responsible for million selling classics such as Amarillo, I Did What I Did For Maria, Billy Don’t Be A Hero, Avenues and Alleyways, Hitchin’ A Ride, Las Vegas, Goodbye Sam, Hello Samantha and many more household standards.  Peter wrote a powerful country pop ballad called ‘A New Word For Sorry’. A song perfectly suited to Karen’s vocal ability.

“What an honour it is to have a great song written for me by the man who has written hit songs for Dusty Springfield, Shirley Bassey, Cilla Black, and Tony Christie amongst others,” says Karen,  “I am so thrilled and excited”.

‘A New Word For Sorry’ is the new single taken from the forthcoming album “Karen and The Dolans”, due for release on 30th October.  Karen and The Dolans are constantly touring the country, and have just finished a summer season in the Las Vegas of Ireland, The Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney. Their live show includes a tribute to Joe’s music – played by the band who can play Joe Dolan songs the way they were meant to be!

September, 2011.  World Mental Health Day, driven by the World Health Organisation, takes place around the globe on Monday 10th October.   Suicide or Survive (SOS) is an Irish organisation dedicated to working towards the eradication of death by suicide, to educating our nation in matters related to mental health wellness and to removing the stigma associated with mental health challenges.  To raise awareness of the issue, SOS is collaborating with See Change and First Fortnight to host a special edit of “I See a Darkness” – an RTE documentary featuring Caroline McGuigan, CEO of SOS, for the students at University College Dublin (10th October), Galway-Mayo IT (11th October) and Waterford IT (12th October).

In addition, SOS has announced that it will run one if its’ successful “Wellness Workshops”, free of charge, for students at all three colleges in the coming weeks.

Caroline McGuigan, CEO, SOS said: “I am delighted to collaborate with See Change and First Fortnight to bring this message of mental health wellness to the students of UCD, Galway-Mayo IT and Waterford IT.  Our mental health is often brushed aside and there remains a huge stigma in our community around the challenges associated with our mental health.  Education is vital and I look forward to speaking directly to the students to help them to think differently and to draw out the subject of mental health so that no-one feels afraid to speak out if they, or a friend, are in a place of darkness.”

I am also delighted to announce that we will run a “Wellness Workshop” for the students of these three colleges in the coming weeks.  Our workshops can make a real difference. Students face just as many pressures as those of us in the workplace.  The symptoms of stress-related pressure can manifest themselves in both people’s personal lives and in the workplace – in this case, college.  The “Wellness Workshop” focuses on both aspects and helps to educate and empower people -  to put them in a position to be able to provide support to anyone who feels that they struggling.”.

Wellness Workshops
The “Wellness Workshops” were developed by SOS drawing on the organisation’s unique experience and expertise in the corporate, community and voluntary sectors.  Each one day workshop offers participants an array of practical tools, understandable theory and workable solutions to help them maintain their mental wellness.  SOS is working directly with each college to find a suitable date to run the workshop but anyone interested in attending can register with SOS by call Louise on 1890 577 577.

Collaborating with See Change and First Fortnight.
SOS is an active partner of See Change – Ireland’s national partnership to reduce stigma and challenge discrimination associated with mental health problems.  First Fortnight is an arts-based mental health awareness project that happens in the first two weeks of every year.   “I See a Darkness” is an RTE documentary which Caroline McGuigan, CEO at SOS took part in and told her story of attempted suicide.  The documentary’s film-makers will show a special edit of the programme to students and will open up a discussion about their dedication to remove the stigma associated with mental health.

The theme of the event was “A Time to Think Differently” and all guests received two vouchers for coffee, and were encouraged to take one friend out and take a view minutes to discuss their own mental health.  This is one step towards removing the stigma associated with mental health challenges that exists in Ireland today.

Caroline McGuigan, CEO, SOS said “World Suicide Prevention Day is an important reminder to us but “A Time to Think Differently” is an ongoing process.  In the knowledge of the devastation caused to families, friends, colleagues and communities by the loss of one person through suicide, challenging the stigma associated with mental health in Ireland today remains our number one priority.”

How can you help?
There are four key ways to help us work towards the eradication of death by suicide  and the removal of the stigma associated with mental health challenges.

•    Become a fan of SOS and growing our Facebook family
•    Keep mental health and suicide on the political agenda
•    Take time to have coffee with friends and talk about mental health and suicide
•    Help raise badly needed funds

Caroline continued “There are so many people to thank for the success of our lunch on World Suicide Prevention day including the guests who attended the event, the many kind donations we received for our raffle as well as the team at Town Bar & Grill and the committee who pulled together the entire event.  It is encouraging to see so many people commit themselves to our challenge and to see the belief  that people have, that we can succeed on this journey”.

August, 2011.  Suicide or Survive (SOS) recently announced plans to mark World Suicide Prevention Day which takes place around the globe on Saturday 10th September, 2011.  SOS is an Irish organisation dedicated to working towards the eradication of death by suicide, devoted to educating all generations in matters related to mental health wellness and passionate about removing the stigma associated with mental health challenges.

Caroline McGuigan, CEO, SOS said: “While we at SOS are encouraged by the fact that the number of suicides in Ireland reduced slightly in 2010, there still remains a huge challenge to bring our communities to a place where not one person believes that suicide is the only option.

In the knowledge of the devastation caused to families, friends, colleagues and communities by the loss of one person through suicide, we must continue to stay focussed on making mental health wellness and suicide our number one priority.  It is time to think differently.”.

Autumn Lunch
To celebrate World Suicide Prevention Day SOS will host a lunch in Town Bar & Grill in Dublin.  Plans for a similar event in Galway have been cancelled – however, the Dublin event is filling fast.  The Autumn Lunch promises to be an enjoyable event but, importantly, will raise much-needed funds for the ongoing work of SOS.  Tickets for the events cost €65 each and anyone interested in attending either event should contact Louise at SOS on 1890 577 577.

Life’s Little Emergency Kit
This kit was put together by a lady that SOS supported during her darkest days.  The kits, which cost €3 each, act as a reminder that no matter how dark the situation may seem, there is support out there.  SOS would encourage businesses in particular to consider selling a box (50) of the kits to raise vital funds for the organisation.  The kits are available directly from SOS by emailing louise@suicideorsurvive.ie.  The kits are available directly from SOS by contacting them directly on – 1890 577 577  or  visiting www.suicideorsurvive.ie.