Suicide or Survive announces details for the 2012 SOS Challenge

Popular fund-raiser taking place on Saturday 28th April, 2012

February, 2012. Suicide or Survive (SOS) has today announced the date for this year’s SOS Challenge as Saturday the 28th April, 2012. The SOS Challenge, which has been held for the past 6 years, is one of the organisations biggest fund-raising events of the year.  The event involves four-man teams taking part in a series of fun tasks along the Dublin DART line. The 2012 SOS Challenge hopes to raise some much needed funds for the charity as it continues its fight to break down the stigma associated with mental health issues that exist in Ireland today.

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.

Vodafone to donate logo to Suicide or Survive charity for opening games in Dublin GAA Spring Series

Vodafone Ireland Foundation partner ‘Suicide or Survive’ logo to feature on shirt in unique sponsorship initiative to raise awareness of mental health issues

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.

Carolines Blog January 2012

Happy New Year to everybody.  As myself and the team move into 2012 we are so appreciative of all the great people who surround us and work with us and the chances and opportunities that people have given us to date.  I more and more believe that no man is an island and how others can enrich our lives.  It does at times mean reaching out to people sharing our dreams and our vision or asking someone to have a cup of coffee with us.

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

Carolines Blog December 2011

Christmas is a magical time for many but for others it can be a very tough time.   I would like to wish people peace, love and warmth at this time of year.
For those who may find it difficult throughout this season if you can reach out to others, don’t isolate yourself and remember that each and every one of us are valuable and our community needs us.    If you feel that you are losing hope and see death as an option make an agreement with someone to not kill yourself while you both work on getting support to help you get through the despair you are experiencing.  These feelings and thoughts will and do pass but it is essential to keep yourself safe during this time.  Ask another person to support you in removing anything that could be of harm to you.  Contact your G.P. immediately.  If this is not possible ask your support person to accompanying you to A&E.  Create a safety statement with your support person outlining the person(s) you will contact if you are considering suicide and if they are not available who your second choice will be.   Keep this statement by your side.   Each day consider what would help your wellness on that day and what would hinder.  If you are suicidal avoid alcohol as it magnifies difficulties.  Emotional turmoil is awful and takes away our hope and our belief but it is essential to keep reminding ourselves that “this too will pass, but as I am experiencing this time I know I need to take immediate steps to keep myself safe”.
At one stage in my life I remember saying to a wise lady that I had met special people along the way who helped me and made a difference and she said “I am sure you did Caroline but we are all special”  and she was right.

Caroline’s Blog November

The last few weeks have been full on.  We started an Eden programme in Dublin city in collaboration with Shine.  There is no doubt in my mind that collaboration is the way forward. You get to meet great new people and also to see the wonderful work of other organisations.    We are holding assessments in Dun Laoghaire in Mental Health Irelands office, again working in collaboration with another great organisation.    It means being able to offer a person a choice of supports which is what it is all about.

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