Photo was taken yesterday at Gougane Barra, West Cork (Irl)

It is that time of year again when school retreat days begin, as part of the new school year. These Transition Year Students from Col√°iste Choilm, Ballincollig made the most of their day in Gougane Barra, despite the rain falling for a while!

Thought on Tuesday – September – 11/09/2012

‘But when we are helpless, God is not. God’s love can descend into hell itself and breathe peace and reconciliation inside wound, anger, and fear. God’s hands are gentler than ours, God’s compassion is wider than ours, and God’s understanding infinitely surpasses our own. Our wounded loved ones who fall victim to suicide are safe in God’s hands.’ ~Ronald Ronheiser

Yesterday (Sep 10th) was World Suicide Awareness Day. We have all been touched in some way by suicide. All of us know someone who has died by suicide recently. The World Health Organisation estimates that about one million people die by suicide every year. This represents one death in every 40 seconds. In Ireland 525 people died by suicide last year and the feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg with the real figure significantly higher. We know the devastation suicide can bring to families and communities. So often it is not spoken about.

Suicide is an illness. We are made up of body and soul. Either can snap. There is a part of every person that is mystery. We can never know fully what is going on for someone. Suicide is a disease that picks its victim and they will often pick a time and place with our absence in mind. It’s not that they don’t love us or that they are selfish. Suicide squeezes out rational thought and thinking. Guilt and blame haunt families afterwards but it wasn’t your neglect or inattentiveness that lead your loved one to take their own life. The purpose of World Suicide Awareness Day is to recognise that the human heart is so fragile and frail. Our judgments need to be gentle, our understanding deep, our forgiveness wide and our prayers compassionate for all those affected by death through suicide.

1Life Suicide Prevention Helpline is Ireland’s first dedicated 24 hour Helpline. It provides a Freephone telephone counselling service. The number is 1800 24 7 100 or text Help to 51444