Suicide is a death like no other and the grief associated with bereavement by suicide is unique, plunging those left behind into a world of excruciating pain, devastation and trauma.

Emma Reilly, from Enniskillen, who lost both her sisters to suicide last year, does not want another family to suffer as she and her parents are suffering.

She is calling for “a driving force of local people” to help establish a drop-in centre in Fermanagh for people to access before they reach crisis point and require a suicide intervention.

It is one year since Emma put pen to paper and wrote a heart-rending letter to former Health Minister Michelle O’Neill about her youngest sister Shauna’s negative experience of mental health services in the lead up to her suicide. It was also the day the Stormont Executive collapsed, and Emma received no reply.

Mrs. O’Neill subsequently tracked Emma down and telephoned her. A few weeks later the Minister released £750,000 investment in suicide prevention and mental health programmes but said the money had nothing to do with the phone call.

READ: Health Minister Michelle O'Neill makes attempts to contact greiving sister four weeks after heart rending letter 

Twelve months on and Emma believes: “Not one thing has changed – there’s still a load of empty promises. The money that was released last year, where did it go? What did it do? Because we certainly haven’t seen it in the local area,” she stated.

Emma is frustrated by the fact that many people who are suicidal have to travel outside of Fermanagh for counselling and other suicide prevention services.

She wants to know where the £750,000 investment released last year by the Department of Health for suicide prevention and mental health programmes was spent.

The Impartial Reporter asked for a breakdown of how the money was spent but did not receive it by time of going to press.

Currently, if an individual or a family member is feeling suicidal, they are advised by health officials to: make an emergency appointment with their GP or call their GP’s surgery out-of-hours service at night or the weekend; call their mental health worker if they have one; go to the accident and emergency department at their local hospital; or ring 999 or 112.
The Western Health and Social Care Trust signposts people who are feeling suicidal to the following helplines and services (two of which are based in Enniskillen):
* Aisling Centre: An Enniskillen-based charity which offers a range of counselling services – 028 6632 5811 
* Clare House – supported accommodation at Chanterhill, Enniskillen for those who have enduring mental illness – 028 6632 6361 
* Lifeline: 24-hour support for those in distress or despair – 0808 808 8000
* Zest: a Derry-based service, funded by the Public Health Agency and Big Lottery which helps over 700 people in the Western area each year, through individual counselling, support for family and friends and complementary therapies – 028 7126 6999 
* Samaritans: a free helpline offering a listening ear for those in distress – 116 123 
North West counselling: A counselling and advice service in Derry – 028 7181 3587 
* Youthlife: A Derry-based charity which helps children and young people who have experienced bereavement – 028 7137 7227 
* Koram Centre: Strabane’s listening ear and counselling association – 028 7188 6181 
* Aurora Counselling: a Derry-based counselling service – 028 7135 0407
* Rethink – 0845 456 0455 
A Western Trust spokeswoman said the Trust “has 24-seven CRISIS/Home Treatment cover in both the Fermanagh and Omagh areas.”
She added that the Trust is currently recruiting staff for well-being hubs to be attached to GP practices, and, from Spring 2018 “there will be a new supported living facility opening in Omagh with 12 flatlets and six crisis beds,” overseen by Bernie Thompson, the Day Care Manager for Adult Mental Health based at Tyrone and Fermanagh Hospital in Omagh.

The Impartial Reporter asked Pieta House, which has just opened in Letterkenny, if it would run an outreach clinic in Fermanagh. A spokeswoman replied: “We are aware of Emma’s tragic story. Unfortunately, as we do not have a Northern Irish company, we are not in a position to offer outreach services across the border at present. However, all of the services we do have are free of charge and can be accessed by people resident in Northern Ireland if they are able to travel.”