Financial crisis facing suicide prevention support group in Laois

THE SOSAD organisation in Portlaoise is facing a financial crisis and will be forced to close its doors by the end of April if it cannot raise €42,000 to continue providing services to those in need of counselling.

The non-profit making organisation, that has 33 local volunteers provided 108 counselling appointments in just one week at the end of March to people in Portlaoise and its surrounding areas. In the three months since the start of this year it has provided 1,215 sessions.

SOSAD provides professional counselling to people who present with depression, low mood, suicidal ideation, self-harm, relationship difficulties, bereavement or to people who just need someone to listen to them.

Such is the dire financial situation facing the organisation, that the issue was brought before the March meeting of Laois County Council.

Cllr Marie Tuohy asked her fellow councillors to support her urgent call on the Minister for Health Jennifer Carol McNeill and the Minister of State with responsibility to Mental Health Mary Butler to provide interim funding for the suicide prevention organisation SOSAD.

She said: “There are 33 local volunteers ready to meet the ever-growing need, but we need to support them in doing so. They need €42,000 by the end of April to keep the life-saving service open. Every intervention is crucial and may be even life-saving and always, hopefully life altering.

“The service is in crisis at the moment and unless the interim funding is obtained this serve will end. I do not need to emphasis the possible repercussions of this. Everyone has had some experience in this area, whether directly or indirectly and the unspeakable devastation is causes.” 

Cllr Tuohy said: “SOSAD exists off funds raised by the general public and the generosity of clubs and organisations who run fundraisers to support them or from people who donate directly. There are no sponsors and no funding from Government.” She said that some people in need of counselling are referred to SOSAD by local GPs while some walk in.

She said: “There are instances of suggestions from psychiatric services that perhaps a person should call to SOSAD.” Cllr Tuohy went on to make an appeal saying: “I’m asking the community to donate to the GoFundMe page (www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-please-help-to-keep-the-doors-of-sosad-open) which has been set up, but critically, I’m asking the Ministers in my motion to act as a matter of urgency.” 

“Mental Health,” said cllr Tuohy, “has always been the Cinderella of the health service and continues to be. Promised funding levels have never materialised. Mental heath accounts for just 5.7% of the total health spend. It should be at least doubled to meet international standards and best practice. But it’s never matched with resources, staffing or positions like phycologists and counsellors. The state continues to farm out these services and responsibilities to voluntary and charitable organisations.” 

She said: “Suicidal ideation and mental health crises are not confined to 9am and 5pm, Mondays to Fridays. They’re 24/7. Timely interventions are needed for those at risk or in trauma.

“SOSAD desperately needs the Government to act urgently on this. Lives are at risk. Lives are being lost. It’s time for the Government to put it’s money where it’s mouth is in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Money can’t put a price on a life. I’m asking my council colleagues and the public to highlight the plight of SOSAD and to help.” 

Supporting the motion cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley said SOSAD: “Is a vital service for people in our community. It appears that mental health is everybody else’s problem, bar the Governments, to fund these services properly. And then the state services are steering people to these voluntary services, knowing quite well that they are not funded services.” 

Cllr Dwane Stanley said that last year part of some councillors discretionary funding was donated to SOSAD, “but this year the Graiguecullen (Municipal District) councillors were told that their discretionary funding can’t fund SOSAD any longer. If that is the case we need to go back to the drawing board, because it is our discretionary funds. The word discretionary is there for a reason. That would be a serious knock-back for SOISAD if we couldn’t do that.” 

Cllr Aisling Moran said that councillors discretionary funds were used on a number of items, such as public lights, roads or footpaths and that one section funds could go towards community projects.

She said: “To me, community is people. The money is used by local and community grows on projects, so the council don’t have to do them.” The council’s chief executive Michael Rainey said he would not speak to the motion but said that a council official is looking at discretionary funding and what it can be used for.

“SOSAD to me is community,” said cllr Dwane Stanley, “because the people living in our community are directly benefiting from the services they provide.” 

Cllr Moran said: “We all know somebody, family or friend who has suffered with their mental health. Suicide is the biggest killer of people under the age of 35 and the biggest killer of men under the age of 50. SOSAD is a very good organisation and needs to be supported.” 

Cllr Tuohy said that SOSAD has been in operation for the past 17 years and operates out of seven centres around the country. It has 15 full time employees and provides services to people in 28 counties as well as operating a 24/7 phone helpline on 1800 901 909. The contact number for enquires regarding counselling at the Portlaoise Centre is 083 029 1706.

She said: “This crisis SOSAD is facing, is hopefully a once off and the HSE comes up with some funding to keep it going.” 

Cllr Tommy Mulligan said: “Unfortunately, mental health services in the country has been overwhelmed for years. The reason why SOSAD was set up was because the help wasn’t there from the Government. A great group of people, volunteers and counsellors came together and offered these services. They are doing the job for the Government. It really makes sense that SOSAD is respected and we support them. It’s such an important issue that affects every family and every circle of friends. Unfortunately, it’s a really tough time for a young person growing up in Ireland today.”