SafeTalk to commence in Salthill
Councillor Clodagh Higgins, who is a qualified psychologist, has today welcomed the decision by the HSE to hold mental training in Salthill. The HSE, at the Councillor’s request, has agreed to hold SafeTalk training courses at the Galway Bay Hotel on Tuesday March 10th from 6.00 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.
SafeTalk is a training programme that prepares participants to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to first aid resources.
Councillor Higgins said “During the course of my campaign mental health and suicide prevention was one of my priorities and since I have been elected it is an issue I have prioritised. I am delighted that my recent efforts have culminated in the start of this course in Salthill.
Councillor Higgins continued “This marks real progress whereby 30 people will be trained under this SafeTalk programme. This means there will be 30 more additional people in our community looking out for the signs and symptoms of suicide and more crucially making interventions so that vulnerable people can be diverted to life saving resources”.
Councillor Higgins added “The skill-set participants will acquire from completing this course is invaluable and I would like to express my thanks to the HSE Suicide Prevention Officer, Mary McDermott, who was so willing to work with me deliver this first programme. If anyone wants to register for the course please get in touch with me at Clodagh.Higgins@cgcc.ie.
Councillor Higgins concluded, “This is part of a suite of mental health measures I am working on. I recently submitted a motion to Galway City Council for the Executive to engage with stakeholders in order to combat loss of life on the River Corrib and I will continue my focus on this area which I am passionate about”.
No responses yet