Life

Anne Hailes: Lighthouse helps people to see they can get around their mental walls

Anne Hailes

Anne Hailes

Anne is Northern Ireland's first lady of journalism, having worked in the media since she joined Ulster Television when she was 17. Her columns have been entertaining and informing Irish News readers for 25 years.

Jo Murphy of the Lighthouse suicide awareness charity in Belfast with Big Ted the Care Bear
Jo Murphy of the Lighthouse suicide awareness charity in Belfast with Big Ted the Care Bear Jo Murphy of the Lighthouse suicide awareness charity in Belfast with Big Ted the Care Bear

EVEN at 8.30 in the morning, on Belfast’s Duncairn Gardens the doors of Lighthouse are open. By nine o’clock, in warm and comfortable surroundings, staff are talking with people who are wrestling life-and-death decisions, whether to keep going or to end their pain by taking their own lives.

Talking to Jo Murphy, the co-founder of this important suicide-prevention charity, I realise the sensitivity required, the correct language to use – never ‘committed’ suicide – and how to listen.

Beside her on the table is a box of tissues, there’s a cup of tea and straight talk. She has noticed that people who have lost a family member reach out to other families; there’s a network of support yet often those involved, especially those contemplating suicide, want to be in the company of someone totally detached. A neutral space to speak with a professional. They get that at Lighthouse.

So many questions surround this drastic action. Jo thinks it’s about our coping abilities, how resilient we are when going through a difficult time.

“Something that’s trivial to you could be massive to me – that’s why prevention is so vital. I’m not taking away from other deaths but suicide is different. For families the ‘why’ and the ‘if only’ play over and over like a DVD: the last time they saw the person in distress, what was said, what wasn’t said. The awful lasting legacy of ‘could I have done something to prevent this happening?’"

Working mainly in north Belfast, Jo goes out to grieving families. In the past it was down to community intelligence but now such is the network of caring organisations, after the police have been called, and if the family wish support, they’ll advise those organisations and there will be someone to offer immediate help after a sudden death.

The work of Lighthouse is well known and respected and, sadly in constant demand.

A phone call to Lighthouse is never put on hold; there’s always time to arrange a meeting that day for anyone feeling low, depressed and hopeless. For those so down that the only way is out, crisis intervention is vital – the opportunity to gently step in before someone takes their own life.

I ask, how do they differ from the Samaritans?

“The Samaritans are a listening ear, we are face to face and that’s important to us. People have lost the art of communication; young people especially are into their social media and if we’re going to make a dent on the number of suicides we must look to them because sadly even primary school children have been involved although this is not typical.”

To this end staff visit schools, bringing Big Ted the Care Bear with them to break the ice and get the conversation going. Recently they brought together 11 schools in the Boys Model to address the subject. According to Jo the place rocked!

Young people gave their personal stories and inspirational speakers held pupils rapt attention.

“When someone feels there’s a big wall confronting them and they simply can’t get over it, we want to get the message across that you can get round it. Many of the young people who come to us for help stay with us once they get their lives back on track and become mentors, trained to pass on their experiences and their support. They have gone on the journey so who better to talk to other young people going through their pain.”

That pain can be physical, emotional or mental – they just want it to end, they can’t see beyond this point, this is where Lighthouse is so vital.

There’s a third area of trauma. The person who discovers a body. It’s hard to imagine how dreadful this must be and how the image stays for ever. Again, talking about it with someone who understands is important and again Lighthouse is there to offer comfort.

Each of the three areas, talking to those feeling suicidal, talking to families going through the trauma of suicide and those who have been directly involved with the consequences, are dealt with confidentiality and with care.

“We used to whispered ‘The Big C’ instead of speaking out loud about cancer; mental health is now an accepted part of health in general and I talk about the 3 C’s – care and compassion leading to change," Jo says.

"It’s a slow progress but once the person having suicidal thoughts takes their courage in both hands and contacts someone like us, it may well be an uphill struggle, but with our help it’s possible to embrace the challenge and see some light on the horizon. There is hope."

She adds: “Acknowledging is the first step to reaching out.”

I ask Jo what advice she would give families who are concerned. She is in no doubt.

“Talk to them, ask the question, open the door, reach out. Say we’re worried, we’re concerned, we’ve seen a change. This gives permission to talk. Remember, it’s OK not to feel OK.”

:: More details at lighthousecharity.com telephone 0044 (0) 2890 755070

COULDN'T WOMEN DITCH THE DESIGNER LABELS?

"WHAT we are wearing is not a statement of fashion. It is a statement of action. It is a direct message of resistance."

While I admire and concur with the women of Hollywood in their stand against sexual harassment and intimidation, I couldn’t help feeling many of them let the side down. Wear black in solidarity, certainly, but the designer labels were hanging out for all to see. They did make a statement as promised but their frocks tended to overshadow.

However, all was not lost. Oprah Winfrey pulled the whole thing together with her inspiring speech, although one speech maketh not a presidential candidate!

Now girls, keep up the pressure, keep looking out for each other and young women especially and that goes for all of us everywhere. George Bernard Shaw said we become the way we are treated. Think on that: show modesty and respect and don’t allow anyone to talk you down.