Suicide awareness soccer day

Suicide awareness soccer day

4 September 2013

A SUICIDE awareness themed soccer tournament has been hosted by Sinn Fein.

The Leo O’Hanlon Sinn Féin Republican Youth Committee held the 5-aside football tournament in Castlewellan last Saturday with the support of suicide prevention charity PIPS.

Teams from as far away as Louth and Tyrone travelled to Castlewellan to take part, with local politicians Chris Hazzard and Stephen Burns also taking part.

The winners on the day were ‘The Zonkeys’ who beat the Mairéad Farrell Sinn Féin Republican Youth Committee from Belfast to clinch the title.

The chairwoman of the local Leo O’Hanlon Sinn Féin Republican Youth Committee, Caitlín Ní Chearúlláin, said: “Suicide, especially among young people is a major issue not just here in Down but across the whole of Ireland, and more needs to be done to raise awareness about the importance of the problem.

“As young republicans, we in Sinn Féin youth will continue to campaign on suicide awareness and on issues that affect young people in such a way that can lead to mental health issues. These include topics such as youth unemployment, bullying and drug and alcohol awareness.

“I want to commend PIPS and the ‘Mind Your Mate and Yourself’ campaign for the work they are carrying out. None of us have to go far to find someone who has been affected in some shape or form by suicide, and groups such as PIPS do sterling work in supporting and assisting these people.”