Living Links Providing assertive outreach support to the suicide bereaved.

The first Living Links group was set up in Cloughjordan, Co. Tipperary in May 2002, when a small group of local people got together in direct response to a suicide in the community. The event was tragic and cataclysmic for the people and there was a huge sense of inadequacy on the ground as to how to provide appropriate community support and a consequent sense of failure as a community.

Living Links objectives are:

• To provide support and outreach to those bereaved by suicide
• To increase awareness and understanding of suicide and its effects on individuals, families and communities
• To liaise and exchange information with similar support groups nationally and internationally
• To support and encourage relevant research
• To produce leaflets and associated literature to be provided to survivors
• To liaise and provide families information on health services available in the region, and the referral pathways to such services should such professional counselling be required
• To provide and facilitate a group healing programme, on a needs basis, for the suicide bereaved
• To encourage the suicide bereaved and/or suicide affected to establish and foster an ongoing support group among themselves.