Remembrance procession will mark deaths by suicide and call for action

A PUBLIC "remembrance procession" to commemorate those who have died through suicide is due to take place in Dublin next Wednesday…

A PUBLIC "remembrance procession" to commemorate those who have died through suicide is due to take place in Dublin next Wednesday.

Action on Suicide Alliance is organising the event to further highlight the issue and "to push for increased action to reduce the number of lives lost".

The alliance is hoping that as many people as possible will support the initiative to make it significant and influential, because 10 people die through suicide every week in Ireland.

Members of the public are welcome to take part in the walk, which begins at 1pm.

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It will involve "a dignified and silent procession" from the Garden of Remembrance at Parnell Square, through the city centre and on to the Dáil for 2pm. Participants will be led by a piper and will carry flowers and photographs of lost loved ones.

An alliance spokeswoman said that, at the Dáil, organisers will present a Government representative with a copy of the Action On Suicide Mandate.

The mandate calls for the implementation of key report and strategy recommendations and the funding increase of a minimum of €10 million for each of the next five years to reduce the instance of suicide.

John Saunders, chairman of the alliance - which is made up of a number of relevant national and local organisations in Ireland - said more than 12 months had passed since the alliance was formed and a mandate to Government was presented. However, since then "little has been done to address the terrible tragedy of suicide in this country. In fact, the number of lives lost through suicide is currently 10 every week.

"We encourage anyone who is interested in supporting the suicide prevention cause to join our remembrance procession on April 23rd and help stem this loss of life," Mr Saunders said.