Suicide Awareness Support Group invite comment on a proposed mural for the gable wall at 123 Falls Road.
Local residents are working with Community Arts Partnership and muralist Dean Kane, aka Visual Waste, to co-design a mural based on the theme of “Hope: Reaching out is a strength”. Following a consultation process, the mural will be created for World Mental Health Day, October 10th 2023.
A coffee morning will be held at the office of Suicide Awareness and Support Group, 209 Falls Road, from 12pm – 2pm on October 10th to celebrate the launch of the mural.
Comments on the proposed image at the site can be posted to m.walker@suicideawareness.co.uk or relayed by telephone to 02890 239967.
The mural features a colourful display of the word “hope” with clasped arms and a butterfly. Conceived by the group’s members the image reflects the central message of the organisation “Reaching out is a strength, not a weakness.” Margaret Walker, CEO of Suicide Awareness Support Group said “The mural tells a story of the importance of ‘Reaching out is a strength.’ There is a solution to every problem and a problem shared is a problem halved. It comments on how we, as a community, stand together in solidarity to instil hope and keep our communities safer from suicide. HOPE is contagious lets work together to promote self-care, self-love and pass it on.”
A poem written by the families expresses the group’s feelings on the need for resilience and support for physical and emotional well-being:
No matter what lies behind us
or ahead of us, it is nothing to
what lies within us. The heights
we rise to must be measured.
from the depths out of which
we came, some of us
have come very far,
some of us have far to go,
some of us shall go much further
what matters is not the distance
nor the destination
What really matters is that
we keep on going and help each other
on our common journey.
Margaret expressed “It has been a privilege to work in partnership with Community Arts Partnership, the families, the young people. It has instilled HOPE and that there is always someone somewhere ready to take you by the hand and get you the help that you need.”
SASG received support for this project from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland’s National Lottery fund. Should a person require support for their mental health, they are encouraged to contact Lifeline at 0808 808 8000 or Suicide Awareness Support Group at 02890 239967.
“We hope it does indeed offer hope and raise awareness about suicide within our communities.”
