In this episode of Sligo Community Voices, Val chats to Alan - a volunteer with HUGG in Sligo. Alan has personal experience of suicide loss - his son, Conor, died in 2019.

Alan speaks about the importance of peer support, and about the supports that HUGG offer.

HUGG is an essential lifeline for people who have been bereaved by suicide. Our services include suicide bereavement support groups led by trained volunteers with lived experience of suicide loss, resources on grief after suicide, public events and webinars and advocacy and research focused on suicide bereavement support.

If you or someone you know is affected by suicide or suicide loss, please know that support is available. You can contact HUGG for suicide bereavement support on 01 513 4048 or email [email protected] or visit their website ⁠https://hugg.ie/,⁠ or if you are in crisis, you can reach out to Pieta: 1800 247 247 or ⁠https://www.pieta.ie/⁠ or the Samaritans: 116 123 or ⁠https://www.samaritans.org⁠

For people living in the North West of Ireland, you can contact North West Stop ⁠https://www.northweststop.ie/⁠ They offer a FREE Counselling Service. Call 0818 444 000