Bressie to speak at console conference

Niall ‘Bressie’ Breslin will share the stage with some of the world’s most influential minds and thought leaders on suicide at Console’s upcoming annual conference.

The Console World Suicide Prevention Day Conference 2015 takes place on Thursday September 10 at the Aviva Stadium Conference Centre.

The conference is of benefit to anyone working in a care-giving role or with a more general interest in suicide prevention and postvention.

Positive mental health campaigner Bressie’s contributions to the national debate on mental health, anxiety, depression and suicide, have helped address the stigma which remains in Ireland today.

He believes that opening up about mental health is the first stage to recovery, and the fruits of that were seen in recent figures released by Console which showed a rise in the number of young men contacting the organisation.

National suicide prevention and bereavement charity Console offers free counselling services and 24-hour helpline support to people in crisis and those bereaved by suicide (Freephone 1800 201 890 or text 51444).

As the construction industry restarts again in Ireland, the conference will hear from the CEO of the award-winning Australian Mates in Construction suicide prevention programme.

John Brady will share the experience of the Queensland-based and also speak on the “Life Skills Tool Box” programme – a resilience building program for young workers in construction.

“John strongly believes that suicide is a preventable problem particularly if we can build a community where we can get Mates helping Mates,” said Console founder and CEO Paul Kelly.

The conference will be addressed by Professor Annette Beautrais – a major influencer and advocate for change around suicide prevention in New Zealand and is a World Health Organisation (WHO) International Network for Suicide Prevention representative.

In addition to her work in New Zealand and a number of other countries, Annette holds the position of Senior Research Scientist at the Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine (USA).

“We are very honoured that Annette will travel from New Zealand to Ireland on World Suicide Prevention Day to share her work in the development of a number of national suicide prevention strategies,” said Mr Kelly.

Also speaking is Professor Ella Arensman, President of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP).

Professor Arensman has been instrumental in the successful development of a number of vital international suicide research projects and strategies over the past 25 years.

“We can be sure that Professor Arensman will offer a great deal of thought leadership and guidance to those seeking to be informed and enhance their understanding around the treatment and prevention of suicide,” said Mr Kelly.

Full booking details for the conference are available on www.console.ie.