The aim of the Niamh Louise Foundation is to provide a safe environment where anyone can drop into chat about worrying thoughts, thoughts of suicide and/ or self-harm. The Niamh Louise Foundation will provide love, understanding and respect with a non-judgemental listening ear

How did our journey start?

The Niamh Louise Foundation was set up in February 2006 following the death of a local 15 year old girl who died by suicide. Niamh McKee died on 21st November 2005. Niamh’s sudden death sent shock waves through the small rural community of Clonmore outside Dungannon, and the surrounding areas.

Niamh’s death stunned the local community, there was confusion and disbelief.  In the aftermath of her death it was soon realised that there was very little support locally in the rural community for those who had been bereaved by suicide or even affected by suicide in other ways. Services such as bereavement support groups were available in areas such as Belfast and Derry but there was very little in the heart of Tyrone and Armagh to help those who had been bereaved by suicide.

The needs of those living in the urban areas were somewhat different than the needs of those living in the rural communities in which we live in. Niamh’s mother Catherine, step-father James, and Anne Donaghy, now Chief Executive of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, co-founded The Niamh Louise Foundation on the 2nd of February 2006 on what would have been Niamh’s 16th birthday. Over 12 years on, we are a fully constituted charity, with cross community trustees and cross community committee members.

As a direct result of the passion and vision of our founder members back in 2006 and the daily growing demand for our services, we now have a great team of individuals working across rural Northern Ireland from our resource centre based at 32 Coalisland Road, Killybrackey, Dungannon. The main aim of the Niamh Louise Foundation is to work with a range of voluntary and statutory agencies to reduce the numbers of people taking their own lives in Northern Ireland and in order to do this the charity provides suicide awareness, prevention, intervention and postvention services to the community.

The charity provides prevention by raising awareness of suicide through various sources of literature and training workshops on suicide and self-harm. The Niamh Louise Foundation staff and volunteers are fully trained to intervene with individuals who are most vulnerable and are at risk of suicide or self-harm by following the first aid models provided through ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and MHFA (Mental Health First Aid).

 

What do we aim to provide?

What are our services and programmes?

The Niamh Louise Foundation has developed a model of approach which connects the individual at risk, to a programme of healing and recovery which is based on a one to one, step by step, individual process. The Foundation emphasises listening to the needs of each individual as a priority and tailors their care appropriately through art, writing, mentoring & befriending, and complementary therapy, educating the vulnerable within rural areas on warning signs, triggers, daily maintenance and prevention of relapse.

The Niamh Louise Foundation also provides postvention services. This includes providing support for bereaved families who have lost a loved one to suicide and support for those who have been affected by suicide.  This is done through complementary therapy and mentoring and befriending for all those in the community who have been affected by suicide as well as for those who are at risk and are in emotional distress and despair.

The Foundation offers a number of groups, for all ages, with an all-inclusive policy, integrating individuals together regardless of religion, ethnicity, or political traditions, thus promoting relationship development between these differing traditions, and actively increasing cross community diversity whilst supporting them with their thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or their bereavement.

‘Remember’

My tears of sorrows have been cried
I really don’t need you to cry them for me
Instead, sing, laugh and dance… for me
Remember me, but don’t hold on too long,
Because you know i am waiting for you
on the other side

My tears of sorrow have been cried
I really don’t need you to cry them for me
Instead, create , write and draw… for me
Remember me, but don’t hold on too long,
Because you know I’ve had a great time
and don’t regret a thing.

My tears of sorrow have been cried
I really don’t need you to cry them for me
Instead, inspire others and teach… for me
Remember me, but don’t hold on too long
Because i have been taught and inspired and
learned from the best.

My tears of sorrow have been cried
I really don’t need you to cry them for me.
Instead Love and be Loved… for me.
Remember me, but don’t hold on too long
Because I Love you with all of my heart and
want you to be happy again and NEVER
forget how much I Love you.

Lots of Love Níamh xoxo

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Niamh
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