peter
“I was just about to turn fifteen at the time. There was a group of us that piled together every afternoon after school, and there was this boy that I really, really liked. It’s funny how you remember different things, but I used to have this shampoo called Woodley Green Apples and I had really long hair. I remember thinking my hair was beautiful because I could smell the Woodley Green Apples from it. We were sitting around, and I was like, this is the time! If I sit next to him he’ll surely notice me. Then, out of the blue, someone from the group says, “Cindy! Didn’t your aul’ fella stick his head in the oven?” I thought, oh my God… Please don’t… I just wanted to die right there. I didn’t know what to say. So I just said, “No, he didn’t.” And I ran back home. My father had died by suicide a couple of months before. I still remember how hard it was to deal with his loss, for the whole family. But it was even harder to deal with the shame that came with the fact that he that had taken his own life. My mother used to say that maybe it’s better not to tell people what actually happened. That they may think we’re a bit odd or something. I never understood why we had to be so ashamed if it wasn’t at all our fault. Today, I know talking about it is the best thing you can do, and I’m very proud to work somewhere we can take the extra weight off already sore shoulders.”
Cindy O’Connor- Chief Clinical Officer involved with Pieta House since its inception in 2006.
– This post was highlighted by Pieta House, proudly supported by Electric Ireland.
Darkness Into Light is Pieta House’s flagship annual fundraising and awareness event. Wake Up and walk with us on Saturday 6th May and help Pieta House to promote suicide prevention and tackle the stigma that leads people to their doors. Register HERE!