Call for volunteers for suicide crisis team in Limerick

SIX months after it was set up, CCRT, the Community Crisis Response Team is looking for new volunteers to help in the work of responding in person to those who are suicidal and in distress in west Limerick.

CCRT runs a helpline from 5pm each night until 6am but also provides a face-to-face service, with pairs of volunteers willing to travel to meet the person in distress and stay with them until they are safe. The key principles of the service are connect, listen and put the safe plan in place.

It is an extremely rewarding experience, CCRT’s Caitriona MacMahon explains. But it is also demanding.

New volunteers must be over 21 and must have completed SafeTalk and ASIST training. According to Ms McMahon, a lot of people have this training. “It is just about encouraging them to come forward,” she said. But training will also be given.

Volunteers must also have a clean driving licence and must be prepared to undergo, and pass, garda vetting.

Volunteers must also be prepared to take on one shift per fortnight. CCRT began with just four vollunteers but having more people on board will mean the workload can be shared, Ms McMahon explained and will also open the way to developing the service in other communities.

“We are looking for people in the West Limerick area or who are prepared to cover the west Limerick area,” she said.

Travel expenses for call outs will be paid, thanks to fund-raising efforts by many committed people in different communities.

If you think this is for you, or if you are interested in finding out more, you can call the information line on 085 1221981.or email ccrtlimerick@gmail.com

You can also go to the website www.ccrtireland.ie