Ohana ZERO Suicide – Member in Focus #36

March 22, 2021

Interview with Clodagh Fleming from Ohana ZERO suicide

Tell us a bit about yourself and/or your organisation.

My name is Clodagh Fleming and I am one of the Directors of an organisation called Ohana ZERO suicide. We are a voluntary organisation comprised of a fantastic team of 16 volunteers. We are a group of like-minded individuals from all over Ireland. We are not a charity. We felt that there are enough wonderful mental health charities out there already so we aim to compliment them through educating people with our training. We have been predominantly self funded to date with our only currency being in helping to save a life.

Our tagline is Show you care, Ask the Question, Make the Call.

How well have you/your organisation adapted to the pandemic?

Given the ongoing concerns of experts over isolation, anxiety and other mental health concerns intensified by COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown, our research showed that a short, easily accessible, online training was needed now more than ever.
We wanted to look at something that could be done immediately, it is a particularly tough time for many people at the moment and with many excellent face to face suicide prevention courses not currently available we wanted to provide something accessible online.

How well have people/organisations in your area collaborated throughout the pandemic?

Speaking from the perspective of Ohana ZERO suicide, we are comprised of a team of 16 volunteers from all over Ireland, North & South. Most of us have not yet met in person. However, we all had the common goal of playing a small part in the areas of suicide awareness and prevention. Our current virtual world due to COVID 19 made it necessary to develop our initiative over zoom meetings but it also created the ability bring a new level of efficiency to how we work.

What key needs are becoming apparent and/or are likely to arise this year?

We have just added resources for the UK & USA with the intention to add as many English-speaking country’s resources as possible over the coming weeks and months. The addition of these resources is due to the global traffic our training is seeing. Suicide is a global problem so the need for people to be equipped with the skills from our training has caused this natural ripple effect across the world. Aside from the incredible uptake across Irelands North & South, we have had sports clubs in Shanghai, organisations in Canada and individuals in the Philippines all accessing our training so far. We have also been approached about the possibility of adding subtitles to our training so this is something in our future plans too.

ASK: What do you need, right now, that the members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community may be able to help you with?

We have a simple ask, please do our training. Equip yourself with the skills to identify the signs
that someone may be suicidal or struggling mentally, to employ the correct language in asking the appropriate questions and to ultimately direct that person to the appropriate help. Our training will not turn people into professionals and experts in 20 minutes, however, it will give you the confidence to be able to have a conversation and get that person the right support. It is free to use and can be accessed at any time.

If you would like to respond to this ask, please follow the link below and enter “Ohana ZERO suicide” to the first field.

OFFER: What support are you currently offering and are you open to members of Community Network NI and/or the wider community making contact?

Equip your employees to lookout for friends and colleagues with our FREE suicide awareness training and earn an Ohana ZERO suicide Corporate Award.
Working life is tougher than ever right now. Days are short, light is in short supply. Many of us are continuing to work from home, away from the uplifting company of colleagues around us. Our colleagues and friends may feel isolated and alone. We can all be there to support each other – and you can help empower your employees to reach out. Give your employees the tools to show they care, ask the question and make the call by encouraging them to complete our FREE Ohana ZERO suicide awareness training. Together we can help to save a life.

If you would like to be connected with this offer of support, please follow the link below and enter “Ohana ZERO suicide” to the first field.