The Mary O’Gara Foundation aims to tackle the stigma around mental health from an early age by providing suicide prevention training in schools and colleges.

Sharon and Paul O’Gara set up the charity to honour their daughter Mary, who took her own life at 27 years of age.

Read more: Fulwood woman’s loved ones set up foundation for suicide prevention in young people

On Monday 7 November, Sharon and Paul visited Mary’s old school, Corpus Christi Catholic High School in Fulwood, to give back to the community and in support of Papyrus, by delivering a suicide prevention class to those working with young people.

Sharon told Blog Preston how the charity is able to support young people.

Sharon said: “The Mary O’Gara is passionate about suicide prevention and believes that all communities need to be equipped to be able to recognise and respond to young people who may be experiencing thoughts of suicide.

“We raise funds to enable training and awareness sessions to be delivered to those who work closely with young people across the Preston area and Papyrus deliver these sessions for us.”

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After the three hour workshop ended, people were given a feedback questionnaire as to how effective they thought the session was. One form revealed the person strongly agreed that young suicides can be prevented.

Sharon said: “We were on site during and the comments after were so encouraging and we are all in agreement of how important this training actually is.

“It is vital that children from a young age learn that it’s okay to talk about how they are feeling and have an open and honest conversation.

“The more suicide is brushed under the carpet, young people will continue to die. Awareness is the key.”

Sharon told Blog Preston the next sessions will be delivered to UCLan and a presentation near the Bus Station will be up until Christmas.

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Sharon said: “The next sessions will be delivered to UCLan – either on site or back at the Jack McLaughlin Centre at Corpus Christi High School

“We have a presentation in one of the empty shops on the St Johns side of the Bus Station – this is based around HOPE and will be there up until Christmas.

“We have been on the Flag Market recently for World Mental Health Day. We asked passers by to write their messages of hope, and they are now on the tree as part of our presentation.”

Read more: Preston holds World Mental Health Day event

For more information visit the Mary O’Gara Foundation website.

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