By Diarmaid Doherty
A Donegal priest has highlighted what he says is the growing number of deaths in the county associated with addiction and mental health issues, and called on people who may be experiencing problems to show courage and seek help.
Fr Ciaran Harkin said very few families escape the scourge of addiction or mental health issues. However, he said more needs to be done to make it easier for people who are in trouble to make that leap and ask for help.
“There is no shame in seeking help in life,” he said.
“There is no shame in acknowledging I have depression, I have a gambling problem, I have an alcohol problem or I abuse drugs and I need help to overcome it – that I cannot do it on my own.”
Fr. Harkin, who is parish priest in Letterkenny’s parish of Aughaninshin, made his comments during a recent funeral Mass at the Church of the Irish Martyrs.
He said some families and friends are not very good at having “those very difficult, awkward” conversations if someone has an addiction or mental health problem.
“And therefore I sometimes wonder does that make it more difficult as a result for people who suffer from addictions, who suffer from depression, to seek help sooner,” he said.
“We have to make it as easy as possible for people who have problems to make that leap in seeking help.
“We have to as friends and as family, we have to be courageous in assisting in enabling a loved one, a person who does suffer from an addiction or a mental health issue, to seek help and to get that help.”
Fr Ciaran Harkin
Fr. Harkin said a number of people have commented to him about the growing number of requests from families on Highland Radio and RIP.ie for people to make a donation to a certain charity instead of buying a wreath to acknowledge a bereavement.
He said the charity is often Donegal Hospice or the cancer society. But there is a growing list of new names like Cuan Mhuire, Pieta House and White Oaks.
“It is reflecting the growing number of deaths that happen as a result of mental health issues or addiction related deaths,” he said.
“We in Ireland, we’re not very good at having those very difficult, awkward conversations within our families, with our friends, within our communities about mental health issues or addiction issues.
“I remember as a young fellow hearing my mother and father whisper about a relation with a wee problem. Only years later of course we found out what the wee problem was – a serious addiction.”
Addressing the mourners attending the funeral Mass, Fr. Harkin said there could be someone among them who might be struggling, having a difficult time with depression or anxiety, with alcohol issues, with gambling or drug issues.
“Or maybe there is someone here who is very worried about a family member or a close friend who you think may have a problem at the moment – an addiction issue, suffering from depression and you are just not too sure what to do about it,” he said.
“I would just say contact someone who works in that area, whether it’s addiction or in mental health and seek advice about appropriate action.
“Please do something. Act.”
Receive quality journalism wherever you are, on any device. Keep up to date from the comfort of your own home with a digital subscription.
Any time | Any place | Anywhere
SUBSCRIBE TO CURRENT EDITION TODAY
and get access to our archive editions dating back to 2007(CLICK ON THE TITLE BELOW TO SUBSCRIBE)