Suicide is on the increase - it was up 14 per cent last year and a staggering 16 per cent the year before that.
The Midland Health Board has identified suicide as a major public health issue, especially for young males between the ages of 15 and 24. Following the recommendation of the National Task Force on Suicide, the board set up its own steering group to come to grips with the issue and appointed a resource officer to implement its recommendations.
It launched its "Don't Get Down - Get Help" campaign with the Samaritan organisation to promote awareness that a helpline service was available for young people at times of crisis or distress.
The fact sheet gives basic information on suicide, laying out the facts about it in simple form and pointing out the danger signs of suicidal intent.
It emphasises that people are at greater risk when they have experienced a recent loss or breakup in a close relationship, an unhappy change in health or circumstances, or a painful or disabling physical disease.
It says heavy use or dependence on alcohol or other drugs, a history of suicidal behaviour, a history of suicide in the family, and depression can signal suicidal intent.
The pack also gave pointers as to how people show their suicidal feelings by, for example, being withdrawn or unable to relate to those around them.
Other signs included having definite ideas about how to commit suicide, speaking of tidying up their affairs or giving other indications they are planning suicide.
Other signs include talking about feeling lonely and isolated, expressing feelings of failure, uselessness, hopelessness or loss of self-esteem, constantly dwelling on problems for which there seem to be no solutions or expressing the lack of supporting philosophy of life, such as a religious belief.
Young Fine Gael organised a meeting in Tullamore recently to discuss the issue - and was told that in Offaly, one of the four Midland Health Board counties, the suicide rate had doubled in just a year.
However, Offaly, which had twice as many suicides in 1998 as it had in 1997, is not one of the biggest problem areas and came 11th on the list of 26 counties.
Midlanders who want more information on the problem can contact Billy Bland, the campaign co-ordinator, at 050646737.