Armagh City, Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council has become the first local authority to provide safeTALK suicide alertness training for elected members and council staff, in a partnership led by Lord Mayor Councillor Mary O’Dowd and PIPS Hope and Support.
The workshop was held at Craigavon Civic Centre on Monday 21 September 2026. It was attended by elected members, the council’s Interim Chief Executive Charlene Stoops and council staff, with training delivered by Seamus McCabe, founder and chief executive of PIPS Hope and Support.
Training focused on recognising when someone needs help
The session was designed to give participants the skills and confidence to recognise when someone may be experiencing thoughts of suicide and connect them with appropriate support.
SafeTALK stands for Suicide Alertness For Everyone. The Southern Health & Social Care Trust-recognised programme teaches four TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe.
The training provides practical guidance on identifying signs that someone may be at risk, having supportive conversations and connecting people with professional help. It also encourages participants to ask directly about suicide when they believe someone may be struggling.
Although council members and staff are not mental health professionals, the programme highlights the role they can play in recognising a crisis, listening supportively and helping people find the right services.
Lord Mayor stresses importance of open conversations
Councillor Mary O’Dowd hosted the event in partnership with PIPS Hope and Support, one of her chosen charities for the year.
“Every life lost to suicide is one too many. Behind every statistic is a person, a family and a community left devastated by loss.
“Both elected members and council staff have an important role to play in supporting the people we serve and recognising when someone may need help during difficult times. Although we are not mental health professionals, we can help make a difference by recognising the signs that someone may be in crisis, engaging in supportive conversations and guiding them towards the help they need.
The Lord Mayor said increasing awareness and confidence could help people feel seen, heard and supported, while ensuring they know help is available. She described suicide prevention as everyone’s responsibility and said the training could help create communities where people do not feel they must face their darkest moments alone.
PIPS highlights potentially life-saving conversations
Mr McCabe said the workshop covered how to recognise signs that someone may be thinking about suicide, ask directly about suicide and connect that person with appropriate support.
He thanked the Lord Mayor and participants for their openness and willingness to discuss a difficult subject. He said becoming more suicide-alert could help people recognise when someone is struggling, begin potentially life-saving conversations and connect them with the support they need.
People seeking more information about PIPS Hope and Support and safeTALK can visit pipshopeandsupport.org. Information about the Lord Mayor’s upcoming events and fundraising initiatives is available from the Lord Mayor’s Office on 0330 0561 030. The supplied council notice does not provide an email address for the office.