THE mother of a young woman who took her own life at the weekend has appealed to anyone who feels suicidal to seek immediate help.
Julie Matchett, whose daughter Karen was found dead in her home at Edenderry by a family member, has told of the utter devastation of the entire family after her only daughter ended her life.

"We cannot believe what has happened," Mrs Matchett told the Portadown Times at her Carrickblacker Road home. "We had no inkling that Karen was in any way depressed. She was her usual cheery self when she went shopping on Saturday, she was at a party that night, and there didn't seem to be anything the matter on Sunday.

"We appeal to anyone who feels suicidal to seek help right away. Karen's death is a terrible waste of a useful young life, and the manner of her death has left the entire family in deep shock. Nobody can begin to understand the trauma of losing a lovely daughter in these circumstances. The hurt is unbearable."

Social psychologist Dr Arthur Cassidy, an expert in the prevention and causes of suicide, has called for a public meeting in Portadown to discuss the spate of suicides in the area, now standing at 16 over the past 18 months in the Laurelvale, Tandragee, Craigavon and Richhill areas.

He said, "The issue will have to be discussed openly, allied to a large-scale advertising campaign, to get the message across and show vulnerable people where help is available."

He added that young people often suffer from a condition called 'psychache', which plunges them into brief and deep depression, during which many take their own lives, "and there is no comeback from that".

And the NI Human Rights Commission has highly criticised the provision for mental illness in the province as "totally inept" and has challenged the NHS to effect sweeping changes.

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