Council to challenge closure of Omagh's Samaritans branch
The loss of a vital suicide prevention service in West Tyrone will be raised at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council tonight (Tuesday).
Fears over the loss of a vital suicide prevention service in West Tyrone are set to be raised at Fermanagh and Omagh District Council tonight (Tuesday), amid growing questions over the closure of the Omagh Samaritans branch.
A motion from Councillor Barry McElduff will call on the council to demand answers from the national Samaritans charity over the reasons behind the closure, the future of the branch building and what has happened to its assets.
The closure means there is now just one remaining Samaritans branch west of the Bann, in Derry, compared with six branches east of the Bann, raising serious concerns about the availability of local support across the west.
The motion, to be seconded by Councillor Catherine Kelly, will highlight the longstanding contribution made by Omagh's Samaritans staff and volunteers, who provided essential suicide prevention interventions and mental health support to the local community.
It will also point to the branch's deep-rooted community connections and the significant fundraising efforts undertaken by local volunteers to independently finance its work.
Councillors are being asked to write directly to the central Samaritans charity, based in Surrey, England, seeking a detailed explanation of why the Omagh branch was closed.
Crucially, the motion will also question the legal basis on which the central charity can acquire assets belonging to the Omagh branch, which operated as an independent charity with its own trustees.
The council will further seek clarification on what is to become of the branch itself, its building and other assets.
The move is expected to shine a spotlight on the circumstances surrounding the closure of a service which played an important role in supporting vulnerable people across the Omagh area.
At a time when suicide prevention and access to mental health support remain critical issues, the loss of the local branch raises pressing questions about the future provision of Samaritans services west of the Bann.