Suicide Alertness and Self-Harm Awareness Training, Castlebar

What to Expect

Two short community training courses run at the Family Centre in Castlebar in September 2026. The first is SafeTalk suicide alertness training on Tuesday 8 September, from 10am to 1:30pm. SafeTalk is a half-day programme that teaches people with no clinical background how to notice when someone may be thinking about suicide, how to ask the question directly, and how to connect that person to help. It is deliberately short and practical, designed for anyone in ordinary contact with the public rather than for professionals only.

The second session is Understanding Self-Harm on Wednesday 16 September, a full day from 10am to 5pm at the same venue. That course looks at why people self-harm, how to respond without judgement, and where to point someone for support. Both dates were circulated through parish and community networks in the Westport and Castlebar area, which is the usual route for this kind of local training in Mayo. Places on courses like these are limited by room size and are generally booked in advance, so contact the Family Centre before the date rather than arriving on the morning.

Good to Know

• SafeTalk suicide alertness training: Tuesday 8 September 2026, 10am to 1:30pm
• Understanding Self-Harm: Wednesday 16 September 2026, 10am to 5pm
• Venue for both: the Family Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
• The community notice does not state a fee, so check when booking
• Booking in advance is advisable as places are limited
• Suitable for community volunteers, club and parish workers, and anyone in regular public contact
• Content deals with suicide and self-harm, so consider whether the timing is right for you

Getting There

The Family Centre is in Castlebar, the county town, which is the easiest place in Mayo to reach by public transport. Irish Rail runs services from Dublin Heuston and from Westport to Castlebar station, and Bus Eireann connects the town with Galway, Sligo, Ballina and Westport. By road, Castlebar sits at the meeting of the N5 from Longford, the N60 from Roscommon and the N84 from Galway, with public car parks around the town centre.