'Urgent': Laois mental health charity has one week to raise €42k, or they must close their doors

A Laois mental health charity is at risk of closure due to the lack of funds available to meet rising demand.

SOSAD Laois operates from Shamrock House in Portlaoise, and will be forced to close their doors at the end of the week if they cannot raise €42,000 remain open.

Laois-based Sinn Féin senator, Maria McCormack, met Christy Bannon from Portlaoise, and other SOSAD volunteers who are pleading with Government for funding to save the service.

They are currently applying to the HSE for funding, and working to meet the appropriate requirements.

SOSAD Laois coordinator Shirley McKay spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live about these challenges.

"As we continue to navigate through the challenges of the cost-of-living crisis, the impact on mental health is becoming more pronounced. SOSAD Laois, a vital counselling charity in our community, is feeling the effects of this crisis firsthand," she said.

"With an increased demand for our services, we are facing rising operational costs, making it more difficult to continue offering the support that many in Laois so desperately need.

Pictured: SOSAD Laois accepting a €20,000 donation from the Light Up The Night Truck Run in 2024

"Despite this, the demand for our counselling services has only increased, leaving us at a crossroads," Ms McKay explained.

"SOSAD Laois is committed to offering free and confidential counselling to those affected by mental health challenges, including depression, anxiety, and trauma.

"We understand how crucial these services are in helping individuals navigate through their most difficult times. However, maintaining and expanding our operations requires substantial resources.

"We urgently need your support to continue our work and to ensure that help is available to everyone who needs it.

Volunteers Irina Volia and Helena Kavani with Carol Murphy, general manager SOSAD Ireland and Grace Ennis, former Laois SOSAD co-ordinator in 2022.

"Your support means the world to us, and together, we can help make a difference in the lives of those in need. Thank you for your kindness and generosity," Ms McKay finished.

Board member Christy Bannon created a GoFundMe page, and explained the associated costs with running this service.

"We need to urgently raise €42,000 by the end of this week to cover this month’s expenses and keep our life saving services running," he said.

"It costs approximately €55,000 per month to provide our services. Already this year we have helped 907 clients. Last year this is what we provided; 22,243 counselling sessions, helped over 1,900 people in 28 Counties around Ireland, an average of 428 hours counselling each week, 300 DBT Sessions offered, 1,111 Helpline calls answered, and 243 Helpline hours logged.

The charity recently lost their vital messaging service due to a lack of funding.

This messaging service allowed the public to speak to a team member over text, any time between 8pm to 12am. The charity announced recently that they were forced to close the operation due to a lack of funding.

Laois Independent TD Brian Stanley raised these issues in the Dáíl, with Taoiseach Micheál Martin responding that the HSE and Deputy Mary Butler are working on the situation.

"The Minister met the organisation to outline the steps that need to be taken for any potential funding application under the section 39 process," the Taoiseach responded.

"As the Deputy knows, as per any negotiation between the HSE and a charity organisation, information such as audited accounts, annual reports, governance arrangements and a bord of management are required so that the HSE can undertake due diligence as part of its consideration," he said.

"SOSAD is now working to provide all of that information to the HSE. It is hoped we can get this sorted," the Taoiseach finished.

You can access SOSAD Laois' GoFundMe page here.