A Co. Tyrone priest has given his phone number out from the church altar at a teenagers’ funeral, in a direct appeal to young people in need to seek help. Fr Daniel McFaul told mourners at St Mary’s Church in Killyclogher that Elle Trowbridge was “a young and beautiful lady…who was caught in the live fast, die young culture”.
“I can’t stop this as much as I want to, as much as the professionals, as much as your teachers, your parents want to stop this. You are the only ones who can stop this, you are the only ones who know what is going on behind the screens of social media,” he said.
“For any of you here today, who are suffering or thinking about ending their life by suicide, look around you, look at the devastation it leaves behind. I beg you on bended knee, please, there are countless support groups…please, please, please reach out because this is not the way, suicide is not the way, it’s a long-term solution to short-term problems”.