The Prince and Princess of Wales have made an unannounced trip to Belfast, Northern Ireland, to visit organisations that tackle issues for the community.
Their first stop for the day was PIPS, the Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and self harm, an organisation that works in the management of crises for the Belfast area and all throughout Northern Ireland.
The Prince and Princess were greeted by Lord Mayor Tina Black and Sinn Fein MP John Finucane. Once inside, the Princess was presented with a flower posy by Elyse Quinn, the 12-years-old daughter of PIPS’ executive director Renee Quinn.
The couple spoke with staff members from the different areas that make up PIPS, from suicide prevention to counselling to bereavement support services. The organisation also offers resources to help members of the public spot signs of suicide in others and crisis management tools to offer support to the person with suicidal intents until more qualified personnel can take them to safety.
PIPS offers no-appointment sessions, as well as reception staff trained to recognise suicidal tendencies even over the phone. Some of their most recent work includes a hard-fought campaign to end all stigma in asking for help when having suicidal thoughts.
PIPS was founded in 2003, following the fourteen suicides that rocked the Belfast community the year before. Many stakeholders came together to finance the creation of a safe space that could help people with suicidal tendencies.Â
Since then, the organisation has employed countless staff members, and has offered their service to many people. A worrisome trend that was discussed during the visit is the 500% increase in calls that PIPS has received from young people since the beginning of the pandemic.
After listening to staff members, as well as young people that are currently using the services provided by the charity (including 24-years-old Erin Quinn), the Prince and Princess of Wales delved into a more practical activity, as they took part in an art therapy session during which they painted some pumpkins and helped volunteers pack “Little Boxes of Hope”, the charity’s signature handouts that contain various items, from pop fidget toys to scented sprays. The boxes are handed out to children that have been treated in PIPS facilities, to make them and their parents or guardians feel better equipped to cope with the rest of their recovery journey.
Before departing the facility, the couple took a few moments to greet and shake hands with some members of the crowd that had gathered outside the structure to welcome them.
The Prince and Princess of Wales have long made mental health a clear priority in the causes they support, tackling the issue from different angles. Next Monday, the 10th of October, will mark World Mental Health Day, with the focus of this year being on children and teenagers.
