Host Of Irish Artists Release Cover Of Michael Jackson's 'You Are Not Alone' To Raise Vital Funds For Pieta House

The statistics are startling, 1 in 4 people will experience a mental health problem each year and last year, sadly 451 people died by suicide in Ireland. 8,791 people presented a total of 11,189 times at hospital emergency departments across the country due to self-harm in 2015. This cannot continue....

In a huge collective effort to raise awareness of the problem and let people know that there is help in the form of the incredible staff of Pieta House, early today, a host of Irish artists including Ryan O' Shaughnessy, Mary Byrne, Taken, Heroes in Hiding and the Dublin Gospel Choir to name a few, launched their version of Michael Jackson's global hit, 'You are Not Alone'. The aim of the single release is to raise much needed funds for Pieta House.

Speaking about the release of the single, Ryan O' Shaughnessy, one of the artists involved said; "I got involved because I feel it's important for Irish people to discuss mental health. It's important to give what you can to help those who need it. That's what this single is all about".

Pieta House has helped almost 28,000 people rebuild their lives since 2006 and has treated approximately 5,000 people in each of the last three years.

"We are so honoured that Future Hope is donating the proceeds of this single to Pieta House," says Brian Higgins, Pieta House CEO. "You Are Not Alone' and 'Future Hope' are both sentiments that we at Pieta try to espouse to the people who come through our doors. We would encourage everyone to download or buy the single so that it can be a real contender for this year's Christmas number one in Ireland and more importantly, in doing so, raise funds to support our services into the future".

The majority of people who come through the doors of Pieta House have no psychiatric history; they are in suicidal distress because of a life event. Suicide can happen to anybody.

Pieta's vision is of a world where suicide, self-harm and stigma have been replaced by hope, self-care and acceptance. Pieta House values the importance of looking after your mental health, of having a healthy work-life balance and the charity is keen to let people know about the free life-saving services that it offers to those in need.

Gavin Coll of Future Hope said, "If the 'You Are Not Alone' single can raise awareness of the services of Pieta House and in doing so, prevent one person from dying by suicide, then all our efforts will have been worthwhile. Many of those involved in the project have experienced first-hand the pain and suffering of losing a loved one and, unfortunately, the reality is that mental health issues are intensifying. We all need to play our part in doing what we can to help each other. We are delighted to have released the single and would encourage everyone to download it."

Approximately 15% of Pieta House's annual income comes from statutory grants, but 85% of its funding needs to be raised through events such as Darkness into Light, initiatives such as the You Are Not Alone charity single and donations and fundraisers by the members of the public.

With 18 centres across the country, Pieta House offers counselling to people experiencing suicidal ideation and people who engage in self-harm and, as of this year, it also offers suicide bereavement counselling and operates the free 24-hour 1800 247 247 suicide helpline.

Without the help of the public, Pieta House would not be able to provide these vital services, so to support its work, simply download 'You Are Not Alone' now from all major digital platforms today and help get it to the number one spot for Christmas!

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