Shannon’s Hopeline was established by two sisters, Sandra and Lisa Kelleher in memory of Sandra’s daughter, who tragically passed away by suicide on the 24th of January 2012, at the tender age of 13. Shannon’s suicide came as a deep shock to her family and the entire community. Shannon never mentioned suicide and signs of suicide ideation went unnoticed. Shannon was described as a compassionate and sensitive young girl with a vibrant sense of humour. She had a deep passion for children, art, comedy, and music, often expressing hopes of becoming an actress in the future. The true cause of Shannon’s suicide remains unknown to this day. Shannon did experience bullying, primarily of a psychological nature rather than physical. The impact of name-calling, whispers, and feelings of exclusion weighed heavily on her. While the bullying appeared to have ceased in the last six months of her life, its psychological toll lingered. Following Shannon’s passing, Sandra found herself struggling with unanswered questions and a profound sense of guilt for not recognising her pain. This led to extensive research in an attempt to understand the factors contributing to Shannon’s tragedy. The findings were alarming. In 2012, Ireland had the highest suicide rate among teenage girls in the EU, with the rate among young Irish males ranking second highest, as reported by the Irish Examiner. The research also highlighted the lack of support services and lengthy waiting lists of up to a year. Through Sandra and Lisa’s own experience, they observed how big stigma was and how some people dreaded talking about suicide. As of 2018, Ireland still struggles with the fourth-highest suicide rate. This disturbing trend needed urgent intervention and awareness. Transforming Shannon’s memory into something more positive and not of just pain became a driving force for helping children and young people just like Shannon. It was vitally important to make a change and raise awareness about the reality of youth suicide in Ireland. To support our children of Ireland who thought that suicide was their only way out.
