Support services over Christmas

 

As actress Mary McEvoy says above, Christmas can be a tough for time for anyone - and even more so if depression or a related illness is an issue for you or a loved one. Aware will be there to support you over the Christmas and New Year period and we'd like to thank our dedicated volunteers for making this possible. Click below for details of each of our services:

- Telephone helpline
- Depression support groups
- Email support service

Helpline
Thanks to our team of volunteers, Aware's telephone helpline will be available on loCall 1890 303 302 every day. Opening hours are as they normally are: Mon-Wed, 10am-10pm; Thurs-Sun, 10am-1am. Outside of these hours, please remember that the Samaritans (1850 60 90 90) and 1Life (FreeFone 1800 247 100) are each available 24 hours a day.
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Support groups - online and nationwide
Online depression support groups will take place on Aware.ie most days as normal too (Friday 23 December and Monday 26 December are the only exceptions). Registered users will have received the schedule by email - alternatively, you can log in to see the timetable in full.

Holiday details for our face-to-face support groups over Christmas are below. Just pick your province below or scroll down the page to see arrangements for each location. For locations, or normal days and times, please see our map of depression support groups.
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- Connacht
- Leinster
- Munster
- Ulster

Connacht
Galway	Closed on Wednesday 28 December only. Meetings as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
Loughrea	No interruption
North West Connemara	No interruption
Ballina	Closed on Wednesday 28 December only. Meetings as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
Castlebar	Meeting on 20 December. Next meeting after that is 10 January 2012.
Castlebar Relatives	Closed on 3 January (meets 1st Tuesday of each month only). Next meeting 7 February 2012.
Ballinrobe	No interruption
Sligo	Closed on Wednesday 28 December only. Meetings as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
Ballaghaderreen	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
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Leinster
Dublin - St. Patrick's Hospital	No relatives' group (other group goes ahead) on Wednesday 28 December. All meetings as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
Dublin - Abbey St	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
Dublin Daytime	Closed on Tuesday 27 December only. Meetings as normal on 20 December and from 3 January 2012.
Dublin Young Persons' Group	Meeting on Thursday 15 December. Next meeting after that is 5 January 2012.
Dublin - Swords	Closed on Tuesday 27 December only. Meetings as normal on 20 December and from 3 January 2012.
Dublin - Griffith Ave	Meeting on Wednesday 21 December. Next meeting after that is 11 January 2012.
Dublin - Cabinteely	Meeting in The Graduate pub, Killiney on Wednesday 28 December at 8pm. Meeting as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
Dublin - Donnybrook	Closed on Thursday 29 December only. Meeting as normal on 22 December and from 5 January 2012.
Dublin - Tallaght	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
Tullamore	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
Drogheda	Closed on Wednesday 28 December only. January 2012 meetings are on 4, 18 and 25 January.
Trim	Any change will be notified here as soon as possible.
Leixlip	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
Kilkenny	Closed on Thursday 29 December only. Meeting as normal on 22 December and from 5 January 2012.
Gorey	Meeting on Wednesday 21 December. Next meeting 11 January 2012.
Wexford	Meeting on Wednesday 14 December. Next meeting 4 January 2012.
Enniscorthy	Closed on Thursday 29 December only. Meeting as normal on 22 December and from 5 January 2012.
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Munster
Cork City 1 - Inniscarraig Centre	No interruption
Cork City 2 - Blackpool	No interruption
Cork Relatives	No interruption
Mallow	Meeting on 22 December. Next meeting after that is 19 January 2012.
Kerry Relatives	No interruption
Tralee	No interruption
Thurles	No interruption
Ennis	No interruption
Waterford City	Meeting on Tuesday 20 December. Next meeting 10 January 2012.
Waterford (daytime)	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting 9 January 2012.
Dungarvan	Closed on Wednesday 28 December only. Meetings as normal on 21 December and from 4 January 2012.
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Ulster
Donegal Town	Meeting on Monday 19 December. Next meeting 9 January 2012.
Letterkenny	Closed on Wednesday 27 December only. Meetings as normal on 20 December and from 3 January 2012.
Buncrana	Closed on Monday 26 December (group meets 2nd and 4th Monday of each month only). Next meeting after that is 9 January 2012.
Cavan	Meeting on Wednesday 21 December. Next meeting 11 January 2012.
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Email support service
While our email service will also be available as normal over the holiday period, please note that response times may seem slower than usual. This is because of the increased number of bank holidays; a response in one working day as promised may stretch to 3 or 4 days in total. See above for helpline or online depression support group details.
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We hope you have a safe, calm and enjoyable Christmas. However, if you are feeling the pressure, do get in touch and use the support services we've listed above. The earlier you share any troubling issues, the less pressure you'll be taking on yourself.

And thanks again to the volunteers who make it possible for us to be there as a support over the holidays.

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