Donegal Daily
  • News
  • Sport
    • Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      23 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Sport

      Darragh Kelly added to Bellator Dublin card

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      23 hours ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Ireland’s first World Cup mountain race to…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Carl McHugh scores to help his side…

      2 days ago

      Football

      Former Finn Harps striker Tunde Owolabi scores…

      3 days ago

      Football

      Harps suffer fourth consecutive defeat as Dundalk…

      3 days ago

      Football

      No time to ‘feel sorry for ourselves’…

      5 days ago

      GAA

      Picture special: Donegal fans in Clones for…

      4 days ago

      GAA

      Podcast reveals how French company thought they’d…

      4 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal Ladies defeated in Ulster final by…

      5 days ago

      GAA

      ‘Sometimes sport can be cruel’ – Luke…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
Friday 12°CSaturday 16°C

Donegal Daily Donegal Daily

  • News
  • Sport
    • Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      23 hours ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Sport

      Darragh Kelly added to Bellator Dublin card

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Athletics

      Williamson wins Furey Insurance Buncrana 5k

      23 hours ago

      Athletics

      RunDonegal Women’s 5K next Sunday to benefit…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Pictures: Claire McGuigan is ‘first lady’ in…

      2 weeks ago

      Athletics

      Ireland’s first World Cup mountain race to…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Venue swap for Brett McGinty fight next…

      1 week ago

      Boxing

      Donegal boxers claim Ulster 9 County titles…

      2 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Brett McGinty to return to boxing in…

      3 weeks ago

      Boxing

      Night of Support being held for West…

      3 weeks ago

      Football

      Carl McHugh scores to help his side…

      2 days ago

      Football

      Former Finn Harps striker Tunde Owolabi scores…

      3 days ago

      Football

      Harps suffer fourth consecutive defeat as Dundalk…

      3 days ago

      Football

      No time to ‘feel sorry for ourselves’…

      5 days ago

      GAA

      Picture special: Donegal fans in Clones for…

      4 days ago

      GAA

      Podcast reveals how French company thought they’d…

      4 days ago

      GAA

      Donegal Ladies defeated in Ulster final by…

      5 days ago

      GAA

      ‘Sometimes sport can be cruel’ – Luke…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Cloughaneely Golf Club to celebrate 25th anniversary…

      2 days ago

      Golf

      McDonald’s manager Victor Byrne supporting a charity…

      5 days ago

      Golf

      Prize fund of €2,500 for Letterkenny Golf…

      1 week ago

      Golf

      Top 10 finish for Ryan Griffin in…

      2 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Four Donegal players named in Ireland hockey…

      4 weeks ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe go down fighting

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Hockey: Raphoe lose out in crucial relegation…

      2 months ago

      Hockey

      Raphoe Ladies reach Irish Hockey Trophy final

      3 months ago

      GAA

      Match Report – Casey inspires Tyrone in…

      2 weeks ago

      GAA

      Mickey McCann reacts to heartbreaking defeat to…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      Brave Donegal hurlers miss out on another…

      2 weeks ago

      Hurling

      SHL – Strong second half sees St…

      2 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Letterkenny girls play in front of huge…

      2 days ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls feature for Ulster in provincial…

      3 weeks ago

      Rugby

      Last gasp drop goal clinches dramatic Gordon…

      1 month ago

      Rugby

      Donegal girls selected for underage Ulster Rugby…

      1 month ago

  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Travel
  • Features
  • Business
  • Property
  • Council News
  • Politics
  • More
    • Advertise with us
    • Haircare
    • Cooking
    • DD Pets
    • Hairdressing
    • Motors
FeaturesFloating SectionLead StoriesNews

Donegal man whose life was saved by Pieta House gets the best birthday gift

written by Rachel McLaughlin July 30, 2018
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

A young Donegal man has set a birthday wish of fundraising for Pieta House after the charity gave him the greatest gift of all – his life.

Liam McGee from Dungloe will be marking his 22th birthday on August 2nd. He would not have made it to this date if it weren’t for Pieta House.

Liam intended to take his own live at the beginning of this year. He had been dealing with depression from the age of 15, and was in and out of therapy from 17.

He was living in Dublin studying music and working in retail when he planned his suicide.

One text to Pieta House saved Liam’s life.

“I was adamant that this was the only way to stop feeling what I woke up with every day. I was deeply unhappy and deteriorating daily. This, combined with an abysmal lifestyle and chronic depression, meant that I was slowly cutting myself off from everyone around me, neglecting what was important to me and I struggled to see an escape,” Liam said in his fundraising appeal for Pieta House.

As soon as they were contacted, Pieta House acted fast to contact Liam and advise him to go to hospital. He was seen by a psychiatrist immediately and soon set plans in motion for a recovery.

“I recovered by the skin of my teeth, having come dangerously close to disaster,” Liam said.

Speaking to Donegal Daily, Liam said: “It was only recently before the call that I resumed therapy in January. I started on antidepressants for the first time. That, and a combination of work stress and the illness underneath led me to think about taking my own life.”

“I had the number for Pieta House lying around after a chaplain at DIT gave it to me. They replied very quickly, we exchanged 10 or 15 messages before they called me. We were on the phone for half and hour. Going to hospital was harrowing, but I would never have made the decision without Pieta House.”

Liam McGee

Liam added: “I felt like I was on my own with a very horrific mental illness. I’ve been to counsellors before but felt they can be very clinical. The woman at Pieta House was very warm, compassionate and she was genuinely concerned for my safety and wellbeing.”

“Without Pieta House, I would certainly be dead,” Liam said.

Liam’s recovery involved deferring college and changing his lifestyle. He has started working with the MyMind wellbeing centre in Dublin.

“MyMind therapy is very good and very affordable for students. A big part of the reasoning behind me not going to therapy last year was because of the cost,” he said.

With support from close friends, Liam said he is improving every day. To celebrate his 26th birthday, he decided to launch an online fundraising campaign.

Instead of presents, he asked his friends to make a donation to Pieta House and shared his own experiences this year to explain why.

Liam’s story has touched many hearts, with donations flooding in and breaking all targets in one week.

“I set a goal at €150, now we are over €1,500 and I am so impressed by the kindness and level of support people have shown,” Liam said.

Liam McGee

Liam’s personal experience has resonated with his friends and other young people online. He said many people have contacted him to show their support.

“My most immediate friends would have known what I was going through. But I feel like I put across a persona that people would never have assumed this was going on in the background.

“I am glad I made the decision to share this story because it can happen to absolutely anyone. I can show that an ordinary person can deal with this and come out the other end.”

The donations, he said, are far kinder a gift than he could have ever asked for.

“It shows that people really do care about the suicide endemic in Ireland. People really want things to change, which is nicer for people in that situation. They see the climate is changing, there is still some stigma but it’s lessening month by month. People can talk about their experiences and not made feel like a pariah for it now,” Liam said.

Liam said he is glad that the fundraiser has put forward a key message – Pieta House is there to help, all you need to do is call.

If you wish to support Liam’s fundraiser, visit: www.facebook.com/donate/444866589362968

 

If you need to talk to someone, contact Pieta House by phoning Freecall 1800 247 247. Or if you can simply text HELP to 51444.

More information and advice is available on pieta.ie

Visit: Pieta House North West
3rd Floor, Grand Central Building
Canal Road, Letterkenny
Co. Donegal
F92EK7Y

Phone: 074-9126594

Opening Hours:
Monday to Friday: 10am to 5pm

Donegal man whose life was saved by Pieta House gets the best birthday gift was last modified: August 1st, 2018 by Rachel McLaughlin
Facebook0Tweet0LinkedIn0Print0

Tags:
fundraisermental healthPIeta House
Rachel McLaughlin

LEAVE A COMMENT

You may also like

Irish fishing communities to take their case...

2 mins ago

Marathon tractor run making its way to...

16 mins ago

Drug courier who hid €35,000 of cocaine...

1 hour ago

Stunning coastal walk to raise funds for...

12 hours ago

‘Workers and families paying the price of...

13 hours ago

Council to catalogue collection of renowned photographer...

13 hours ago

Liam Neeson stops for a yarn at...

15 hours ago

First case of monkeypox reported in Northern...

15 hours ago

Donegal mum putting hidden symptoms of MS...

16 hours ago

Health forum hears concern over Donegal disability...

17 hours ago
Advertisement
Advertisement

MOST POPULAR

Donegal County Council
Advertisement

Sport Hub

  • Stay up to date with Donegal Sport Hub on Facebook

    5 months ago
  • Donegal links rank in Top 100 Golf Courses in the World

    6 months ago
  • Bundoran 10 Event set for March 2022

    6 months ago
See More

Donegal Woman

  • Donegal mum shares the unseen side of MS

    21 hours ago
  • Donegal scientist joins prestigious Royal Irish Academy

    22 hours ago
  • Derry Girls star Jamie-Lee O’Donnell to show us ‘The Real Derry’ in new Channel 4 doc

    1 day ago
See More

Columnists

Motoring - Brian McDaid

Carrie Harvey – a community cornerstone

2 days ago

Group Holidays - Travel Department

See the world with holiday discounts from Travel Department

4 days ago

At Home with Hegarty's - Hegarty's Home Interiors

At Home with Hegarty’s: Sit back and relax in the stylish Positano Corner

1 week ago

Healthy Living - Sorcha McElchar

Sorchas Healthy Living: Is snacking bad?

2 weeks ago

Career Advice - Rory White

Career Guidance with Rory White: Choosing your senior cycle subjects? Keep your options open!

2 months ago

See All Columnists
Advertisement
Donegal Daily Jobs

Read More

  • News
  • Sport
  • Courts
  • Jobs
  • Sales & Services
  • Obituaries
  • Features
  • Business
  • Politics
  • Council News

Information

  • Contact Us
  • About
  • Advertise WIth Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms & Conditions

Our Sites

Donegal Woman
Donegal Woman
Donegal Daily

© 2022 Donegal Daily. All rights reserved.
Website by owenod


Back To Top.

Posting....