Jacks Promise - Improved addiction, rehab services
Donation protected
I am a broken hearted mother from West Belfast, I recently lost my beautiful son Jack Brennan to addiction and poor mental health.
Sadly, too many people like my son, are not offered the timely support they deserve or need to help treat their addiction and to help them in times of crisis.
So many individuals, families and communities impacted by addiction, have experienced long waiting lists to get help, only for the support offered not being enough, then being discharged from services or hospitals and left to look after themselves.
Our family are asking people to donate funds to go towards a crisis and rehab service in Belfast and support the Minister and Department of Health to:
1. Enhance wrap around addiction, rehabilitation and crisis services, especially for deprived areas like West Belfast.
2. Increase the number of dedicated mental health addiction inpatient beds.
3. Provide support and services for those with both an addiction and a mental health condition, inlcuding those in crisis.
Mental health inequalities continue to be engrained with drug related deaths in the most deprived areas five times that than in the least deprived.
We as a family, want to prevent other families from losing a loved one to addiction and experiencing this painful grief and loss.
We want to give our young people more hope and support when they need it.
Jack wrote this poem before he went into rehab:
"The days of my life"
'Surrounded by people yet all alone trapped within this darkening zone.
A world where chaos and hate overtake any but of happiness that tries to escape.
Laughter and positive thoughts never seem to last, because I am haunted by my memories of the past.
Running the distance with nowhere to go, these are the days of my life, a broadway show.
I scream out for help yet they never really hear, the demons of death are coming so near!
Echos in my head tormenting me all day long, breaking the man who was once whole and strong.
What does serenity mean anyway?
Is it the spring in my step or the words I say.
Suicide seems the answer many times i’ve tried, happiness seems to be the tears that I have cried.
Unable to distinguish what’s real from fiction.
Hope is an illusion, an optimists prediction.
I wonder what will it take to get me right, a visit from the devil on a lonely night?
Angels prepare to battle and take a stand to remind me of their holy land.
When I want to give up they push for me to be strong and in my head I hear their comforting song.
Life is an illusion, a constant mind trick on me... who knows what my fate will be.
Heaven and hell are both a fair game, will I find peace or leave them with shame.
Surrounded by people, yet all alone, trapped within this darkening zone'
Sadly, too many people like my son, are not offered the timely support they deserve or need to help treat their addiction and to help them in times of crisis.
So many individuals, families and communities impacted by addiction, have experienced long waiting lists to get help, only for the support offered not being enough, then being discharged from services or hospitals and left to look after themselves.
Our family are asking people to donate funds to go towards a crisis and rehab service in Belfast and support the Minister and Department of Health to:
1. Enhance wrap around addiction, rehabilitation and crisis services, especially for deprived areas like West Belfast.
2. Increase the number of dedicated mental health addiction inpatient beds.
3. Provide support and services for those with both an addiction and a mental health condition, inlcuding those in crisis.
Mental health inequalities continue to be engrained with drug related deaths in the most deprived areas five times that than in the least deprived.
We as a family, want to prevent other families from losing a loved one to addiction and experiencing this painful grief and loss.
We want to give our young people more hope and support when they need it.
Jack wrote this poem before he went into rehab:
"The days of my life"
'Surrounded by people yet all alone trapped within this darkening zone.
A world where chaos and hate overtake any but of happiness that tries to escape.
Laughter and positive thoughts never seem to last, because I am haunted by my memories of the past.
Running the distance with nowhere to go, these are the days of my life, a broadway show.
I scream out for help yet they never really hear, the demons of death are coming so near!
Echos in my head tormenting me all day long, breaking the man who was once whole and strong.
What does serenity mean anyway?
Is it the spring in my step or the words I say.
Suicide seems the answer many times i’ve tried, happiness seems to be the tears that I have cried.
Unable to distinguish what’s real from fiction.
Hope is an illusion, an optimists prediction.
I wonder what will it take to get me right, a visit from the devil on a lonely night?
Angels prepare to battle and take a stand to remind me of their holy land.
When I want to give up they push for me to be strong and in my head I hear their comforting song.
Life is an illusion, a constant mind trick on me... who knows what my fate will be.
Heaven and hell are both a fair game, will I find peace or leave them with shame.
Surrounded by people, yet all alone, trapped within this darkening zone'
Organizer
Lorraine Brennan
Organizer
Northern Ireland