Mayo Gateway to Safety initiative to support survivors of domestic violence

AS the country moves towards fully re-opening after lockdown, Mayo Women’s Support Services (MWSS) and totalhealth Pharmacies across Mayo are launching a unique locally-focused initiative called Gateway to Safety, to help ensure that survivors of domestic violence can get access to expert support and advice on their main streets.

Survivors experiencing domestic violence and coercive control, and those close to them, are encouraged to come forward to talk in confidence to the team at a local totalhealth Pharmacy where they will be immediately connected with MWSS for free and confidential support and advice.

Mayo Women’s Support Servcies is one of the 39 Safe Ireland domestic abuse member services working primarily with women and children throughout the country. totalhealth is the largest independently-owned pharmacy chain in Ireland with over 80 branches, many of which have been providing care, advice and support to Irish communities for many decades. There are nine totalhealth Pharmacies in Mayo, located in almost every large town in the county.

Josephine McGourty, manager of MWSS, explained that during lockdown there was a collective focus on the sanctuary of our homes and a national outpouring of empathy for those trapped in unsafe and controlling environments. Now that we are beginning to move out from our homes again, she said, it was vital that we don’t lift our eyes away from those continuing to live in unsafe homes.

She said that post-lockdown, MWSS had seen an increase in the numbers and complexity of cases coming forward. It was more important now than ever that it was as easy as possible for women to reach out to the specialist services they need from different community based locations, like pharmacies.

“If we want safe homes, we must have safe communities,” McGourty said. “With this partnership with totalhealth, we are making it clear to that you do not have to live with domestic abuse and coercive control and that support is available, right here in your community, on your main street.

“totalhealth Pharmacies are providing an accessible, safe and confidential space for survivors and those close to them who may be concerned, to take a first, simple step to safety and freedom.”

The initiative is part of Safe Ireland’s Safe Homes Safe Communities programme, which aims to bring voice and visibility to the issue of domestic violence into communities by uniting businesses, statutory groups, community organisations and civil society to change the culture of silence that allows domestic violence to continue. The Gateway to Safety initiative provides information and support to both women and men who are victims of domestic violence.

Commenting on the partnership, John Arnold, managing director of totalhealth, said: “It’s so important that people who may have been living with an abuser know that help is available and that their community supports them. We are delighted to be able to join with Safe Ireland and its members in all of our communities to provide a safe, confidential gateway to professional domestic violence advice and supports.

“Our pharmacies are rooted in their communities, for generations in some cases. They are involved in caring for local families, their own families have grown up in the area, and they care about the communities in which they live. This partnership is a natural extension of the community support we pride ourselves on.”

An Garda Síochána has reported a 25% increase in domestic violence cases during the Covid-19 lockdown period.

Totalhealth Pharmacies in Mayo include: Curley’s totalhealth, Ballyhaunis; Joanne Hynes totalhealth, Ballinrobe; O’Donnell’s totalhealth, Charlestown, Swinford and Westport; Byrne’s totalhealth, Kiltimagh; Reilly’s totalhealth, Belmullet; MacAuliffe’s totalhealth, Castlebar and McLoughlin’s totalhealth, Ballina.