Samaritans Ireland Urges Policymakers to Prioritize Loneliness, Wellbeing of Moderators, and Responsible Language in Next Government Agenda

Samaritans Ireland Urges Policymakers to Prioritize Loneliness, Wellbeing of Moderators, and Responsible Language in Next Government Agenda

(IN BRIEF) Samaritans Ireland has outlined its #3Actions4Change campaign, urging the next Irish government to prioritize tackling loneliness, supporting content moderators, and promoting responsible language around self-harm and suicide. Key proposals include creating a national strategy on loneliness under An Taoiseach’s office, extending workplace protections to online content moderators, and mandating mental health support from social media platforms. Additionally, Samaritans advocates for cross-party training to ensure sensitive and appropriate language use. These measures aim to foster a more inclusive, compassionate society while addressing pressing mental health challenges.

(PRESS RELEASE) DUBLIN, 7-Dec-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — As Ireland prepares for the formation of its next government, Samaritans Ireland is calling on policymakers to take decisive action to combat loneliness, protect the wellbeing of online content moderators, and promote the use of responsible language when discussing sensitive issues such as self-harm and suicide.

Three Key Actions for Change

Under its campaign, #3Actions4Change, Samaritans Ireland has outlined three crucial areas that require immediate government attention to foster a more supportive and compassionate society.

1. Tackling Loneliness

Samaritans Ireland is advocating for the establishment of a national strategy on loneliness, managed under the Office of An Taoiseach, to address this growing societal issue. It also calls for the development of national standards to measure and track loneliness, ensuring evidence-based interventions and long-term progress.

2. Supporting Content Moderators

With the increasing prevalence of harmful online content, Samaritans Ireland highlights the urgent need to protect the mental health of content moderators.

It recommends:

• Extending the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 to include specific provisions for moderators employed by Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs).
• Mandating social media platforms to provide transparent mental health support systems and comprehensive reporting standards for all moderators, including third-party contractors.

3. Promoting Responsible Language

To combat stigma and foster a better understanding of mental health, Samaritans Ireland urges all political parties to undertake its training programs on responsible language. This training would help ensure that politicians, media professionals, and others use appropriate and sensitive language when discussing self-harm and suicide, both publicly and privately.

A Call to Action

As part of its policy priorities for 2024, Samaritans Ireland emphasizes the importance of cross-party collaboration to address these pressing issues. “By taking these steps, the next government can lead the way in creating a more inclusive and compassionate Ireland,” the organization stated.

Policymakers and stakeholders can learn more about these proposals by downloading the full document: Samaritans Ireland Key Priorities 2024.

About Samaritans Ireland

Samaritans Ireland is dedicated to supporting individuals in emotional distress and advocating for measures that promote mental wellbeing across the country. Through campaigns like #3Actions4Change, the organization continues to drive conversations around vital societal issues and inspire action for positive change.

Media Contact:

Tel: +353 1 6710071
adminireland@samaritans.org
samaritans.ie

SOURCE: Samaritans