Dublin band leads the way in fight against bullying

A DUBLIN band that is now based in Los Angeles has written a moving song about a man who attempted to commit suicide by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.

Friends Of Emmet have been writing, recording and touring for the past three years.

Members Mark Leddy (vocals), Brian Lynam (guitar), Keith Geraghty (bass), Tim Boland (guitar and keyboards and Gary Sullivan (drums) are set to release their debut album

‘State Of Mind’ in March 2014.

The album consists of 10 songs and several have already been licensed to major TV dramas in the UK and the USA such as

‘Hollyoaks’ and

‘Eastenders’.

However, the lead track on the album

‘Coming Apart’ is a tribute to Kevin Hines, author of the book

‘Cracked Not Broken’, who attempted to take his own life at the age of 19 by jumping off the Golden Gate Bridge.

Hines is one of the few to ever survive the suicide plunge from 245 feet above the water.

After hearing about Kevin’s story the band found themselves inspired and wrote

‘Coming Apart’.

Friends Of Emmet are now trying to give the younger generation of Ireland hope.

“As we both know the stats of so many young people taking their own lives is out of control and could be classed as an epidemic,

? said Mark.

“We happened to write a song about a young man who attempted a suicide jump from the Golden Gate Bridge but survived.

“We came across his story through the documentary The Bridge by Eric Steel. His story is miraculous and inspiring.

“When we wrote our song Coming Apart about Kevin we then tracked him down and he appears in the video.

“Since then students in America, Canada and Ireland have compiled their own videos for the track calling them YANA (You Are Never Alone) messages.

“The students came to us asking for use of the song as they want a change more than anyone.

“We work closely with Lorraine Higgins, the Labour Senator, and have just had an idea passed by the Government that from next September secondary school homework journals in Ireland will have printed on the inside cover a 24-hour hour helpline, logo and website address for suicide prevention and bullying.

?

Mark added:

“So many people from around the world have contacted us since, saying they wish their Government’s would implement the same idea.

“We are now working on having a course that all Transition Year students would have to partake in. It will be a combination of both the Assist & Safe Talk courses and will teach all students the telltale signs of suicide prevention and bullying.

“Our plan is to bring in a YANA Club in all schools where there will be several members of each class appointed to be involved in the club.

“The idea is that all students will know they are never alone and that there are others their own age that they can reach out and talk to.

?