“Planting the seeds of hope across Northern Ireland”
The Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon is proud to shine a spotlight on charities making a real difference across Northern Ireland, and this month we are highlighting PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland, a leading mental health and suicide prevention charity supporting individuals, families, and communities in crisis.
Founded in 2003, PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland has grown to become a leading suicide prevention charity and is now also a founding partner of the National Suicide Prevention Network, in conjunction with The Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales. With locations across the region, PIPS Charity delivers a wide range of services including crisis intervention, counselling, advocacy, community outreach, befriending support, and children and young people’s services in Belfast for those aged 4–18 — ensuring people can access help when they need it most.
PIPS Charity also operates a Friday night crisis helpline, providing vital support when other services may be unavailable, alongside crisis walk-in support at its Belfast offices during opening hours, offering immediate, face-to-face help for those in distress.
At the heart of PIPS Charity’s work is its mission of striving for a compassionate society free from suicide. Guided by this purpose, the charity supports thousands of people each year through some of the most difficult moments of their lives, providing professional, empathetic, and life-saving care.
Alongside frontline services, PIPS Charity plays a strong role in advocacy and public campaigning. Their recent campaign, “Too Many Lives Lost to Suicide,” calls on government to fully fund Northern Ireland’s mental health strategy following the publication of statistics showing 290 registered suicide deaths in 2024. The campaign highlights the urgent need for sustained investment in prevention, early intervention, and crisis services to help save lives.
Lisa Abell-Farrelly, Fundraising Manager at PIPS Charity, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon for shining a spotlight on our work, and to every runner who chooses to support PIPS Charity. Every pound raised helps us continue to plant the seeds of hope for individuals and families across Northern Ireland — delivering crisis support, counselling, and prevention services to those who need it most.”
PIPS Charity’s work extends beyond immediate crisis support alone. The charity partners with schools, workplaces, sporting organisations and community groups to deliver education, training and awareness programmes, helping to reduce stigma around mental health and suicide while building resilience across communities.
As a charity that is non-government funded and relies heavily on fundraising and donations to maintain its services, PIPS Charity depends on the generosity of individuals, businesses and the wider community to continue delivering vital support across Northern Ireland.
When runners choose to fundraise for PIPS Charity through the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon, they are helping to ensure that people in crisis can access professional care, families can receive support through bereavement, and communities can be strengthened through prevention and education — creating lasting change and hope for the future.
Those wishing to support PIPS Charity’s advocacy work can sign the charity’s petition calling for full funding of the mental health strategy here:
Sign the petition here: https://c.org/8yfY7jVvDZ
To learn more about PIPS Suicide Prevention Ireland, visit their website: https://pipscharity.com
To register your interest in running for PIPS Charity at the Phoenix Energy Belfast City Marathon and Team Relay 2026, please visit the Belfast City Marathon website charity tab.
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