COUNSELLING HELPINE EXPECTING BUSY NEW YEAR PERIOD

Lifeline, the Government funded counselling helpline for people in emotional distress has reported higher than expected caller rates over the Christmas period and the counselling team are now gearing themselves for a very busy New Year period.

It is estimated that around 6000 people will have called the Lifeline Helpline over the Festive period.  While the rest of us have been focussed on family, fun and over-indulgence, the Lifeline counselling team have been working 24 hours a day 7 days a week taking calls from people in emotional distress and despair.  December has been the busiest month for the helpline since it was rolled-out Northern Ireland-wide earlier this year and it is expected that New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day will see a peak in demand for counselling support.

Commenting on the Helpline’s workload, Norma Patterson, Director, Contact Youth Counselling, the organisation which operates the Lifeline service said:

“We anticipated a high level of calls during December and have geared up our staffing levels accordingly” said Norma Patterson.  “This can be very difficult time of year for many people.  While there is an expectation that Christmas and New Year are times of happiness and togetherness, for those of us who are alone, who are coming to terms with the loss of a loved one or the end of a relationship this time can be particularly painful.  This year there is also the added pressure of the ‘credit crunch’ with many of our callers experiencing serious financial pressures or dealing with the prospect of loosing their job. 

With the availability of the Lifeline counselling support, no one needs face these difficulties alone.  We would urge anyone who is in emotional distress to call the helpline and to seek the help they need.  Our staff are trained to listen, not judge, and they are highly experienced in providing support to people from all walks of life and circumstances.  Above all, this New Year, we want people in despair to know they are not alone and that help is available through Lifeline if they want it” said Norma Patterson.

The Lifeline telephone helpline on 0808 808 8000, operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by qualified counsellors, experienced in providing support to people suffering serious distress including suicidal feelings, self-harm, the impact of childhood abuse, violence related trauma, bereavement, depression and anxiety.

The service aims to provide people in crisis or distress free and immediate access to expert assessment, counselling and support.  Lifeline also welcomes calls from friends and carers of people in crisis, seeking help for their loved ones or support for themselves.

Callers to Lifeline are connected directly to a trained counsellor who will listen to their problems in confidence and seek to define the specific help and support they need. 

If a caller to Lifeline is in imminent danger of self harming or suicide, the telephone counsellor will offer immediate intervention including contacting the appropriate health and emergency services to get the person rapid on-the-ground crisis support.  For callers in distress but not in immediate danger, Lifeline counsellors can refer the person for locally based face-to-face counselling, mentoring, befriending or complementary therapies. 

Lifeline is funded by the DHSSPSNI with an annual budget of £3.5million and delivered by Contact Youth in partnership with a network of community based counselling and therapy providers across Northern Ireland

Contact Youth’s Annual Report 07/08 looks at the performance of all our counselling programs from April 07 – March 08.

The report gives details and statistics for all programs including those which have come to an end, those entering their first full year such as the Independent Counselling Service in Schools and takes a look at new programs such as the Lifeline Helpline and Rapid Response Service. This is an exciting time for Contact Youth and in the year ahead we hope to consolidate our new services and continue to offer the same high standard of counselling to young people across all our existing programmes.

To download a copy of the Annual report click here.

Contents

·         Chairperson’s Foreword

·         Directors Report

·         Suicide Prevention Projects

·         24/7 Suicide Prevention Exemplar Project North & West Belfast

·         Lifeline

·         Independent Counselling Service in Schools

·         Northern Board

·         Sexual Identity

·         CHILL

·         Ards Strategic Partnership

·         Armagh and Dungannon HAZ

·         Clinical Placements

·         Financial Report/Accounts

INVITATION TO CONTACT YOUTH'S SHOWCASE EVENT

Please find attached our invitation to attend Contact Youth's Showcase event, thisyear focusing on counselling in schools, scheduled for Thursday 27th November, 3-4pm, the Main Hall, Grosvenor House, Glengall Street, Belfast.

 We will report on our recently completed Independent Evaluation of all projects, present our Annual Report followed by a music performance, refreshments and finger buffet.

We very much hope you can make it.

Please confirm your attendance by phoning Lynn Hill on 028 9074 4499 or by email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it as soon as possible.

 LIFELINE CONSELLING HELPLINE LAUNCHED NI-WIDE

A free counselling helpline service for people suffering from emotional distress or despair has been launched Northern Ireland-wide.

Lifeline has been set up to provide people in emotional crisis with immediate access to expert counselling support.  The telephone helpline on 0808 808 8000 is operational 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is staffed by specially trained counsellors who have experience in dealing with a wide range of emotional issues such as suicidal feelings, self-harm, abuse, trauma, depression and anxiety. 

Callers to Lifeline are connected directly to a trained counsellor who will listen to their problems in confidence and seek to define the specific help and support they need.  A call to Lifeline is designed to be the first step to expert advice and support and, if appropriate, will lead to an appointment for face-to-face counselling or other therapies in a caller’s local area within 7 days.

Commenting on the launch of the Lifeline counselling helpline service, Norma Patterson, Corporate Director, Contact Youth Counselling who deliver the Lifeline service on behalf of the Department of Health said  

“The establishment of Lifeline is a very important development in the fight against our alarming suicide, self-harm and emotional distress levels.  This is the first time that a service of this kind has been available across Northern Ireland.   It is open to people of all ages, all backgrounds and all personal circumstances.  We would urge anyone with an emotional issue to seek help through the Helpline.  Our role is to listen and to support, never to judge, and to work closely in partnership with the existing network of statutory and community counselling and support services to ensure people get the best packages of care.”

Lifeline is funded by the Department of Health and Social Services and Public Safety for NI at an annual cost of £3.5million and delivered by Contact Youth in partnership with a network of Community and Counselling organisations across Northern Ireland.