28.10.04
Irelandclick.com
150 deaths a year to suicide
West and North Belfast are critically under-funded and under-resourced in suicide prevention despite the growing number of incidences of suicides in the area.
Figures show that in West and North Belfast there are on average 150 deaths each year due to suicide, the majority of these being young men under the age of 35.
In the year 2002 there were 79 suicides in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board – 35 per cent of these were in West and North Belfast.
Last week alone in West Belfast there were three suicides.
Political leaders and community representatives are demanding that the issue be addressed urgently.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams led a delegation of political, community and statutory representatives who met with Minister Angela Smith on October 13 to discuss incidences of suicide and self-harm. Further meetings to address the issue are planned for the coming weeks.
Various factors have been suggested as contributing to suicide locally, including the impact of the conflict, deprivation and poverty, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug misuse and high levels of unemployment.
Problems with current resources include the fact that there is no regional suicide prevention strategy for the North.
Proposals to tackle the problems were raised at the recent meeting and include establishing a local community crisis centre that is community-driven and which works in conjunction with the statutory services. It is also hoped that local projects can work in conjunction with the National Suicide Task Force in the Republic to share experiences and best practice models.
The Lenadoon Counselling Project based in West Belfast provides counselling on a wide range of issues, including suicide.
Michael Doherty, Manager of Lenadoon Community Forum, which runs the counselling service, says that a lack of funding for the project will have an impact on the local community.
For over six years the Lenadoon Community Counselling Project have been providing one-to-one counselling and has been facilitating a number of support groups to deal with mental health needs, and to cater for the families of those who have been bereaved through suicide.
“At present we are seeing about 95 clients a week and we have a waiting list of over 130,” revealed Michael.
“Roughly 70 to 80 per cent of our clients are coming from medical professionals – GP referrals, health visitors and social workers.
“The majority of the funding that we have has been one-year funding and we are constantly applying for funding. We have no mainstream funding whatsoever.
“The government’s Executive Programme funds two part-time counselling posts and they will end in March. The Survivors and Victims Fund funds a part-time counsellor and a part-time administrator, and this funding ends in May. The North and West Trust funds a co-ordinator part-time and session counsellors. Most of our other funding comes from charitable trusts.
“By April next year when most of our funding runs out our services will be drastically reduced,’’ he added.
Patricia McQuillan, Co- ordinator of the Lenadoon Counselling Project, said that despite the waiting list the project has never turned anyone away.
“We believe in early intervention and research has shown that people in the community often do not seek early intervention,” said Patricia.
“One third of our clients are now male which says a lot about our project,” she added,
The Sinn Féin President and West Belfast MP, Gerry Adams, praised those providing community support and pastoral care to those at risk of self-harm and families bereaved through suicide.
“Within our community, there are people working tirelessly to help to prevent others taking their own lives,” said Mr Adams.
“There is no lack of goodwill or compassion, but the skills and resources are needed to sustain this intense work at ground level with families and individuals at risk. This work is about saving lives and supporting survivors within our community. That is why I recently met with Angela Smith, the Minister for Health, and asked for increased, sustainable funding and community-based resources in West and North Belfast to prevent suicide and promote mental health.
“I hope that very soon we will agree how that can be done and start doing it,” he added.
The Lenadoon Counselling Project can be contacted on 02890 600641.
Journalist:: Staff Reporter
150 deaths a year to suicide
West and North Belfast are critically under-funded and under-resourced in suicide prevention despite the growing number of incidences of suicides in the area.
Figures show that in West and North Belfast there are on average 150 deaths each year due to suicide, the majority of these being young men under the age of 35.
In the year 2002 there were 79 suicides in the Eastern Health and Social Services Board – 35 per cent of these were in West and North Belfast.
Last week alone in West Belfast there were three suicides.
Political leaders and community representatives are demanding that the issue be addressed urgently.
Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams led a delegation of political, community and statutory representatives who met with Minister Angela Smith on October 13 to discuss incidences of suicide and self-harm. Further meetings to address the issue are planned for the coming weeks.
Various factors have been suggested as contributing to suicide locally, including the impact of the conflict, deprivation and poverty, low self-esteem, alcohol and drug misuse and high levels of unemployment.
Problems with current resources include the fact that there is no regional suicide prevention strategy for the North.
Proposals to tackle the problems were raised at the recent meeting and include establishing a local community crisis centre that is community-driven and which works in conjunction with the statutory services. It is also hoped that local projects can work in conjunction with the National Suicide Task Force in the Republic to share experiences and best practice models.
The Lenadoon Counselling Project based in West Belfast provides counselling on a wide range of issues, including suicide.
Michael Doherty, Manager of Lenadoon Community Forum, which runs the counselling service, says that a lack of funding for the project will have an impact on the local community.
For over six years the Lenadoon Community Counselling Project have been providing one-to-one counselling and has been facilitating a number of support groups to deal with mental health needs, and to cater for the families of those who have been bereaved through suicide.
“At present we are seeing about 95 clients a week and we have a waiting list of over 130,” revealed Michael.
“Roughly 70 to 80 per cent of our clients are coming from medical professionals – GP referrals, health visitors and social workers.
“The majority of the funding that we have has been one-year funding and we are constantly applying for funding. We have no mainstream funding whatsoever.
“The government’s Executive Programme funds two part-time counselling posts and they will end in March. The Survivors and Victims Fund funds a part-time counsellor and a part-time administrator, and this funding ends in May. The North and West Trust funds a co-ordinator part-time and session counsellors. Most of our other funding comes from charitable trusts.
“By April next year when most of our funding runs out our services will be drastically reduced,’’ he added.
Patricia McQuillan, Co- ordinator of the Lenadoon Counselling Project, said that despite the waiting list the project has never turned anyone away.
“We believe in early intervention and research has shown that people in the community often do not seek early intervention,” said Patricia.
“One third of our clients are now male which says a lot about our project,” she added,
The Sinn Féin President and West Belfast MP, Gerry Adams, praised those providing community support and pastoral care to those at risk of self-harm and families bereaved through suicide.
“Within our community, there are people working tirelessly to help to prevent others taking their own lives,” said Mr Adams.
“There is no lack of goodwill or compassion, but the skills and resources are needed to sustain this intense work at ground level with families and individuals at risk. This work is about saving lives and supporting survivors within our community. That is why I recently met with Angela Smith, the Minister for Health, and asked for increased, sustainable funding and community-based resources in West and North Belfast to prevent suicide and promote mental health.
“I hope that very soon we will agree how that can be done and start doing it,” he added.
The Lenadoon Counselling Project can be contacted on 02890 600641.
Journalist:: Staff Reporter
