Cavan/Monaghan Fianna Fáil TD Brendan Smith has welcomed confirmation from the HSE in relation to the establishment by Pieta House of a Suicide Bereavement counselling and crisis service for people at risk of suicide and self-harm in Cavan and Monaghan.
The HSE in their reply to Deputy Brendan Smith stated:
“This Service will be delivered on an outreach basis by Pieta House through employment of a Therapist for 16 hours per week to support people across the two counties. The Therapist will provide one to one bereavement counselling to people who have been bereaved by suicide, as well as one to one counselling to those experiencing suicidal ideation, who have attempted suicide, or those engaging in self-harm. The therapist will be based primarily in Tusla Child Wellbeing Centre in Castleblayney for County Monaghan and options are being explored through HSE Primary Care for County Cavan as well as other locations in County Monaghan.
It is envisaged that the post will be advertised through Pieta House by mid-December with a view to the Therapist being in post by early 2020. The service provided by Pieta House is completely free of charge, and open to adults and children from as young as 6 years old.
This Service will strengthen the support already available to people bereaved through suicide by the recent appointment of a Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officer (SBLO). The SBLO is available to provide emotional and practical support to people who have lost a loved one through suicide and can be contacted on 085 870 6591.
The work of the Pieta House Outreach Service will be supported by local stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Cavan Monaghan Connecting for life Suicide Prevention Strategy. These services fall under one of the actions of the local Plan which was launched back in June 2017 and maps out a range of actions that seek to reduce the risks of suicide in our local communities”.
Deputy Brendan Smith welcomed this development and he also stated that other voluntary organisations are doing very important work in suicide prevention and counselling and they also need to be supported through the HSE.
HSE REPLY –
Introduction of Pieta House Suicide Bereavement Counselling and crisis intervention service to Cavan and Monaghan
HSE Cavan Monaghan Mental Health Service welcome the establishment of a suicide bereavement counselling and crisis intervention service for people at risk of suicide and self-harm in Cavan and Monaghan.
This Service will be delivered on an outreach basis by Pieta House through employment of a Therapist for 16 hours per week to support people across the two counties. The Therapist will provide one to one bereavement counselling to people who have been bereaved by suicide, as well as one to one counselling to those experiencing suicidal ideation, who have attempted suicide, or those engaging in self-harm. The therapist will be based primarily in Tusla Child Wellbeing Centre in Castleblayney for County Monaghan and options are being explored through HSE Primary Care for County Cavan as well as other locations in County Monaghan.
It is envisaged that the post will be advertised through Pieta House by mid-December with a view to the Therapist being in post by early 2020. The service provided by Pieta House is completely free of charge, and open to adults and children from as young as 6 years old.
This Service will strengthen the support already available to people bereaved through suicide by the recent appointment of a Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officer (SBLO). The SBLO is available to provide emotional and practical support to people who have lost a loved one through suicide and can be contacted on 085 870 6591.
The work of the Pieta House Outreach Service will be supported by local stakeholders involved in the implementation of the Cavan Monaghan Connecting for life Suicide Prevention Strategy. These services fall under one of the actions of the local Plan which was launched back in June 2017 and maps out a range of actions that seek to reduce the risks of suicide in our local communities.
The Cavan Monaghan Connecting for Life Steering Group includes representatives from statutory organisations (HSE, Tusla, County Councils, Gardai, ETB) and community services including Family Resource Centres, Youth Services, as well as elected representatives from Cavan and Monaghan County Councils. Members of this Steering Group have held a number of meetings with staff from Pieta House over the recent months to help bring this service to the area. This work, along with the support and campaigning of the Cavan and Monaghan Darkness in Light Committees has helped to finally bring these much needed services to the counties of Cavan and Monaghan.
Both posts outlined are being funded by the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) through a National Service Agreement with Pieta House. Pieta House are contributing matched funding to the overall cost of the suicide bereavement counselling and crisis intervention service.
ENDS