World Suicide Prevention Day

These tragedies effect not just the immediate families involved but entire communities.

The Northern Health and Social Care Trust encourages more open discussion of this issue through the work of the suicide prevention training and the suicide bereavement support projects.

The Trust works in partnership with the Public Health Agency and other community and Voluntary organisations to prevent suicide and promote mental health. This work reflects the aims and recommendations of the Protect Life – Suicide Prevention Strategy for NI (2006 – 2012) and Refreshed Protect Life (2012-2014) and the Northern Area Action Plan and funding from Public Health Agency to support this Strategy has enabled this work to take place, with funded projects listed below.

Lifeline

Lifeline counsellors are available on 0808 808 8000, 24 hours a day, seven days a week to listen, to give confidential help and support to those in despair or distress. You will get immediate help over the phone. If appropriate, Lifeline will give you an appointment for face-to-face counselling or arrange other therapies in your local area. Lifeline can also put you in touch with follow-up services to make sure you get the best possible response to your needs.

Bereaved by Suicide Support Project

This project provides individual counselling sessions to anyone over 18 bereaved by suicide across the Northern Trust locality. It works in partnership with community/ voluntary/ statutory services to raise awareness of the needs of people bereaved by suicide and to ensure appropriate services are put in place to meet these needs. Group support is also available across the Northern Trust localities.

For more information or to be referred into the service please contact:

Danielle Gallagher

028 2563 6607

[email protected]

Barnardos Children and Young People Bereaved By Suicide Support Project

The child bereavement service provides individual and group support to children and young people up to 18 years old who have been bereaved by suicide in the Northern Trust locality.

To make a referral into the service please contact:

Michelle Scullion

07796148549

[email protected]

Northern Area Support Project for Young Men aged 16-25 years

This project focuses on building resilience and coping skills in young men. To raise awareness aimed, at breaking down the current male culture of not discussing their problems openly and to enhance the role of communities in providing support for young people at risk of suicide and self-harm.

For more information contact

Gerry McClafferty Tel 028 256 41966

And Paula Healey 028 7035 1599

Community Based Suicide Prevention Development Officers (SPDO)

This project focuses on empowering, building resilience and providing support to promote positive mental health and emotional wellbeing to communities. There are three SPDO workers across the Northern Trust localities’.

For more information on what support is available in your locality please contact:

Janine Gaston – South Antrim Locality – 028 9447 8645 or [email protected] Denise Doherty – Mid Ulster Locality – 028 7963 4865 or [email protected]

Amanda Pollock – North Antrim locality – 028 2177 2100 or [email protected]