TALK to someone before a problem becomes a crisis. That’s the advice of The Hub, which has been providing counselling to the Ballynahinch area and beyond for nearly five years.
Starting life in 2010 as Project Ballynahinch, the collaborative project between various community, voluntary and statutory bodies followed concerns raised by a number of suicides in the town.
For those feeling suicidal, or who are just finding it hard to cope with life in general, the registered charity is able to step in with a professional counselling service for those aged 12 and over.
Following recent articles on the subject of mental health in the Down Recorder, the service’s manager Deborah Boden wanted to highlight how the service may just be the essential lifeline people in the district are looking for. Quite simply, Deborah says, it is somewhere they can come and talk.
She explained that, as with many organisations such as theirs, many people involved with the service had been impacted in some way by the issue of mental health.
“They have been affected by mental health, either themselves or family members and they want to give something back,” she said.
“I am not a trained counsellor but as with our volunteers we can speak to people face to face or over the phone. Our volunteers, when people come in for counselling, will ask how they are, get them a cup of coffee. Some want to chat some do not.
“Some people come in and have a look about the place and talk for a while, though that is not a replacement for counselling.”
The Hub, which was fully formed in 2011 and moved the following year to new premises in Windmill Street, had 118 clients last year, providing over 1,000 counselling sessions.
Its team of six qualified counsellors is boosted by three student counsellors and a dedicated team of 12 volunteers.
Two thirds of its 118 clients last year were adults. Referrals from bodies such as the Probation Board, PSNI, Women’s Aid as well as from GPs make up part of their client base along with self referrals. Some of the self referrals are men, Deborah said, though they are always keen to see more.
“Most people generally have been to their GP, not feeling themselves,” she said. “People can come in with their heads down but by the time they are leaving it is different. It is protected time here. Time for me.
“There are people who are bereaved, a lot of general anxiety, not feeling
able to cope, traumatic family relationships or people traumatised by the past.” Deborah said that when it came to difficult issues such as addiction, a specialist service was often required, but that they were happy to provide guidance.
“Addictions are very hard to deal with,” she said. “People with drugs and alcohol problems can be self medicating and it is very much specialist work. We wouldn’t turn people away from the door but we might direct them to find a nearby AA meeting.”
Deborah said she hoped the impact of the recession on people’s mental health was at a turning point. She said it had nevertheless had had a significant impact locally, particularly on men who found it hard to break from the idea of their traditional role as family bread winner.
“If their job is lost or if there is a reduction in their hours... that is a pressure,” she said. “It is still very much centred on the man not meeting the needs. There was a lot of shock for men working on building sites.
“We are finding more and more are working part time or needing a job. They are not bringing in the same level of income.”
In terms of dealing with depression Deborah said some people were still very reluctant for people to know they were on medication; others sometimes feeling they were not really getting to the route of the problem. What was different about The Hub, she said, was that they could often provide counselling sessions for longer periods than those currently available via the NHS.
“There is just a bit of bottle neck,” she said of the system. “Some GPs suggest us. Counselling does not take away the problem but it can help you make changes.”
Formerly from Kilkeel and now living in Downpatrick, Deborah was previously a project manager with County Down Rural Community Network. She says her current role is a very rewarding one and that they have helped a number of people feeling suicidal, but she recognises the limits of the service they provide when it comes to prevention. They would like to be open for longer, but it is all down to resources she points out.
“We cannot be the service Lifeline (which provides 24 hours telephone support),” she said. “I understand services such as out of hours doctors and A&E don’t appeal to people in these situations.
“Ten years ago people were not as aware of mental health issues, I do not think it is such a stigma now. “We would therefore encourage people to talk to us before it ever gets to the point where they feel suicidal.”
The Hub Ballynahinch is a part-time service but Deborah would like to assure anyone leaving a message that their call will be returned.
Contact 028 9756 1100 for further details.