Bridie Sweeney, centre co-ordinator at the Aisling Centre
THE centre coordinator at the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen, which offers support services in mental health, has said that more support is needed for services already in place.
Bridie Sweeney, Aisling Centre coordinator, said: “Despite the range of services available in the county no one would deny that resources are stretched to capacity and more support is needed.
“But perhaps what we require is not more services competing for limited resources, but more support for the services that exist locally so that they are better able to respond promptly to need.”
The Aisling Centre has been offering support to the people of Fermanagh and the surrounding area for almost 25 years. Its core service is the provision of a professional and confidential counselling and psychotherapy service and it offers between 80 and 100 sessions of counselling/psychotherapy per week.
Bridie explained: “People come to the centre presenting with a whole range of issues eg; relationships, bereavement, sexual abuse, physical/emotional abuse, trauma, bullying, violence in the home, issues relating to the troubles, panic attacks, anxiety, low mood, suicidal ideation, low self-esteem, alienation etc. We offer hope and healing. Access to the service can be by self or GP referral.”
In addition, a range of groups offer their services from the Centre, Forget me Not (Bereaved by suicide support group), AA, Escapists (Carers Support Group), Aware, ADHD Support Group, Bereaved Parents Support Group, Zest (Healing the Hurt) and Advice NI.
She said that throughout the county there are also a range of services which promote positive mental health and emotional well-being including Action Mental Health, The Beacon Centres, The Men’s Shed Project, The Oak and The Ark Healthy Living Centres, The Hangout and Narcotics Anonymous.
Bridie went on: “At the Aisling Centre we are very dependent on fundraising and the support we receive from the local community without which we could not offer our current level of service.
“Good mental health and emotional well-being is every bit as important as physical health. Yet, the stigma that still exists around mental health can prevent people from seeking help.”
She concluded: “No-one is immune to poor mental health. We all have difficult times in our lives and we need to learn to understand our feelings. If low moods and feelings of sadness, hurt and hopeless persist then it is important we seek help and support.”
If you would like to find out more about the services of the Aisling Centre you can contact the Centre on 028 66 325811 or come along to their coffee morning on Friday October 10 10.30am – 12 noon.
If you or someone you know is in distress or despair, call Lifeline free on 0808 808 8000. This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow up with other support if appropriate. The helpline is available 24/7. www.lifelinehelpline.info.
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