Local counselling organisation New Life Counselling is launching its 18th Birthday celebrations this week.

In a break with tradition, New Life Counselling is sending out its birthday card to 3,000 homes in the North Belfast area, and calling on local people to share their experiences of the North Belfast based organisation over the last 18 years.

Seamus Barnes, Chair of New Life Counselling’s Board of Directors, said: “Since 1993 New Life Counselling has been providing innovative counselling services for children, young people, adults and families in North Belfast. We have been here to listen to people during some tough times for our community. We have developed from humbles beginnings into an organisation which is truly changing lives”.

“We are committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing of local residents and on our 18th birthday we want everyone to know we’re still listening. We would like to encourage everyone in the local community to celebrate this milestone with us by sharing their experiences of New Life Counselling. We are sending out 3,000 special birthday cards in which people can write a short message or simply wish us ‘Happy Birthday’ and send them back to us”.

The New Life Counselling birthday cards have been specially designed and will be delivered to homes throughout the community over the next few weeks. Since its foundation in 1993, New Life Counselling has provided services for approximately 10,000 people and their priority for the next 18 years is to continually improve the services they provide and expand their support into underserviced communities.

Joanne McGurk Larkin, Support Services Manager for New Life Counselling, said: “This is the first of a number of 18th birthday celebrations planned for 2011. New Life Counselling has been a fixture in this community for 18 years, providing counselling services for thousands of local people. Recent surveys show that almost 1 in every 4 people will experience mental ill-health at some point in their lives. We know that many people are still in need of counselling and support and would encourage anyone worried about their mental health and wellbeing to get in touch. We’re still listening and can provide professional, confidential counselling and therapeutic services to help people learn new ways to deal with difficult thoughts and feelings”.

Praising New Life Counselling Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly MLA said: “The vital services provided by the North Belfast group can’t be praised enough in my view. Having such high levels of deprivation in health and social conditions means a particular focus is needed. This area has also very high levels of suicide and self harm yet so many good people in this community are quietly striving to provide help. Mental health is often described as the Cinderella service and undoubtedly isn’t given the resources required particularly in a post conflict environment such as this. I’m wishing New Life Counselling a very happy birthday, keep up the good work and best wishes for the time ahead”.

Other birthday events planned for this year include a schools art therapy project, birthday parties, youth group celebrations and the publication of a research project which will document the experiences of New Life Counselling from inception to present.