Recent years have seen a marked increase in the levels of stress, depression and suicide across Northern Ireland.

In particular, there is evidence that people in rural communities including Fermanagh are seeking more support for stress, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts.

In response to this growing demand, New Life Counselling, is calling for an urgent review of the emotional health and wellbeing services available in rural areas throughout NI.

The counselling organisation is already providing confidential counselling services in local schools and has now formed a partnership with ARC Healthy Living Centre in Irvinestown to provide adult counselling for families experiencing relationship breakdown. They recently met with local Sinn Fein MP/MLA and Health Committee Chairperson Michelle Gildernew at Devenish College, Enniskillen to explain why ensuring rural dwellers can access support is vital.

New Life Counselling Chief Executive Karen Collins-Neill said: “During the last 10 years incidences of depression, stress and suicide have been on the rise throughout NI. Although the focus is often on the high number of suicides in urban areas, research shows that rural dwellers, and in particular, farmers are consistently considered to be a high risk group.

“1 in 4 people will experience some kind of mental health problem during the course of a year. Rural dwellers are more likely to suffer high levels of loneliness and social exclusion and with a culture of self-sufficiency there is often a reluctance to acknowledge feelings of depression or stress or seek counselling. When people do come forward for support it is vitally important that services are easily accessible. New Life Counselling believes that everyone has the right to access help and support when they need it, regardless of where they live”.

Michelle Gildernew MLA said: “I welcome the opportunity to visit Devenish College to see first hand the valuable service provided by New Life Counselling.  New Life Counselling is a voluntary counselling organisation dedicated to supporting the emotional health and well being needs through the provision of counselling and therapeutic services. Fermanagh South Tyrone has the 7^th highest death rate due to suicide. The number of people seeking counselling is on the rise and as a result it is crucially important that counselling services can be accessed in all communities. At present Fermanagh South Tyrone is seriously under-serviced in terms of counselling and therapeutic services available. It is imperative that constituents in rural communities can access these services. As the MP for Fermanagh South Tyrone I am keen to ensure that access to services in Fermanagh South Tyrone is comparable to other areas”.

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For more information please contact Brenda Maguire at ASITIS Consulting on 02890438677 or 07795977812

Notes to Editor

1. New Life Counselling is a voluntary counselling organisation committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing needs of its clients  through the provision of counselling and therapeutic services. New Life Counselling provides one to one counselling and group therapy services for children, young people, adults and families. They provide counselling services for a number of reasons including bereavement, relationship difficulties, impacted addiction, suicidal thoughts, depression, bullying and anger to name a few.
2. For more information on New Life Counselling and its services please visit http://www.newlifecounselling.net.
3. New Life Counselling is currently providing one-to-one counselling services in local schools through the Independent Counselling Service for Schools, supporting the emotional health and well-being of pupils.
4. In conjunction with ARC Healthy Living Centre, Irvinestown, New Life Counselling is also providing counselling services for families experiencing relationship breakdown. The service is free and completely confidential. For more information call Arc HLC on 028 686 28741