MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION - Health Promotion Agency

Mental Health Promotion in Northern Ireland
CATEGORY 3
Project name
Contact name
Address
Option C
Counselling in Schools (Contact Youth)
Lorraine Thompson
Contact Youth
2A Ribble Street
Belfast
BT4 IHW
Telephone number 01232 457848
Brief description of project
Objectives
Option C is a Contact Youth pilot project funded by DENI through
EU SS PPR. The service has been implemented in 5 schools in the
Belfast area.
Option C has 2 qualified counsellors and a Liaison Officer. The
Liaison Officer works directly with the school staff and promotes the
service with the young people. Counsellors have limited contact with
the school staff (this protects the relationship between the young
person and counsellor, as the counsellor is not seen as part of the
school system). Each school has 4 counselling sessions per week.
Young people can either be referred through a member of staff or selfrefer
during break/lunch times. The counselling is generalistic.
Feedback given to the school is of a statistical nature. Counsellors
receive regular managerial and clinical supervision.
• To provide young people in schools with access to independent
confidential counselling in times of crisis, decision making and
significant change.
• To address negative attitudes and beliefs towards psychological and
social health issues among the younger population.
• To empower and support young people in taking responsibility for
positive action in their lives.
• To develop good practice guidelines for school counsellors.
• To promote the value of independent counselling in schools.
Outcomes: Planned • A change in attitude of the pupils in selected schools towards
counselling. The counselling process becoming an accepted course
of action at times of stress or change. More young people availing of
one to one counselling sessions. A heightening of awareness
amongst staff and parents in selected schools of the value of youth
counselling.
Evaluation Report available after March 1999.
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