HOLDING HOPE PROJECT

This is a new counselling project specifically for young men who are feeling suicidal. The purpose of the project would be to avoid the tragic circumstances where someone commits suicide while they are on the waiting list for counselling. If we had the funding to run a separate service for these young men, then they could receive counselling much sooner.

When anyone makes a telephone call requesting counselling, they are offered an appointment for an assessment interview within two weeks.

The ?Holding Hope? project would work as follows: if the Co-ordinating Counsellor interviews a young man who is expressing suicidal thoughts or has already attempted suicide, she will arrange for him to start counselling within a week with a counsellor who has been specifically designated to work within this project. He would have up to five weekly counselling sessions, each lasting for one hour, with the same counsellor, with the possibility of another five sessions if he needed more.

Who is the COMPASS ?Holding Hope? project aimed at?
?Holding Hope? will specifically, but not exclusively target young men who are experiencing difficulties and unhappiness in their lives. The focus is to provide skilled assistance at an early stage and prevent problems escalating. Those living with mental health problems and those experiencing emotional distress, Family members, partners and friends who are concerned about their own wellbeing and that of people they care about.

In particular ?Holding Hope? aims will be to:
Provide an alternative and easily accessible ?first stop? service
Provide assistance at an early stage in order to stop problems escalating
Provide empathy, understanding through active listening
To instill hope when none exists
To provide direction for those who do not know where to seek help
.
Who will run the project?
?Holding Hope? will be staffed by COMPASS trained counsellors who have the relevant experience required to help clients with their problems. Both male and female counsellors. COMPASS is a volunteer service.
What service will the COMPASS ?Holding Hope? project provide?
A free, easily accessible and confidential listening service in which people may be offered, guidance and support underpinned by empathy, warmth and understanding.
A signposting service into other statutory or voluntary agencies empowers clients and provides a stepping stone for them to access local services.
Why is ?Holding Hope? necessary?
COMPASS is endeavoring to reduce the suicide rates in Merseyside. Specifically targeting young adult males between 18-40 years the ?Holding Hope? project allows COMPASS to focus on a particularly vulnerable at-risk of suicide group within our community.

Who funds ?Holding Hope??
Holding Hope is part of the COMPASS programme for Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing in Merseyside and it is hoped will be part funded by the Mark McQueen Foundation

Holding hope
Where there is Hope... There are No Limits