PIPS Hope and Support "Compassionate and Inspiring"

Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty has described the work of PIPS Hope & Support as compassionate and inspiring. 

Mr McNulty and members of the SDLP team in Newry and Armagh visited the service’s new premises on Newry’s Mill Street.

Mr McNulty said, "It was inspiring to visit the PIPS Hope & Support’s (previously PIPS Newry & Mourne) new premises on Mill Street in Newry. The work done by PIPS Hope & Support is an invaluable service to the local community and they go about their work with great compassion and care.  It was inspiring to see the way in which they work with families and loved ones at times of crisis."

The MLA spoke of the organisations empowering vision of protecting the community at all times. There are 12 fully accredited PIPS Hope and Support counsellors who reach out to and help up to 90 people a week with anywhere between 70 and 100 counselling sessions being facilitated either in-house at their state of the art new base in Mill Street or by outreach in the community.

Mr McNulty added "We should all recognise that looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health.  All too often we ignore our own mental health and wellbeing. Despite all the investment and campaigns over the years, there are still too many people who do not take care of their mental health and that why it is so comforting to know that PIPS Help and Support services are there for people when they are at a low point in life.

"Anxiety, depression and poor mental health knows no boundaries.  It doesn’t matter your age, gender or social background, it can impact everyone. PIPS Help and Support’s compassionate strategy is focussed on the four pillars of prevention, intervention, postvention and support.’

"PIPS Hope & Support provide an outstanding service, in the promotion of good mental health, crisis care for those in need of help and also support services for those bereaved through suicide. I cannot praise the work they do enough.  I have heard many people describe how the services in PIPS brought them back from the brink or how their support and counselling helped them get though some very dark days following the loss of a loved one.  We need to see more support and more funding for groups like PIPS Hope & Support.  They really are a lifeline for so many people."