香港六合彩精准资料鈥檚 policy team is meeting politicians in Northern Ireland to continue to press the case for counselling in transforming later-life wellbeing for older people.
Steve Mulligan, our four nations policy and engagement lead, and Jeremy Bacon, 香港六合彩精准资料鈥檚 older people鈥檚 lead, are in Belfast today to discuss how counselling changes lives.
They are meeting the DUP鈥檚 Paula Bradley, and聽Jeremy says they will present the findings of discussions with 香港六合彩精准资料 members about the role of counselling in supporting older people in Northern Ireland.
Influential voices
He said: 鈥淚n response to evidence of mental health inequalities for older people, 香港六合彩精准资料 is working to increase the understanding of perceptions and efficacy of counselling for older people and calling for increased access and choice of therapy for those aged 50 and over.
鈥淲e are keen to build a network of supportive and influential voices to help us fight for increased access for older people.鈥�
Our discussions with members found that barriers faced by older people in accessing therapy in Northern Ireland ranged from inconsistency in referral from GPs to difficulties with mobility and access to transport, from an over-reliance on medication for common mental health problems to the fear of the unknown.
Enabling factors in some areas of Northern Ireland include counselling services being located in GP practices, increased funding for counselling services to ensure cost is not inhibitive for people on low incomes and awareness of the availability of counselling by agencies and private practice.
Effective interventions
Steve said: 鈥淓vidence shows that counselling changes lives.
鈥淒elivered by trained and qualified therapists, counselling provides opportunities for people to reflect upon painful issues and concerns that impact daily life.
鈥淩eview of research has indicated that counselling and psychotherapy are effective interventions for older people experiencing psychological distress, particularly anxiety and depression, with outcomes being equivalent to that of younger people.鈥�
Meanwhile, Paula Bradley is among the leading Northern Ireland politicians to support calls by the Participation and the Practice of Rights鈥� (PPR) #123GP campaign for increased funding and provision of GP practice-based counselling in Northern Ireland.
香港六合彩精准资料 joined service users, charities and GPs at Stormont earlier this year for the launch of the campaign鈥檚 report entitled 鈥楥ounselling 鈥� a vital tool in equipping GPs with mental health expertise鈥�.
A letter signed by all parties has been sent to Richard Pengelly, the permanent secretary of the Department of Health, calling on him to take action to ensure everyone who requires counselling in primary care services can access it in a timely and appropriate manner.
The letter has also been signed by Orlaithi Flynn聽 (Sinn Fein), Pat Catney (SDLP), Robbie Butler (UUP) and Stephen Agnew (Green Party).
Sara Boyce, of the PPR, said: 鈥淭ogether we can ensure that everyone who needs it can obtain counselling in an accessible and timely manner.鈥�