HSE programme aimed at reducing risk of self-harm set for expansion

A NEW HSE programme in Cork which helps to reduce self-harm is to be rolled out across the county.

It follows the successful completion by 12 people of the first year of the Endeavour programme, run by the HSE South’s North Lee Adult Mental Health Services.

The graduates, nine women and three men, ranging in age from 19 to 43, received certificates from the Lord Mayor of Cork, Cllr Terry Shannon, at City Hall.

They have been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

They all have difficulties managing emotions, were engaged in continual self-harm and repeated suicidal behaviour.

The publicly-funded programme, based on one developed in the US, teaches participants how to cope with their problems.

They spent the last year in group skills training, in individual therapy and doing phone coaching from 9am to 9pm, Monday to Friday, and from 2 to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday, which helped them to let go of self-destructive behaviour and improve their quality of life.

One of Endeavour’s graduates said: “After 25 years of chronic low self-esteem, a combined total of 12 years’ hospitalisation on foot of repeated self-harming behaviours and multiple suicide attempts, my life is now transformed.

“I am now working and studying part-time, I am using the skills from the programme and at last I am living life.

“I am so grateful to the Endeavour team. Without them I would not be here today. I could not have lived another year as I was,” the graduate added.

Daniel Flynn, a senior clinical psychologist in the North Lee Adult Mental Health Services, led the Endeavour programme.

“Our aim is to create a life worth living,” he said.

“Endeavour represents how existing mental health staff can work in a co-ordinated fashion to deliver highly effective evidence-based treatments to chronically self-harming and suicidal clients with minimal additional costs to the HSE.” Mr Flynn added.

Funding has been secured to expand the programme across Cork county and it is hoped that by February 2012 there will be places on similar programmes for up to 48 people with BPD who self harm.

The graduates’ families also took part in a special programme run alongside Endeavour.

Self-harm and repeated suicidal behaviour is a growing problem.

In Cork city, the rate of deliberate self-harm in men is 2.5 times higher than the national average.

There has been a 19% increase in the rate of self-harm among men, and a 30% rise in women in the last two years.

Experts believe the recession, unemployment and emigration have played a significant role in the increase.

- Samaritans: 1850 60 90 90.