Counselling services 'under pressure'

HIGH rates of murder, suicide and road deaths in Irelamd are putting pressure on bereavement counselling services that have to cope with increased demand, an expert said.

Counsellor at the Bereavement Counselling Service (BCS), Monica Fitzgerald said there has been a massive increase in the number of people seeking professional bereavement counselling, particularly after a loved one has died.

"When the BCS started it would be unusual for someone to come in for counselling because a loved one had been murdered or committed suicide. Now we feel lucky if we don't hear of a murder happening every night.