PIPS and North Belfast Partnership and Stakeholder Development
This unique programme was developed by Public Initiative for the Prevention of Suicide and Self Harm (PIPS), the North Belfast Partnership and Stakeholder Development and has trained more than 200 community volunteers to help people affected by suicide.
PIPS was started in 2003 by Philip McTaggart, following the suicide of his son, Pip. Philip discovered there was little or no support for his family, and they found themselves offering what help they could to other affected families. Over a two month period in 2004, 13 young men in Philip’s community took their own lives.
Philip met with the North Belfast Partnership to explain how families needed urgent support as they struggled to cope with highly stigmatized bereavement. Together they approached training provider Stakeholder Development, who specialise in developing capacity within community organisations. They designed a publicly-funded training programme whose over-riding aim was to save lives by providing distressed individuals with support.
The programme provided a clear vision and action plan for 20 members of PIPS, helping them to manage and improve the support. Part of the strategy that emerged from this, was to create Neighbourhood Response Teams. It has provided training for 208 community volunteers in how to support bereaved families using ASIST – applied suicide intervention skills training. The programme also helped PIPS to mentor and supervise the volunteers.
PIPS now deal with up to 15 crisis phone calls and six visits to bereaved families a week.
For further details on PIPS and North Belfast Partnership and Stakeholder Development, please contact DEL Press Office on 028 9025 7872.