0:00:16 > 0:00:18Hello, and welcome to Lifeline.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21You join me tonight in the heart of Belfast's nightlife.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24Coming up on the programme, we'll be hearing about
0:00:24 > 0:00:29the SOS service which helps to keep young people safe on a night out.
0:00:29 > 0:00:31And we're at a nursing home in Ballyclare,
0:00:31 > 0:00:34where the residents have a very unusual visitor.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39But first, our main appeal comes from New Life Counselling,
0:00:39 > 0:00:42a charity which is having a lot of success
0:00:42 > 0:00:45helping young people tackle depression.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50'There must have been 12 suicides within a couple of months.'
0:00:51 > 0:00:53'Everything was just getting on top of me
0:00:53 > 0:00:54'and I couldn't hold it in no more.'
0:00:54 > 0:00:57'There's nothing worse than someone taking their own life,
0:00:57 > 0:00:59'especially someone close.'
0:01:02 > 0:01:04Not everyone feels excited about their future
0:01:04 > 0:01:08or has the resilience to deal with what life can throw at them.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11You may be aware there's been a startling rise
0:01:11 > 0:01:14in the number of cases of depression in the Belfast area.
0:01:17 > 0:01:19I always felt like I was on my own
0:01:19 > 0:01:22and I didn't know if anyone would understand,
0:01:22 > 0:01:24so I used to keep it bottled up
0:01:24 > 0:01:27because I didn't think anyone would've been through the same as me.
0:01:27 > 0:01:30I didn't leave the house for, like, two years
0:01:30 > 0:01:31cos I was so scared of going out
0:01:31 > 0:01:35and thinking no-one would understand what I was going through.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38Everything was getting on top of me and I couldn't hold it in no more.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40I broke down and I couldn't,
0:01:40 > 0:01:43like...think straight, so I knew I had to get help.
0:01:45 > 0:01:47One counselling charity aims to tackle
0:01:47 > 0:01:49the rising trend in depression
0:01:49 > 0:01:53by offering therapeutic support and hope for the future.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00Would you be feeling down? We can...
0:02:00 > 0:02:01I can get someone to give you a call...
0:02:01 > 0:02:05'New Life Counselling was established in 1993,
0:02:05 > 0:02:09'in response to the social needs and difficulties in north Belfast.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12'Tensions in the area made the headlines again this summer.
0:02:12 > 0:02:14'Against this backdrop,
0:02:14 > 0:02:17'the charity aims to support those who are suffering from stress,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20'anxiety and depression.'
0:02:21 > 0:02:24Tears... Absolutely floods...
0:02:24 > 0:02:26'New Life also helps people across Northern Ireland
0:02:26 > 0:02:28'with relationship difficulties,
0:02:28 > 0:02:30'self-esteem issues
0:02:30 > 0:02:33'and self-harming behaviour.
0:02:33 > 0:02:36'And it counsels those with suicidal thoughts.'
0:02:36 > 0:02:37There are various reasons
0:02:37 > 0:02:39why people may come to us for counselling support.
0:02:39 > 0:02:42Often people feel that they are at crisis point,
0:02:42 > 0:02:45perhaps having felt stressed for a long time,
0:02:45 > 0:02:48often suicidal and at a point of real hopelessness in their lives.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51'By making our services more widely known and accessible,
0:02:51 > 0:02:54'we've seen an increase in those being referred for counselling
0:02:54 > 0:02:59'at a stage when preventative work can offer the best support.'
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Young boys and girls in my area started committing suicide
0:03:03 > 0:03:07and friends and family were doing it, and my cousin took his own life.
0:03:07 > 0:03:12I know now how families feel that go through the suicide,
0:03:12 > 0:03:14then we came together as a small group
0:03:14 > 0:03:17and started trying to prevent suicide.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We didn't know what to do or who to go to, or...
0:03:20 > 0:03:23to try and help anyone, so we got in contact with New Life Counselling
0:03:23 > 0:03:26and they actually came in, they organised a meeting
0:03:26 > 0:03:28and were very interested in coming out and seeing what we were doing.
0:03:28 > 0:03:31They told us more about it and how we could work around it,
0:03:31 > 0:03:35how we could help prevent, stop suicide around our area and stuff.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Many people think counselling is just about talking,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41but New Life Counselling employ a variety of techniques,
0:03:41 > 0:03:45including family sessions, group work and art therapy.
0:03:45 > 0:03:48Each year we support over 5,000 people
0:03:48 > 0:03:51to access counselling and to meet their needs.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54We rely heavily on financial support from a range of sources,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57including Government trusts and foundations
0:03:57 > 0:03:58and private sponsorship.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02Counselling costs around £65 per session to deliver,
0:04:02 > 0:04:05so financial aid is extremely important to us.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09'New Life depends on the help of volunteers.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11'Many are now trained counsellors
0:04:11 > 0:04:15'who have given up their time to help support those most in need.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:18It's not what a lot of people would think - advising - sometimes,
0:04:18 > 0:04:21it's just really being there, listening,
0:04:21 > 0:04:22and help them work through.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26It's really empowering them to help themselves, really.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28My life now is so much better.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30I don't... I know I don't need to be alone,
0:04:30 > 0:04:32I know I've got people there that will support me
0:04:32 > 0:04:37and will look out for me and I know that I can go out and be happy and...
0:04:37 > 0:04:39After everything I've been through,
0:04:39 > 0:04:41I shouldn't just sit on my own in my room.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I need to get out and speak to people and make friends and be happy.
0:04:45 > 0:04:49All I can say is that nothing is ever as bad as it seems.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52There's always tomorrow. Always look forward.
0:04:52 > 0:04:55You need just to keep living and keep the head up
0:04:55 > 0:04:56and suicide is not the way.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59You've got your whole life to live for and to look at, you know?
0:05:00 > 0:05:03The difference that counselling can make can be enormous
0:05:03 > 0:05:07and can help people to turn their lives around.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11Any donation you feel you could make would be greatly appreciated
0:05:11 > 0:05:13by those who'll benefit from the work here.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Thanks for watching.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18If you'd like to help New Life Counselling,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20then you can donate online...
0:05:24 > 0:05:26And find out more about New Life...
0:05:33 > 0:05:37Now, the pubs and clubs in Belfast are busy every weekend,
0:05:37 > 0:05:40but even more so as we head towards Christmas.
0:05:40 > 0:05:44But a lot of young people are finding themselves vulnerable,
0:05:44 > 0:05:47where there's cheap alcohol available and, sometimes, drugs.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51The SOS Bus, staffed entirely by volunteers,
0:05:51 > 0:05:54has been a welcome sight on the night-time scene
0:05:54 > 0:05:55for the past five years.
0:05:55 > 0:05:57There's a medical centre on board
0:05:57 > 0:06:01and an opportunity to just sit quietly
0:06:01 > 0:06:03and recover from any kind of distress.
0:06:03 > 0:06:06Volunteers provide soup and coffee
0:06:06 > 0:06:10and there's no shortage of takers.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11Joining me now is Joe Hyland.
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Joe, basically you need more volunteers for this bus.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18Yes, indeed. Plenty of work to do on the streets of Belfast.
0:06:18 > 0:06:22Some would say it must be extremely challenging,
0:06:22 > 0:06:24the work that you do and the people you come into contact with,
0:06:24 > 0:06:27some of them worse for wear or in distress...?
0:06:27 > 0:06:28Yes, it can be.
0:06:28 > 0:06:30But, actually, it's great fun out there as well.
0:06:30 > 0:06:32I mean, most of what we do is fantastic.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36Belfast is one of the safest places to drink in Europe.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39But you are right, when it gets bad, it can get really bad
0:06:39 > 0:06:41and we need to be well-trained and prepared for that
0:06:41 > 0:06:43and mitigate what risks we can.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45We ask people to come along, look at our website, phone us up,
0:06:45 > 0:06:48come join us, they'll do an induction course
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and they'll do some other training and then when they're ready,
0:06:51 > 0:06:53they'll go out and work with more expert volunteers.
0:06:53 > 0:06:54OK, Joe, we'll leave it there.
0:06:54 > 0:06:57I'm sure you have a long night ahead of you. Thanks very much for that.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00And you can find out more details
0:07:00 > 0:07:03about how to volunteer for the SOS Bus on our website.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Now time for the Community Noticeboard.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09If you want a one-off volunteering role at Christmas,
0:07:09 > 0:07:13check out Volunteer Now's Christmas Connections campaign
0:07:13 > 0:07:16at volunteernow.co.uk
0:07:16 > 0:07:19The Alzheimer's Society's new dementia cafes
0:07:19 > 0:07:23are operating across Northern Ireland to reduce isolation.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Contact Nicola Neill
0:07:25 > 0:07:29on 028 9066 4100.
0:07:29 > 0:07:33The Poppy Appeal needs help with its work at this time of the year.
0:07:33 > 0:07:36For more information, contact...
0:07:39 > 0:07:43And finally, we've seen before how pets, like dogs,
0:07:43 > 0:07:46have been used as a kind of therapy in nursing homes.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Well, another four-legged friend, called Benji,
0:07:49 > 0:07:51has become a regular with residents
0:07:51 > 0:07:54at the Hamilton Nursing Home in Ballyclare.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Benji is one of more than 20 rescue donkeys
0:07:58 > 0:08:02who are trained to deliver assisted therapy by the Donkey Sanctuary.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05The nursing homes here in Northern Ireland
0:08:05 > 0:08:07were very dubious at the beginning of letting us in,
0:08:07 > 0:08:09for obvious reasons.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11But as soon as one did it, it's like opening up the floodgates,
0:08:11 > 0:08:15because the therapy is very, very worthwhile for the residents.
0:08:18 > 0:08:19It's lovely.
0:08:19 > 0:08:22The connection that the donkey has with the old people,
0:08:22 > 0:08:23it's amazing, it really is.
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Never in my lifetime did I ever think...
0:08:32 > 0:08:34I've seen them on Sunday School trips
0:08:34 > 0:08:36but I never thought they'd ever be
0:08:36 > 0:08:39in a place like this, in a home. No.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44Whatever next?
0:08:44 > 0:08:45Well, that's Lifeline for now.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47You can watch the programme again
0:08:47 > 0:08:49and find out about many other opportunities
0:08:49 > 0:08:52on our Community Noticeboard on our website.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54Thanks for watching and I'll see you next time.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56David, any chance of a cup of coffee?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59Oh, lovely. Thank you. Thank you very much.
0:08:59 > 0:09:01- Is it a busy night ahead? - It is indeed.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd