Crisis Pregnancy Agency and HSE Dublin/Mid-Leinster launches new regional resource to assist community and health professionals to deal with women experiencing crisis pregnancy
Tullamore, 11th February
The Crisis Pregnancy Agency and the HSE Dublin Mid Leinster launched a new resource today. “Responding to Crisis Pregnancy, Information and Service Directory for Community and Health Professionals” is an information resource for health professionals and community workers in HSE Dublin Mid Leinster who may be the first point of contact for women experiencing a crisis pregnancy. Research shows that one in five women under 34 and one in five men under 45 have experienced a crisis pregnancy.
The resource is divided into five sections with basic information on topics such as teenage pregnancy, supporting adult women, crisis pregnancy, counselling services, rights and entitlements after childbirth and adoption services.
Only a quarter of those in crisis pregnancy situations use counselling services. Research suggests that some women are unable to get counselling often because they don’t know where to go for help or because they can’t find a counselling service that offers the type of service they need. This resource contains up to date information, contact details and opening hours of services that are available to women who are experiencing a crisis pregnancy.
Speaking at the launch of the resource, Caroline Spillane, Director, Crisis Pregnancy Agency said: “We want to assist health professionals working with women who experience crisis pregnancy. Equipping health professionals with relevant and timely information means they can support a woman by referring her to a local service, such as a crisis pregnancy counselling, where she will get the psychological support and information she needs. When this resource is in full circulation, I hope that we see a significant increase in the number of women attending counselling and other services in the Dublin Mid-Leinster area.”
Commenting on the resource, a HSE Spokesperson said: “The HSE welcomes this important resource and thank the Crisis Pregnancy Agency for their continued support and collaboration in providing Crisis Pregnancy Counselling services in the Midlands . We endeavour to continue the association with the Crisis Pregnancy Agency as an example of best practice.”
The resource was funded by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency. It is one of a series of resources developed by the CPA under the banner of “Key Contacts” for the prevention and management of crisis pregnancy.
The Agency has invested €415,378.70 in the last five years in the midlands crisis pregnancy counselling service, with a further €217,836 committed to the service until June 2010. The counselling is provided by a number of accredited counsellors operating in six locations throughout the Midlands region; Athlone, Edenderry, Longford, Mullingar, Portlaoise and Tullamore. In 2007, the service received additional funding on a pilot basis to deliver a male focused crisis pregnancy counselling service and for the provision of post termination medical checks through a network of GPs.
The Positive Options Campaign, run by the Crisis Pregnancy Agency, promotes state-funded crisis pregnancy counselling services. In 2007, 67,056 text messages were received, and the website, http://www.positiveoptions.ie/.html received 32,671 visits.
The Agency launched its second strategy in November 2007. Two key priorities over the coming years are to improve access to and delivery of crisis pregnancy counselling services, and to improve the range and nature of supports central to making continuation of pregnancy more attractive.
To get copies of the resource, please contact Margaret Whitaker, Health Promotion Service, Dublin Mid-Leinster 057 93 57804.
For more information please contact:
Crisis Pregnancy Agency Contact: Enda Saul 085-7172008
Programmes and Communications Manager
HSE Contact
Liam O’Callaghan, Local Health Manager Laois Offaly HSE Dublin Mid Leinster 057 93 59783 or
Dr. Jonathan Egan, Director of Counselling, HSE 057 93 27140
