From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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For anyone who feels they may need professional counselling support, the HSE National Counselling Service is available from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 5pm. Details of the National Counselling Service and contact details for each area are listed below.
The National Counselling Service is also available to provide counselling for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes who are deaf/ hard of hearing. If you are interested in accessing counselling you can email your local NCS service or have someone contact your local office on your behalf. An appointment will be arranged for you to meet with a counsellor together with a sign language interpreter.
Due to current public health restrictions a face to face appointment may not be possible at present however a video session can be arranged.
| HSE Region | Area Covered | Telephone Number | Referral Email Address |
| CHO Area 1 | Donegal, Sligo & Leitrim | 1800 234 119 | ReferNCS_Northwest@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 2 | Galway, Mayo & Roscommon | 1800 234 114 | ReferNCS.West@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 3 | Limerick, Clare & North Tipperary | 1800 234 115 | Referncs.midwest@hse.ie |
| CH Cork, Kerry | Cork & Kerry | 1800 234 116 | ReferNCS.CKCH@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 5 | Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow & South Tipperary | 1800 234 118 | CAPA.SECH@hse.ie |
| CH East | South Dublin, South East Dublin & East Wicklow | 1800 234 111 | referncs.east@hse.ie |
| CH Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow | South West Dublin, Kildare & West Wicklow | 1800 234 112 | Refer.NCSDSKWW@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 8 | Midlands: Laois, Offaly, Longford & Westmeath | 1800 234 113 | ReferNCS.midlands@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 1/8 | Louth, Meath, Cavan & Monaghan | 1800 234 117 | Refer.LMCM@hse.ie |
| CHO Area 9 | Dublin North & Dublin North City | 1800 234 110 | ReferNCS.DNCC@hse.ie |
A new webpage with information specifically for former residents of Mother and Baby Homes has been set up at:
Outside of these hours, Connect Counselling provides telephone support. Anyone affected can also directly contact the CONNECT free telephone out of hours telephone counselling and support service where they can talk in confidence with a trained counsellor. This service is generally available between 6pm and 10pm Monday through to Sunday on 1800 477 477.
Free call Samaritans 116 123 or Text YMH to 50808 (Messaging Support Service).
Additional mental health supports provided/funded by the HSE are also available to former residents. Details of these supports are available on www.yourmentalhealth.ie.
For those living in Britain who would like to avail of services locally, there are a number of organisations – financially supported by the Department of Foreign Affairs through the Emigrant Support Programme - that offer support.
Immigrant Counselling and Psychotherapy Service (ICAP)
ICAP is a specialist British-based counselling and psychotherapy service supporting people from the Irish community facing a range of emotional issues, including depression, anxiety and stress. They have particular expertise in working with adult survivors of institutional abuse.
Address: 96 Moray Rd, Finsbury Park, London N4 3L
Phone: 0207 7272 2906
Email: info@icap.org.uk (London), info@icapbirmingham.org.uk (West Midlands)
Website: icap.org.uk
National Response Line
This Freephone service is run by the London Irish Centre and can provide clear and up-to-date information to survivors and former residents of Mother and Baby Institutions. The response line can signpost towards suitable emotional support and/or specialist counselling services. Open 10am – 4pm every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Phone: 0800 519 5519.
NOTE: This Freephone number can only be called from within the UK.
London Irish Centre Survivors Support Liaison and Information Advisor Service
This service provides advice and advocacy to survivors living in Britain. The survivor service is fully funded by Emigrant Support Programme (ESP) and is delivered at London Irish Centre by Katie, a Survivor Support Liaison and Séan, a Survivor Information Adviser. Both have personal survivor knowledge with lived experiences, and are highly committed to delivering a great service.
They can be contacted through the National Response Line on 0800 519 5519 , every Tues, Wed & Thurs 10am – 4pm.
Fréa
Fréa is a partnership between Irish Community Care (based in Liverpool and connecting communities across the North-West), Irish Community Care Manchester and Leeds Irish Health and Homes.
They work with survivors and former residents of Irish institutions. The project continues to grow in scope and in partnership with organisations around the UK and Ireland.
Phone: (0)151 237 3987
Email: admin@irishcc.net
Address: 151 Dale St, Liverpool, Merseyside, L2 2AH
Website: fréa.org.uk and irishcc.net
Coventry Irish Society
Coventry Irish Centre works with survivors and former residents of Irish institutions. If you live in the Coventry region, and were born and/or resided in a Mother and Baby Home or County Home institution in Ireland, please contact their Manager, Simon McCarthy. Simon can support you with information and advice.
Phone: 0247 625 6629
Email: simon.mccarthy@irishsoc.org.uk
The Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres receive funding from the Department of Foreign Affairs Emigrant Support Programme and provide support to the Irish/Irish American communities they serve.
Contact details for local centres can be found at ciic-usa.org/find-your-local-irish-center.
If you are living outside Britain and the United States your local Irish Embassy or Consulate can provide details of organisations who may be able to assist you at this time. Please contact your local Embassy or Consulate for details.
There is a dedicated telephone information line available for people seeking further information about the publication of the Report. The department’s Information Line can be contacted on 01-6473200 from Monday to Friday 9.30am to 6pm or via email motherandbabyhomes@equality.gov.ie
