HSE urges abuse survivors to use counselling service

Western areaThe HSE West is encouraging survivors of abuse who were in industrial schools or in orphanages during childhood to contact its counselling service.

The HSE has a professional, free and confidential counselling service available in each county in the western area.

The director of the service, Theresa Flacke, said a freephone number 1800 234114 was available to anyone who wished to speak to a counsellor during office hours.

Counselling is available to all sufferers of childhood abuse which might have occurred in the family home, in the community and/or in industrial schools or orphanages.

Ms Flacke said: "We are aware that hearing all the media coverage concerning sexual abuse is very upsetting for all survivors. It can feel as if someone is telling your story and you can feel very exposed.

"The service is confidential and the therapists who work with the HSE are very experienced. They will not be shocked by what you say. They will not ask you for details of what happened to you, unless you want to tell them."

Ms Flacke said the issue of child abuse was very much in the media at the moment because of the upsetting and very shocking Ferns Report.

"If you are a survivor of child sexual abuse, we would encourage you to talk to someone you can trust," she said. "You can contact us confidentially. We would also, at this point, like to take the opportunity to invite those survivors of abuse who were in the industrial schools or in orphanages during childhood, to make contact with us.

"Sometimes it can be very helpful to talk to a counsellor, even one conversation over the telephone can be helpful."