Surge in demand for counselling

THERE has been a surge in demand for cancer counselling services over 4 years according to figures released by the Irish Cancer Society.

The figures show that the number of people accessing these services in cancer support centres has increased by 68 per cent in just four years.

It said women still make up the vast majority of the service users, with over seven in 10 of the 2016 clients female and just under three in 10 male.

The number of people availing of the counselling service in 2016 was 1,464 compared to 874 in 2012 and just 248 in 2009.

Wicklow people represented over four per cent of the society’s national figure, with 65 people from the county availing of the counselling service. The Irish Cancer Society’s affiliated support groups in the area are the Arklow Cancer Support Group, Greystones Cancer Support and the Wicklow Cancer Support Centre.

The society uses a short-term model and often a client only needs one or two sessions to help them understand that their emotional reaction is normal and to enhance their own coping techniques.

The Cancer Support Centres in Wicklow provide psychosocial care not only for cancer patients but also their families in their own communities.