Course offers family support

Families that have been bereaved by suicide are invited to join a free eight-week course starting next month.

The grief support and education programme, developed by Skylight, is being delivered by two trained counsellors from Yellow Brick Road, a national organisation that specialises in providing support for families and whanau who have a loved one experiencing mental health challenges.

It is the first time the course has been offered in the north and it will be held in Silverdale on Thursday evenings, from 5.30pm to 7.30pm, starting on October 5.

Counsellor Marina Ngaha, who has been involved with Yellow Brick Road for the past seven years, says very little has changed for families over that time.

“Family members still feel excluded from information that would help them in their role as carers and there is little support to help them face the challenges that come with caring for a member of their family with mental health issues,” she says.

Participants at the course must be 16 or older.

The programme is backed up by monthly support group meetings, which are held alternatively in Northcote and online.

To register: referrals@yellowbrickroad.org.nz of call 0800 732 825.