Nine users of the Health Service Executive (HSE) South’s North Lee adult mental health services in Cork graduated yesterday having completed the Endeavour Programme.
Participants were diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, recognised by key features including difficulty in managing emotions, continual self-harm and repeated suicidal behaviour.
Alternative coping skills and intensive individual therapy form the basis of the programme, delivered by HSE South staff with backgrounds in psychology, psychiatry, nursing and art therapy.
One course graduate said the programme gave her the skills to “finally be able to step out into the world”.
“Now, I recognise self harm as damaging my body and
it is not a way of coping. I recognise where my thoughts to harm are coming from and how to understand and deal with them in more positive ways,” she said.
The first 12 graduates of the 2011 programme last year have reported reduced levels of anxiety, depression, hopelessness and hospital admissions.