Self-harm Intervention Programme (SHIP)
Information Leaflet for Patients
What is the Self-harm Intervention Programme (SHIP)?
SHIP provides people who self-harm with quick access to support and counselling to help deal with the issues that are causing distress. It will help you learn new ways of coping with your problems.
Who is it for?
SHIP is suitable for people who have self-harmed and who do not have serious mental health problems that need the care of the Trust Mental Health Services. It is for people who have personal or social problems that are causing distress and leading to self-harm.
SHIP also offers a short period of education and support to people who care for someone who self-harms (e.g. a parent, a partner, a friend).
Who provides the service?
SHIP is provided by a network of counselling organisations who work in partnership with your GP and local health services. These organisations are listed in the table below. The counsellors work to professional standards and are highly experienced and skilled.
Where is it provided?
SHIP is provided at a range of locations within each of the five Trust areas so as it easily available to anyone who needs to use it. You will be seen in the Trust area that you live in. We know that people who self-harm sometimes don’t like to go to places where they might feel embarrassed or judged so the service is offered in a pleasant community location to reduce stigma.
The table attached tells you where the service is provided.
Trust area / SHIP Provider / LocationsBelfast / Community Wellbeing Alliance / Ardoyne, Lenadoon, Upper Springfield, East Belfast, Templemore Ave.
South Eastern / New Life Counselling Consortium / Bangor, Newtownards, Lisburn, Downpatrick, Ballynahinch, Newcastle.
Southern / Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health (NIAMH) / Armagh, Dungannon, Craigavon, Banbridge, Newry.
Northern / Zest:
Healing the Hurt Ltd / Coleraine, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Antrim, Maghera, Castledawson, Cookstown, Larne, Whiteabbey
Western / Zest:
Healing the Hurt Ltd / Limavady, Derry/Londonderry, Strabane, Omagh and Enniskillen
If I am interested, what happens next?
If you or a family member is interested in attending this service then a Mental Health Practitioner at the local Trust will pass on your contact details to the relevant counselling organisation.
1. You will be contacted by phone within 48 hours to arrange an appointment.
2. People who self harm will usually be offered an appointment within approximately 1 week.
3. Family members or carers will usually be offered an appointment within approximately 2 weeks.
I might be interested in having some counselling but I am not sure. Can I have more time to think about it?
If you are not sure we can still pass on your details to the SHIP service, if you agree. Someone will phone you and you will have the opportunity to discuss any concerns or ask questions. You can then decide whether you want to use the service.
I don’t want to have counselling but my parent / carer/ friend would like some support. Is this possible?
Yes, even if you don’t want to have counselling, someone else who is close to you can get some support. Please discuss this with the staff member who has provided this leaflet to you and they will arrange for this to happen.
The service will not share any of your personal information but will just give this person advice on how they can help you, and also how they can cope better themselves.
What should I do if I feel like harming myself or ending my own life?
You should contact your GP or the ‘out-of-hours’ GP immediately (see numbers below). If you have difficulty reaching a GP you can attend a hospital Emergency Department or ring 999 or 112 if you are or someone else is at immediate risk.
Other useful numbers:
Lifeline (24 hr) Crisis Help-line 0808 808 8000
Samaritans (listening ear) 116 123
Childline 0800 1111
S.H.I.P. REGIONAL Contact No
028 7126 6999 – Based in Queen Street, Derry/L’Derry