Pregnancy Counselling Services To Contact 40,000

Pregnancy Counselling Services To Contact 40,000 Homes

14 May 2007

Pregnancy Counselling Services (PCS) are to contact over 40,000 homes in the Hutt Valley over the next few weeks to personally deliver a leaflet detailing their work.

National Director Sandy Simpson comments that this project will focus attention on Pregnancy Counselling’s 24-hour helpline for women and families facing crisis pregnancy. The project will involve over 300 volunteers.

For over 27 years, PCS has provided telephone and face-to-face counselling and support. “The need today is as great as ever,” comments Mrs Simpson. “An unexpected pregnancy is often the cause of enormous anxiety for women. They need to know that they have the support of trained counsellors who will respect their privacy and who will help them to come to an understanding of their situation and the options they have.

Quite often a woman’s first reaction is one of shock and it is important that all her concerns are listened to. We find that once a woman has had an opportunity to talk her situation through with someone, she is then able to make plans.”

The leaflet includes a comment, typical of many, from women who phone the helpline. “My doctor rang PCS and I had one of their counsellors pay me a visit the same day. It was wonderful knowing I had options and I did not have to feel alone. I got all the support I needed, right through to after the baby was born.”

PCS trained counsellors also provide recovery counselling for women or men suffering post-abortion trauma. “This part of our work is extremely challenging,” says Mrs Simpson. “It highlights that many women don’t have adequate support and information given to them in early pregnancy, and often the results are tragic.”

A PCS counsellor can be reached, 24-hours a day on 0800 NEED2TALK (0800 633 328). An instant $40 donation to support the PCS service can be made by phoning 0900 HELPPCS (0900 435 77).

ENDS

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