More than 300 women were seeking post-abortion counselling last year
Cura, the bishops’ conference crisis pregnancy agency service, was contacted by nearly 2,000 clients last year, more than 300 of whom were seeking post-abortion counselling.
150 crisis pregnancy counsellors attended Cura’s 28th national conference in Dublin to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing crisis pregnancy counsellors. The conference was addressed by Bishop Éamonn Walsh, president of Cura; Helen Deely, head of the HSE’s Crisis Pregnancy Programme; Una O’Brien, clinical midwife specialist in teenage pregnancy; and Dr Colm O’Connor, clinical psychologist and family therapist.
Bishop Walsh paid tribute to the crisis pregnancy counsellors for their “Christian compassion” and “professionalism”, saying that they walked with people “in a caring, loving, hope-giving way” and never judged.
Cura’s 180 active crisis pregnancy counsellors operate in 14 centres countrywide. Last year 1,268 clients presented for crisis pregnancy counselling; 332 presented for post-abortion counselling, and 155 sought support after the birth of a new baby.