Support is more than “picking up pieces”

Press, 3 April 1989, Page 27

Support is more than “picking up pieces”

Presbyterian' Supporf Services (Christchurch) is the recent name for a long established Christian social services agency (previously known as the P.S.S.A.), working in the top half of the South Island.

To this organisation, providing support services involves more than just picking up the pieces from an unfortunate situation. Rather, it aims to meet problems head on by giving people skills to live fulfilled lives that can cope with their circumstances.

Individual and group therapy along with a number of innovative human relationship courses are run at the Campbell Centre at 245 Antigua Street. Courses cover areas such as building self esteem, assertiveness training, awareness and communciation, and counsellor training. One of the Campbell

Centre tutors, John Elvidge, has taken a special interest in the problems of rural stress and has produced a comprehensive publication for rural people. Available through the Presbyterian Support Services in Christchurch, “Rural Stress” is aimed to help pec pie who are forced to change. “Unexpected change always involves discomfort and for some, debilitating stress,” Mr Elvidge writes. “It is now known that isolated or closed people are more prone to unhealthy stress reactions.

“Conversely, those who can share their worries with others outside the family are those who make the healthiest adjustments.” In many ways “Rural Stress” is a do-it-yourself manual containing six studies to aid discussion in small groups. Outsiders or experts are not needed. Leaders are provided from the group, possibly

on a rotating basis. A leader’s guide is provided. Subjects for discussion include Change in New Zealand Farming, Understanding Change, Rural Change and Marriage, Family Support and Helping Others.

The Presbyterian Support Services claim that it is difficult to judge if today’s stress is any worse than at any other time. But what is very different today is that the network of family and neighbourhood help which used to be there, is not present any more.

In Christchurch, the Presbyterian Support Services offer a variety of programmes which are available to all on the basis of need. These range. from counselling services and parenting education through to the teenage support programme, “Toughlove,” which has been successful overseas as well as in New Zealand.