'Still Imprisoned Project' - A care support for ex-POWS

SINN FÉIN President Gerry Adams launched an advertising campaign for the ‘Still Imprisoned Project’ at Tar Anall on Tuesday afternoon.
The Still Imprisoned Project (SIP) is a direct response to the needs of republican ex-prisoners and their families.
Many former political prisoners suffer from issues as a direct result of the trauma they experienced during the conflict. These include alcoholism, drug dependency, financial management problems, depression and anxiety.
The Still Imprisoned Project is there to help.
It has been in place for a year and provides a 24-hour helpline and personal support within a short time.
There is a total commitment to confidentiality and respect.

SIP has three tiers:
1.     ‘Coal face’ responders who staff the helpline 24/7. The criteria for this group is that they have to have a history of abuse themselves (i.e. be a recovering alcoholic) and they must be republicans.
2.     Professional psychologists, psychiatrists, counsellors and trained psychiatric nurses who provide support on a voluntary basis. Their criteria is that they must also be sympathetic to republicanism.
3.     ‘Befrienders’ or ‘Comrade Circle’. These are ordinary men and women who call in to see some-one recovering and their job is to ease the loneliness and often the guilt which people on the road to recovery face.

Gerry Adams commended Tar Anall and thanked the many voluntary workers who are the backbone of this project.
“This is a very important project. It is about helping people who are often in great pain. It is a very selfless act on the part of the voluntary workers who willingly and freely give of their time to reach out to others.”