Counselling services to be expanded

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the rising cost of living, and other world developments taking their toll and potentially increasing young people’s need for counselling services, chairman of the Drug Education and Counselling Services (DECS) Roger Husbands has promised to expand his organisation.

Addressing the congregation during the blessing of DECS at the St Swithun’s Anglican Church, Greenidges, St Lucy on Sunday, Husbands said given the current challenges, young people need an avenue to find their purpose.

“I believe now, especially with this pandemic and with this [Russia-Ukraine] war, we must expand, especially with this rising cost of living. It is time to expand because at this time people will need social services or drug education services just to keep calm and to cope with these difficult times,” he said.

Husbands said his team recently returned from Dominica and will be looking to establish branches in St Lucia and Grenada.

His immediate goal, however, is to establish a care home in Christ Church offering rehabilitation services for young people.

“Today, we celebrate 18 years as a programme and we work tirelessly with young people from mere existence to purpose. Many of these young people have moved on to be a complete success at entrepreneurship, nursing, teaching and into [law],” he said.

Member of Parliament for St Lucy Peter Phillips described DECS – a faith-based NGO that works with persons under the age of 25 years old who have substance abuse problems or behavioural issues – as a crucial venture in giving youth a second chance at life.

“This is very important, as you in this organisation reach out to give people a second chance. As we celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who died to give us as persons a second chance, this is absolutely important,” he said at the service held on Palm Sunday which marks the final week of Lent.

“We have young people, or maybe not so young people, who may have lost their way, who may have strayed from where they really want to be or where they ought to be,” Phillips added as he commended the organisation for the work it has done over the years.

“We do not often get non-profit organisations like these working so hard on behalf of people or on behalf of a country. I certainly want to thank you very much for giving these young people an opportunity to refocus.” (MR)