A NEW group to help those left coping with the tragic aftermath of suicide will be launched in York next month.

In addition to forming the self-help group, the York branch of Cruse Bereavement Care now has a team of five trained volunteer counsellors dedicated to helping these "survivors".

It is believed to be first service of its kind offered by any Cruse branch, and has been organised by Jennie, a trained specialist counsellor. It is the policy of Cruse not to identify their counsellors other than by their first names.

Jennie ran a similar group in Solihull for an organisation called SOBS (Survivors of Bereavement by Suicides) before moving to York last November.

Jennie said there appeared to be an increase in the number of suicides they dealt with. The majority appeared to be "youngish men".

She added: "I think a lot of it is to do with expectations put on them by others and by themselves."

The emotions those left behind had to cope with were "the usual bereavement feelings, but also ones which are separate - I guess guilt, and anger, probably with the person who has died".

The group would allow survivors to meet others with similar experiences, which they often could not discuss with anyone else.

"It does have such far-reaching effects, and it needs to be talked about, because if it's swept under the carpet it will come up at other stressful times and other bereavements," Jennie added.

She said self-help groups worked, though Cruse would also provide individual counselling or a mixture of both.

Brian Ward, branch administrator, said they were also one of the first Cruse branches to form a team to help children and adolescents affected by bereavement.

The five volunteers had the necessary clearance from the police and Department of Health, and they also obtained written parental consent before providing counselling.

Mr Ward said the branch operated within a ten-mile radius of York, and also sought to cover areas like Selby, Malton and Easingwold.

They dealt with an average of 200 cases in each of the last two years. The branch had just recruited and trained 16 new counsellors, and now had 42 active counsellors and 20 supervisors.

Mr Ward said: "Cases can take weeks and even months to complete," adding that in Yorkshire, only the Sheffield Cruse branch was busier.

Anyone wanting counselling, or who is interested in training as a Cruse volunteer, can contact the branch on York 707301.