Action Mental Health’s Foyle service enjoyed its official opening on World Mental Health Day (October 10), when iconic buildings across the city of Derry~Londonderry also lit up in purple in support of mental health awareness.
Having provided mental health services in the Foyle region for more than 30 years, Action Mental Health recently relocated from Springtown Industrial Estate to its new Pump Street location in the city centre. The Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr SDLP, subsequently cut the ribbon to mark the official opening of the new premises.
The launch event was attended by a range of guests from across the voluntary and statutory sectors, along with Action Mental Health clients, the charity’s CEO, David Babington and Action Mental Health chair, Damian McAuley. Western Trust Assistant Director, Colleen Harkin, was also in attendance.
Action Mental Health’s Foyle Service Manager, Pauline Flanagan, said the day was a great success and incredibly well supported by the local community.
“It went very very well,” she said. “We’re now in the heart of the city, beside the Garden of Reflection. We’re surrounded by local businesses and lots of voluntary sector organisations as well, which is wonderful as it creates lots of opportunities for our clients and also allows us to build better networks.
“The new Pump Street premises are so accessible as well. We’re very close to the bus depot and the train, so are within walking distance now for a lot of our clients.”
Mayor of Derry City & Strabane District Council, Cllr Lilian Seenoi Barr SDLP said: “I was honoured to attend the official opening of Action Mental Health’s state-of-the art new premises at Pump Street.
“Action Mental Health plays a key role in community life by actively promoting mental health and wellbeing in our city and district. This new facility will help them to deliver their wide range of key services from the heart of the city and ensure they can make a positive impact on the lives of anyone in our council area who needs their support.”
Action Mental Health CEO, David Babington, added: “The opening of the Foyle service in its new premises in the city is the start of a new chapter for client support in the area, which Action Mental Health has been doing for over 30 years. We’re very aware that communities really need help with their mental health and wellbeing and this move will ensure that support continues and is even more accessible.”
Already making the most of their new and improved city centre location, the Foyle service team also organised an interactive Art Trail in collaboration with almost 30 local businesses.
The trail ran from Monday, October 7 until Sunday, October 13 and was located in the city’s Cathedral Quarter area, displaying various artwork from clients which depicted their lived experiences of mental ill-health.
The trail linked in with this year’s World Mental Health Day theme of prioritising mental health in the workplace, with Action Mental Health also using the initiative to raise awareness of the range of mental health support available in the local area. The artwork was subsequently displayed in the windows of the participating businesses and organisations and featured QR codes which, when scanned, signposted people to local mental health service providers.
“As we’re now based in the Cathedral Quarter we decided to use this area for the Art Trail, to highlight what it’s like to have a diagnosis of mental ill-health,” said Pauline.
“Some of the designs also had information on the additional mental health supports available to people. It’s not just about Action Mental Health, but showing other support services as well, for example, the Western Trust and private voluntary sector organisations. We wanted to raise awareness of all the local support services and would like to extend our thanks to everyone who took part in the trail.”
Businesses and organisations which participated in Action Mental Health’s Art Trail included:
Newgate Arts Centre, Hidden City Café, Northwest Volunteer Centre, Ferry Clever, Foyle Women’s Centre, the office of Sinn Fein MLA Padraig Delargy, Barnardos, The Sandwich Co., Oxfam, Salmueria Café, Forsight, Joe Jacksons, Yum Cakes, Cancer Research, Java, Claude’s, Vine Living, Number 19 Craft & Design, The Sacred Tree, Walled City Crafters, Foyle Books, Derry City Tourist Office, The Void Gallery.
As well as the official opening of the Foyle service and the interactive Art Trail, Action Mental Health also celebrated the launch of our new “I AM SOMEONE” campaign on World Mental Health Day. Backed by Action Mental Health ambassador and Olympic Gold Medallist Rhys McClenaghan, as well as actor James Nesbitt, “I AM SOMEONE” aims to raise awareness of mental health and to fundraise for the services we provide.
Iconic buildings in both Belfast and Foyle were subsequently lit up in purple to highlight the campaign, with Stormont, Derry Playhouse, Ulster University’s Magee Campus and the City of Derry Airport all going purple for mental health.
