Action Mental Health (AMH) CEO David Babington has welcomed the recent publication of the Shared Prosperity Funding but cautioned there is still significant work to be done to bridge the funding shortfall:
“We’re delighted with the announcement that our SkillSET consortium successfully secured 2 years of funding to deliver employment and training support for people with disabilities. However this new type of support under SPF is very different to previous provision, delivered under the ESF programme, and as a result we have grave concerns that those most in need and furthest from the workplace will be unsupported. Alongside this change in support there is also a significant funding shortfall and all providers are now grappling with adjusting their delivery of support whilst dealing with fewer resources.
“AMH will continue to work with sector colleagues to make the case to the UK Government and NI Departments that additional funding is required rapidly to cover the shortfall. The sector is very used to a flexible approach requiring innovation and service reconfiguration, but providers like AMH are delivering core services on behalf of the Health Trusts and vulnerable clients not covered under this new SPF funding will still need support.”
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About SkillSET
SkillSET is a disability employment support group comprised of Action Mental Health, Cedar Foundation, Orchardville, NOW Group, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Mencap and Adapt NI. The group of seven organisations who provide services regionally, across Northern Ireland, secured £12m funding to support over 4,500 clients with a range of disabilities to build their skills through education/training and access the workplace over the next two years.
SkillSET will support clients with a range of disabilities including people living with: mental illness; learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, sight and hearing loss.
Do you wake up each morning feeling rested? Or do you drag yourself out of bed after one too many snoozes of the alarm, the incentive of early morning caffeine and the feeling that you could easily go back to bed for a nap by midday? If the latter sounds more like you, then you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 4 in 10 employees struggle to get the recommended amount of sleep every night. It’s not just sleep quantity that suffers. Indeed, 4 in 5 employees report feeling unhappy with their sleep quality and a quarter of people state that stress is the main factor contributing to their sleep loss.
In a world where we’re expected to juggle the 40 hour work week, family commitments, a social life and possibly even squeeze in daily exercise, you’re likely not surprised to hear that sleep is often the first thing that we sacrifice. However, what you may not know is that slacking on sleep can amplify our stress. The reverse is also true; maintaining high levels of stress increases our alertness and consequently reduces our bodies’ ability to enter a relaxed and sleep-conducive state.
This loop is known as the “stress-sleep cycle”, a process by which high stress levels prevent us from “switching off” and getting sufficient sleep, meanwhile sleep deprivation affects our ability to regulate emotions and manage daily stressors.
The good news? We can break the cycle. Here are 5 steps to restoring minimising stress and increasing sleep quality and quantity:
Schedule in de-stressing. Do you find yourself lying awake after a stressful day, even though you’re exhausted? Or perhaps you find yourself overthinking a workplace stress the moment your head hits the pillow? With many of us going through busy days at 100 miles an hour, it’s understandable that dealing with stressors often takes the backseat until bedtime. Instead, prioritise scheduling times in your day where you can process stressors or de-escalate tension. This may be making time for morning journaling, a lunchtime walk or post-work meditation. When we allow ourselves time to process and decompress throughout the day, stresses are much less likely to crop up to keep us conscious at night-time.
Control your light exposure: Most of us have heard that blue light from your phone, TV or computer screen can be detrimental to sleep. But, did you know that all light exposure affects sleep. To work with your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm), try to reduce your light exposure in the 2 hours prior to bed. Dimming the lights, choosing lamps over bright lights and avoiding screens can all be great ways to signal to your brain that sleep is approaching. You can also enjoy greater energy and focus in the mornings by ensuring that you get 30+ minutes of bright light when you wake up.
Take control of your tech: It’s not simply blue light from phone’s which perpetuates the sleep/ stress cycle, but also the bombardment of to-dos, emails and work tasks which crop up in the notification section. It’s easy to think that there’s no harm in quickly checking your emails before bed, yet in reality this puts your brain back into “work mode” rather than preparing to sleep. Your bedroom should be primarily for sleep so try to taper your tech usage in the run up to bed and leave your phone outside the bedroom overnight.
Keep a worry journal. Have you ever been settling down to sleep when you’re suddenly hit with a jolt of worry and anxiety? Maybe it’s worrying about whether you’ve put the bins out or sent that email. Or perhaps it’s a bigger issue, whether that’s finances or family, which is playing on your mind. In reality, there’s very few problems that need to be solved at bedtime, so resist the urge to address issues that can wait until morning. Instead, you may find it useful to keep a journal in your bedside drawers. This journal serves to get your worries out of your mind and onto paper, allowing you to get back to sleep with minimal disruption.
Prioritise rest. Whilst sleep is a fantastic form of rest, it shouldn’t be your only form of rest. In fact, not resting throughout the day will often result in higher nighttime cortisol levels and thus less sleep. To counteract this problem and prevent ourselves from becoming burnt out, we need to incorporate opportunities to rest throughout the day and consequently allow our nervous systems to regularly release hormones compatible with mood stabilisation and relaxation, rather than stress. This may include setting time aside for breaks throughout the day, setting time aside specifically for admin and organisation, scheduling in time at home which is specifically for relaxing or developing a list of relaxation and stress management techniques specific to you.
Need further help?
Escaping the sleep/ stress cycle rarely happens overnight! AMH Works is here to help. Our 2 hour Burnout and Rest course is the perfect opportunity for workplaces to equip employees with tools to manage stress, prevent burnout and incorporate rest into their daily routines. Delivered either in person or online, this course has been shown to increase productivity, decrease sickness absence and boost workplace morale.
Lauren currently works as a trainer within Action Mental Health Works which centres on reducing stigma and improving mental wellbeing in Northern Irish workplaces. Having gained the National Academic Performance Award and a first class honours degree in Psychology, Lauren’s professional pursuits have largely centred on reducing stigma and promoting early intervention for those suffering from mental ill health. Lauren has gained a breadth professional of experience within the mental health sector including complex mental health, homelessness, addiction, eating disorders and therapeutic intervention. Lauren has also taken an active role within the charitable sector. She is currently a committee trustee for both the Lawrence Trust and the Eating Disorders Association NI.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF CSPG, NICVA, CO3 AND NIUSE
Edyth Dunlop, NIUSE, Rev Andrew Irvine, East Belfast Mission, Celine McStravick, NICVA and Valerie McConville, CO3.
The Community Sector Peer Group, NICVA, CO3 and the NI Union of Supported Employment, which represent over 1,000 community organisations across Northern Ireland, have said that the community sector “feels abandoned by the political process and civil servants in London and Belfast”.
A 60% cut in funding has left dozens of community sector organisations facing closure within weeks. 1,700 staff employed by 67 different groups have been put on notice of redundancy. Employability services which help over 18,000 marginalised people annually will be substantially cut or discontinued.
Funding previously provided by the European Social Fund (ESF) finishes at the end of March and has not been replaced in full by either Westminster or Stormont. To date local Departments have declined to fully replace the £13m they previously provided whilst the UK Government’s new UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides only a partial replacement for the current ESF programme.
A cross-party pledge signed by 65 MLAs is now urging Stormont Departments to step in to help save services.
The MLAs acknowledge that the services provided are “invaluable to the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Northern Ireland who find it difficult to access employment” and that the services will cease if the current groups are not funded adequately.
The MLAs also noted that they have “seen first-hand how successful these services have been in helping the most vulnerable in our society into employment and training, and that they save the public purse money by reducing demand on social care and other pressurised public services.”
In particular, the MLAs urged “Northern Ireland’s Economy, Finance, Communities, Health and Justice Departments to make a meaningful financial contribution to ensure these services can continue to operate to their full capacity, which will in turn significantly help with cost prevention in other aspects of care.”
Rev Andrew Irvine, Chair of the Community Sector Peer Group and Chief Executive of East Belfast Mission said:
“It’s a scandal that despite years of forewarning both Westminster and Stormont have decided by their inaction to decimate services which help disadvantaged people get off benefits and into employment. It’s a case of saving pennies now only to spend pounds later.
“While Westminster has shown some flexibility with funding, the lack of purposeful engagement from our local departments has been extremely disappointing. Given that these departments have a statutory duty to provide employability services, I struggle to understand why they are prepared to let these services and jobs disappear.
“These are 1,700 real jobs providing critical services but also around £40m in salaries for the local economy.
“We’re grateful for the overwhelming support from local parties, but with just weeks of funding left it’s fair to say that the community sector feels abandoned by the political process and civil servants in London and Belfast.”
Celine McStravick, NICVA’s Chief Executive, said:
“Employability services provided by the community sector have a track record of delivering success which is unmatched by similar Government projects.
“It has taken years for the sector to build up the expertise which lies behind that success – those skills are now at serious risk of being lost and it’s hard to see how they’ll be replaced.
“If a manufacturing firm threatened to close with the loss of 1,700 jobs because of a Government decision, there would be a public outcry. Our groups feel, however, that their jobs and the services they provide are expendable.
“Report after report has demonstrated the community sector’s major economic contribution to Northern Ireland; we need Government to start nurturing rather than undermining the sector.
“At the end of the day, we help provide the services that keep Northern Ireland running, we’re not a ‘nice to have’ – we’re essential.”
Valerie McConville, CO3’s Chief Executive, added:
“I hope departmental officials will take this last opportunity to acknowledge the overwhelming political support to safeguard these services and respond with meaningful funding.
“We urge them to reconsider if there are monies available from underspend in other departmental programmes, but more importantly, will they commit to bridge any interim funding gaps caused by delays in the UKSPF becoming operational.
“Longer term, we need local politicians and officials to set out how they view the future of the sector. The current situation where groups are forced to stagger from funding crisis to funding crisis is unsustainable.”
Edyth Dunlop, Regional Manager of the NI Union of Supported Employment, said:
“The ending of the ESF Programme without a full replacement programme will not only impact on staff and services but on individuals who are at risk of being further left behind. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of economic inactivity and the lowest employment rate for people with disabilities in the UK. It doesn’t make sense to not continue vital services which address this. From 1st April 2023 there will be no pre-employment training for disabled people or those most vulnerable unless actions and decisions are made now.”
The costs of supporting someone through a community-based employability programme will vary depending on the complexity of their needs but it can be as little as £600. The costs of unemployment for health, social services and justice budgets are substantially higher, up to £40,000 for someone who falls into the justice system.
A recent review of employment services provided by the Belfast Works consortium led by the Upper Springfield Development Trust found that it exceeded its employability targets by 400% and delivered them at a cost over 50% less than projected.
ENDS
MLA Pledge Wording
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was created to provide support for projects across Northern Ireland, focusing on people and skills, communities and place, and local businesses.
UKSPF was designed to replace the European Social Fund (ESF) that to date has helped over 60 projects in Northern Ireland to provide support to over 80,000 people furthest removed from the job market. Unfortunately, the level of funding available from UKSPF will not match the level that was made available through ESF, which will be to the detriment of these services and the service users.
The work of these services is invaluable to the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Northern Ireland who find it difficult to access employment. These service users have so much to offer, but may need some extra support. If these service providers cannot continue to deliver these projects, no one will. There is no alternative in place.
As a local representative, I have seen first-hand how successful these services have been in helping the most vulnerable in our society into employment and training, and that they save the public purse money by reducing demand on social care and other pressurised public services.
With the Northern Ireland Assembly operating with a highly restricted and challenging budget, it is vitally important to implement cost prevention.
For example, the cost of one adult participating in the many of the Jobs Programmes is as low as c. £1,500; however, the cost per year to the public purse on benefits such as ESA for one adult is c. £3,884 and the cost per year for one adult in the Justice system is c. £40,000.
I urge Northern Ireland’s Economy, Finance, Communities, Health and Justice Departments to make a meaningful financial contribution to ensure these services can continue to operate to their full capacity, which will in turn significantly help with cost prevention in other aspects of care.
During this year’s Eating Disorder Awareness Week, AMH EveryBODY looks at how these disorders can affect anyone – as they have no look, shape or size . . .
Between 1.25 and 3.4 million people in the UK are living with an eating disorder right now, with recent NHS research highlighting that 6.4% of adults display signs of an eating disorder. Approximately 25% of those presenting with an eating disorder in the UK are males (priorygroup.com, 2023).
Eating disorders are serious and complex mental disorders influenced by a facet of factors, involving disordered eating behaviour, such as reduced food intake or overeating then purging through exercise, laxatives or through the use of an emetic, or a combination of these behaviours. (beateatingdisorders.com).
Importantly eating disorders are not all about food itself, but about feelings. How a person interacts with food may make them feel more able to cope, or more in control.
Though the exact cause of eating disorders is unknown, it is generally believed that a combination of biological, psychological and social factors contribute to the development of these illnesses. They are a coping mechanism for difficulties in that individual’s life, and are much more about feelings at the core, than they are about just food or weight.
Eating disorders have no look, shape or size. They can affect anyone, at any age, gender, race, ethnic background, from all walks of life. Eating disorders are as individual as the people they affect. According to Eating Disorders NI, although traditionally assumed as a disorder affecting teenage girls, it can impact anyone and not everyone will have the same signs, symptoms or experiences.
Department of Health NI estimated figures reveal that up to 20000 individuals will be living with an eating disorder at any one time in Northern Ireland and with an annual spend of £2 million dedicated to specialist eating disorder services since 2008, excluding inpatient and treatment costs outside Northern Ireland, it is evident how much this affects our local population and economy (health-ni.gov.uk).
Deborah McCready who works with AMH EveryBODY managing services for clients living with eating disorders said,
“Behind every statistic, every diagnosis is a person who feels. You deserve to be heard, you deserve to be valued. EveryBODY deserves support. Continuing, “If I could offer anyone reading this post during this Eating Disorder Awareness Week, who may be struggling in silence with their eating disorder, I would like to reassure them that eating disorders have no look, shape or size. I also want to remind you that you are so much more than your eating disorder. You are more than numbers, shape or size. You bring value to this world simply by being you. Eating disorders thrive in isolation so recovery begins with support.
If you are struggling today please know that your voice matters, you deserve to be heard. It is never too soon, or too late to ask for help. EveryBODY can be affected by eating disorders, so everyBODY deserves support.”
Eating Disorders Awareness Week (EDAW) runs from 27 February – 5 March 2023.
This week we will share client stories – relatable testimonials and anecdotes, self-care tips and links to our video and useful websites where you will find more information and help. Remember, you are not alone and that you are enough.
NHS advice to help someone living with an eating disorder:
If a friend or relative has an eating disorder, such as anorexia,bulimia orbinge eating disorder, you will probably want to do everything you can to help them recover.
You’re already doing a great job by finding out more about eating disorders and how to try to support them – it shows you care and helps you understand how they might be feeling.
Getting professional help from a doctor, practice nurse, or a school or college nurse will give your friend or relative the best chance of getting better. But this can be one of the most difficult steps for someone living with an eating disorder, so try to encourage them to seek help or offer to go along with them.
You can support them in other ways, too:
Keep trying to include them – they may not want to go out or join in with activities, but keep trying to talk to them and ask them along, just like before. Even if they do not join in, they will still like to be asked. It will make them feel valued as a person.
Try to build up their self-esteem – perhaps by telling them what a great person they are and how much you appreciate having them in your life.
Give your time, listen to themand try not to give advice or criticise – this can be tough when you do not agree with what they say about themselves and what they eat. Remember, you do not have to know all the answers. Just making sure they know you’re there for them is what’s important. This is especially true when it feels like your friend or relative is rejecting your friendship, help and support. Click here for more information
As reported by the BBC, last month Conservative MP Dean Russell told the Commons that requiring all businesses to undergo Mental Health First Aid Training could be the answer to increasing early intervention and decreasing workplace absences across the UK.
Whilst Russell argued that the organisational cost of making mental health first aid training mandatory would be offset by the impact of the training on sickness absences and productivity, many employers will be left with the question “Is Mental Health First Aid Training really worthwhile?”.
The reality is that workplace mental health is continuing to deteriorate in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. With many organisations promoting hybrid working or endorsing a return to the office, employees often find themselves struggling to manage the demands of both work and home life. In fact, recent research found that 42% of UK employees report feeling more exhausted than ever in 2023.
Perhaps more startlingly, 1 in 4 UK employees are estimated to be suffering from a diagnosed mental health condition, yet only 13% of UK employees would feel comfortable talking about their mental health in work. Moreover, a Deloitte survey found that 21% of employees have lost their job in the last year, with 61% citing poor mental health as the reason that they’re leaving. Another report cited mental health as the primary contributor to long term absence from work.
In sum, mental ill health is estimated to cost UK employers up to £56 billion per year.
“Perhaps more startlingly, 1 in 4 UK employees are estimated to be suffering from a diagnosed mental health condition, yet only 13% of UK employees would feel comfortable talking about their mental health in work.”
In contrast, research by Public Health Matters recently found that mental health training can generate a return investment of up to 800%. Not only do these programmes improve stress, decrease absence and protect workplace morale, but they also act as a vital preventative measure, with every £1 spent yielding a return on investment of up to £9.
With this in mind, the question is no longer whether employers can afford Mental Health First Aid Training, but instead, whether employers can afford not to provide this training.
Lauren currently works as a trainer within Action Mental Health Works which centres on reducing stigma and improving mental wellbeing in Northern Irish workplaces.
Having gained the National Academic Performance Award and a first class honours degree in Psychology, Lauren’s professional pursuits have largely centred on reducing stigma and promoting early intervention for those suffering from mental ill health. Lauren has gained a breadth professional of experience within the mental health sector including complex mental health, homelessness, addiction, eating disorders and therapeutic intervention. Lauren has also taken an active role within the charitable sector. She is currently a committee trustee for both the Lawrence Trust and the Eating Disorders Association NI.
L to R: Pictured L to R: Stephen Clarke, MTB Partner, Jane Robertson, AMH, Robert McKay, MTB Partner.
One of Northern Ireland’s leading mental health charities, Action Mental Health (AMH), is delighted to announce its charity partner, McCartan Turkington Breen Solicitors (MTB), raised over £6,600 throughout 2022.
McCartan Turkington Breen is a full-service law firm in Belfast.
Action Mental Health is a charity that changes the lives of people living with mental health issues and promotes resilience and well-being in all sections of our community.
Robert McKay of McCartan Turkington Breen said: “We know that the mental health of many in our local communities has been adversely affected in recent years. Anything that we were able to do to raise both awareness of the mental health crisis and to raise funding to support Action Mental Health with the vital work that they do was a positive step for change.”
Throughout 2022, McCartan Turkington Breen implemented several fundraising activities whilst actively promoting awareness of the mental health issues found at work and at home.
Senior partner of the firm, Colin Mitchell, took to the skies in a charity skydive whilst Aleric Turtle, partner, organised a Cathedral Quarter treasure hunt for the firm’s commercial clients. Several other fun and engaging team-building events were organised throughout the year.
Every year, Action Mental Health has a timetable of activities suitable for people of all ages to get involved in. The charity highlights that it is always happy to work with corporate partners of all sizes to raise much-needed funds and awareness of the work that they do.
Action Mental Health’s Jane Robertson commented: “We are so grateful for the support we have received from McCartan Turkington Breen throughout 2022. The partners, staff and their clients have been so enthusiastic and generous and the money they have raised will make a massive difference to the people we are supporting. As a local charity, we rely on fundraising from businesses such as MTB to provide many of our services and would like to say a massive thank you to all involved.”
As you are a high domain authority publisher, AMH and MTB Solicitors would be grateful if you would include a link anchored to the first or final mention, or anywhere else that you deem fit, of the respective organisation:
This can be a really great thing. The internet and social media can help us stay connected with friends and family, even if we don’t live near them. This can be especially important for people who might feel isolated or lonely, or who perhaps are unable to leave their house.
The internet can also provide us with access to a wealth of information and resources that can help us learn more about mental health and how to look after ourselves. Not to mention the source of fun, entertainment and relaxation it can provide, with films, TV shows, games and more right at our fingertips.
However, like most things in life, the internet has it’s negatives and so should be used with care. It’s particularly important that our children and young people are supported to access and use the internet safely.
We’ve identified a few of the potential risks associated with internet and social media use, as well as some of the ways you as a parent or carer can help your child stay safe online.
Social media and mental health
Social media usually shows us the carefully selected best parts of someone’s life – but often that makes us think that someone’s whole life looks like their ‘best bits’. That can make it really easy for us to compare their positives with our own negatives. Such comparison can contribute to feelings of anxiety and low mood, and can have a significant impact on our mental health.
Our social media feeds can quickly become full of ‘beautiful’ people wearing expensive clothes, perhaps showing us their workout routines or favourite make up looks. For some, this constant stream of deemed ‘perfection’ can make us conscious of our own appearance.
Sadly, perpetrators of bullying can now hide behind screens and keyboards whilst inflicting serious harm. This is called ‘cyberbullying’, and is worryingly common. If your child is being bullied, it will undoubtedly affect their mental health and should be dealt with really seriously.
And as if the actual content we’re consuming wasn’t enough, the practice of using social media can be harmful in itself. Spending too much time on screen can lead to poor sleep – numerous studies have shown that increased use of social media has a negative effect on your sleep quality. And social media can be incredibly addictive. It has a powerful draw for many people that leads to them checking it all the time without even thinking about it.
So – what can we do? How do we keep our children and young people safe online?
Talking to your children about social media
The first, and potentially most important, thing you can do is talk to your child. Hearing and understanding them and nurturing their trust in you will help build strong foundations should they ever need your help or guidance. Reassure your child they can come to you about anything they have seen that is worrying them, and that their safety is your priority.
Encourage positive social media use! Not all social media use is bad, and lots of what we can engage with online can be really helpful. Encourage your child to use social networking sites in a positive manner to connect with their friends, and to avoid mindlessly scrolling. Importantly, you should model to them the sort of behaviour your expect from them. You can’t tell your child to reduce their screen time whilst spending all evening on your own phone; nor can you ask that they be polite and kind to others on social media if they can see you post and comment negative messages.
Encourage privacy. By being informed on the ways in which information can be shared online, you can help your child with their privacy settings in order to better protect their safety online. Work together to ensure the right settings are in place around privacy and location.
Teach your child about ‘fake news’. Children should be aware that not all information found online is correct, accurate or relevant. Show your child how to check information they find by comparing it to alternative sources on the same topic.
Setting healthy boundaries
Whatever their age, it’s a good idea to sit down together with your child to come up with some agreements about how much time they spend online to protect their wellbeing.
For example, you might want to agree that they shouldn’t go online just before bed or use any devices at night, because this can affect their sleep. You can often set timers on devices to limit internet use – but try to help your child manage this for themselves as well.
Setting parental controls can be a good way of gaining peace of mind that your child isn’t accessing anything inappropriate or unsafe. It is, however, important to remember that as your child grows up they may learn ways of getting round these. This is why it is so important to be able to talk openly to your children about social media and the risks in order to help them make good decisions for themselves.
By staying informed, being proactive and nurturing trusting relationships with your children, you can help them navigate the digital world with confidence and security.
As parents and carers, it’s natural to feel concerned about your child’s social media use. With so many potential dangers and negative outcomes, it’s understandable to feel a sense of fear and uncertainty. However, it’s important to remember that social media can also offer a lot of positive opportunities for growth and connection. The good news is that you don’t have to navigate any of this alone. There are so many tools and resources available to you. You can access our full social media guide for parents below, and at the back of that there are a number of additional resources and services that may be useful to you.
