It was 2015 after two suicide attempts that I was advised by a friend in work about Action Mental Health (AMH) and the Workable NI program. To be honest at the time, in my extremely low mood, I felt what’s the point and this is gonna be another one of these lifeless schemes that are more about ticking boxes than helping people. How wrong I was.

From the first session I had with the first of many keyworkers, I was made to feel valued, cared for and not judged for experiencing a severe dip in my mental health. I was listened to from the off and they tailored their help to me. They constantly reassessed their help with me, always seeming to provide as much as they could than they could…which was to prove invaluable. They communicated things, with my permission, with my manager who was able to get a full picture without the awkwardness of my repeating myself along with the vulnerability.

There were many dark moments during my journey when AMH gave me a safe space to be and encouraged me to keep going. Each Key Worker they provided, brought their own individual skills to help me on that stage of my recovery. From those who sat with me patiently in the silence to those who motivated me to self-care to those who laughed when I found the true me again.

In the short, sometimes in life a person or an organisation IS SENT to assist you on a difficult part of this journey and you don’t realise what they do for you at the time until the storm settles and you get a chance to reflect. And in this reflection I found true value in and gratitude for the organisation called Action Mental Health and the Workable NI Programme, its upbeat receptionists, its ever caring keyworkers and its management team who ensured I was given the space I needed to find me again.

Thank you. From the heart.

Gary Tate.

You can find out more about the Workable NI Programme by clicking here.

Just in time to help celebrate Children’s Mental Health Week, the AMH team recently revisited Artigarvan Primary School in County Tyrone, capturing a short video charting how Action Mental Health’s Little Healthy Me and Better Together programmes, are continuing to help the school community of staff, parents and children better manage their mental health. 

Little Healthy Me positively promotes mental health and social and emotional wellbeing in children and focuses on prevention and self-help. Targeted at 4 -7 year olds, it is a refreshing interactive and fun 3-hour workshop, delivered over 3 sessions by experienced AMH MensSana and AMH OUR Generation project workers. 

Principal, Judith Harper said, “We became involved with AMH during lockdown when their facilitator came into the school and worked with the children, right up to P7 with both Little Healthy Me and Better Together programmes. They have gained so much from these sessions and I would recommend them to anyone.”

Emma McCartney from AMH OUR Generation said, “The children loved taking part in the video and showed how much they had learned since our last session, setting up peer mentors to help each other and encourage inclusion and diversity at school.”

Teacher Alison Preston said, “ The pupils were very engaged, listening to what the facilitator had to say. They are comfortable sharing thoughts and feelings and by the end of the 4-week course ten P5 peer mentors knew how to adopt their roles. Importantly, the programme has helped us to confidently identify the wellbeing of the children. They look out for and help each other, share kindness together and know who to turn to if they need help.”

Parent Joanne Kerr, who took part in an AMH wellbeing event last year, found the session to be extremely helpful with excellent support from well-informed staff. She said, “The learning session looked at parents’ wellbeing and the importance of taking time out to return to family life refreshed. After all, you can’t pour from an empty cup!”

AMH MensSana and OUR Generation also provide alternative programmes for both primary and secondary education age groups as well as sessions for parents, carers and staff. 

These unique programmes are available across Northern Ireland. The programmes are designed to be diverse but inclusive and have a broad appeal across all age groups. For more information or to book a session please visit:

https://www.amh.org.uk/services/menssana/

or https://ourgeneration-cyp.com/

Watch the video now! 

Never Too Early or too Late to Seek Support

Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 – theme Let’s Connect – 6-12 February 2023.

Why ‘Let’s Connect’?

The theme for this year’s Children’s Mental Health Week 2023 is ‘Let’s Connect’ and if there is anything the last few years has taught us, it’s that humans thrive through connection and that it is absolutely vital for our wellbeing and survival.

Without these connections with others we can feel isolated and lonely which can negatively impact our mental health. 

According to mentalhealth.org evidence shows that people who are more socially connected to family, friends, or their community are happier, physically healthier and enjoy longer lives with fewer mental health problems than people who are less well connected.

It’s not just the number of friends you have it’s the quality of your close relationships that matters.

Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation brings evidence from a recent study. It showed that building good connections and having a good social connections while accessing online support, perhaps through virtual therapy sessions or peer support sites, reduced symptoms of depression in young people by as much as 26%. It’s also thought that this helps to improve anxiety and wellbeing.

The great news is it is never too early or too late to seek support and help. 

Free resources for primary age and secondary age children and young people will help you take part in the week visit https://www.childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk

If you’re interested in more information about how Action Mental Health supports children’s and young people’s mental health visit our MensSana and OUR Generation pages for more information.

ends.

Multiple world record holder and Paralympic superstar Bethany Firth OBE has become an ambassador for local charity, Action Mental Health.

The 26-year-old from Seaforde, Co. Down, who competes in the S14 classification for athletes with an intellectual impairment, clinched a gold when she was just 16 years old in the S14 100m Backstroke at London 2012 when representing Ireland.

Since then, Bethany has filled the past decade with sporting success while overcoming challenges. Swimming has changed her life, taking her to events across the world such as Funchal, Rio de Janeiro, Madeira, Montreal, and Berlin and all around the UK and Ireland. 

Bethany’s winning haul includes two golds and two silvers at Tokyo Paralympics 2020. Last year she managed to take home five gold medals at the world championships, a gold in the Commonwealth Games all whilst getting married.

Commenting on becoming an ambassador with Action Mental Health, Bethany speaks candidly about her disability, which causes short-term memory loss and affects daily life:

“No matter what mental hurdles you face in sport and daily life, I think it is so important to talk about mental health within sport. When people compete at the highest level they may also be susceptible to mental health issues. I think it’s important to make people aware of this. Becoming an Action Mental Health Ambassador will help me to help others, which is something really close to my heart.”

Continuing,

“Sport completely changed me. I was shy and afraid of people knowing about my disability. My confidence increased with swimming and not just the assumed physical benefits but the great mental boost sport offers up as well.”

Action Mental Health’s Head of Communications and Fundraising, Jonathan Smyth

Welcomed Bethany into the AMH family: “We are delighted to have Bethany join us an Ambassador for Action Mental Health. Bethany has been a leading ambassador for sport in Northern Ireland for many years and is a true inspiration to many people right across the country. Bethany is also extremely passionate about promoting positive mental health and the benefits which sport and being active can bring to people of all ages. She is also very focused on highlighting the mental health challenges which people can face and the need for people to seek support when they need it. We look forward to working alongside Bethany to help raise awareness of these crucial issues.”

Bethany has a big 2023 ahead of her as she will look to use home advantage to her benefit when the Para Swimming World Championships is hosted in Manchester from 31st July-6th August. 

Find out more about Bethany’s story as one of Northern Ireland’s most decorated athletes on Instagram @bethany_firth or follow Action Mental Health on @action_mental_health.

Action Mental Health client Ross Anderson, believes mental health support from the charity has given him “a future that wasn’t there”. Ross is worried its services may be cut post March 2023, when current EU funding in Northern Ireland expires.

Ross’s story, like so many others, started with severe anxiety problems, which resulted in him becoming housebound for six years. After six months with Action Mental Health the positive results were evident.

 “I was at a point where I hadn’t left my house for six years, had been through different mental health services and never had that bridge to get back into society,” continuing, “Action Mental Health was the first place that I have felt that I have that foundation to get back into society.”

“It has got me introduced into socialising again and having a structure and a timetable in my life. The idea of working was something that was not on my radar but now I am in a position where it is. Now I want to go on to mental health advocacy and through them I know that is a reality, it has just given me a future that wasn’t there.”

Ross’s mum Deborah Anderson added ‘Ross has battled severe mental illness for at least 17 of his 34 years. He’s only been with Action Mental Health’s New Horizons service for a short time, however I have never seen him with so much hope for the future as he has now. This service is essential.”

Silent Saviours

Action Mental Health’s services and its support staff were “silent saviours” during the coronavirus lockdown, according to another client, Carol McGoran, who is now looking forward to returning to volunteering work after her time with the charity.

“During the Covid period, it wasn’t long that I had joined – you were completely lost but you knew at the end of the line or on a Zoom you have a key worker to encourage you and help you through your worst times.”

AMH New Horizons services face a very uncertain future, as ESF funding in Northern Ireland ends in March 2023. While work continues to secure new funding to continue services from April onwards, no confirmed funding is in place and time is running out.

Ross and Carol are two of the many people this vital service supports, helping them in their recovery from mental ill health and to move on to further education, work or voluntary placements. AMH New Horizons offer a direct referral route for our local health trusts and the loss or reduction in services would place unimaginable strain on already over stretched statutory mental health services.

Clients at AMH New Horizons currently take part in The “Working it Out” project which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

Are you ready to step up to the starting line in 2023? Action Mental Health has 3 great opportunities for you. Sign up, get active and fundraise for vital mental health services.

• On 2 April take part in ‘the quirkiest’ Half Marathon around – London Landmarks Half Marathon. We only have a couple of spaces remaining. Contact us today to find out more.

Cost £35 plus platform fee. Fundraising Target £350

• On 30 April be part of #TeamAMH at the Belfast City Marathon, whether you are running the whole event, being part of a relay team, doing the 8 mile walk.

Sign up for the event here and join our fundraising team here.

• On 29 October how about ‘the friendliest’ marathon aka Dublin Marathon. We have limited spaces for Action Mental Health runners.

Cost £100 plus platform fee. Fundraising Target £500

If you want more information on any of these amazing opportunities or to know how to fundraise for us at your own event contact [email protected]

The Our Generation team has gathered their top tips to help you look after your mental ‘elf’ this Christmas.

While there are always things we can’t control in life, Christmas is a time to refresh mind and body and focus on the many positives. Keeping a balance is important to keep both body and mind healthy over the Christmas period and beyond.

Self-care should be our Christmas gift to ourselves this year – remembering to take regular exercise and eating a well-balanced diet can keep us fit and healthy. If you find yourself feeling lonely or isolated this festive season there are steps you can take to help yourself, so remember to turn to someone you trust if you need help.

Promoting your wellbeing at this time of year, is made easier by following The Five Ways which offer simple steps towards reducing stressful moments which may otherwise spoil this festive season.

Connect with the people around you. According to Northern Ireland’s interim Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill, no matter what age we are, probably one of the most important factors for improved psychological health and well being, is relationships and connectedness with other people.

“A huge amount of research has shown the positive effects of relationships on our physical health, like blood pressure, cardiac illness, cancer, as well as our mental health, including reduced levels of stress and depression.”

If you need some time on your own this busy season, reflect; spend a while doing something you enjoy. Stay in touch with how you are feeling by connecting with your mind and body. Mindfulness is one way to do this.

Be Active. Whether you prefer walking or running, cycling, playing a game, gardening or dancing, exercise makes you feel good. Find something you enjoy and dedicate time to do it; start with 10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes of physical activity for the day.

Take Notice. Stop, pause, and take a moment to look around you right now. What can you see, smell or even taste? Look for beautiful, new, unusual or extraordinary things in your everyday life and think about how that makes you feel without judging or trying to change them. Take a few deep breaths, feel the rising and falling of your chest, and take notice of the chair under you or the weight of your feet on the floor. Try apps like Headspace or Calm for guided meditations, and you’ll learn how to notice and release tension you didn’t even realise you were carrying. Sit in your garden or go for walks with those in your live, notice nature and the sound of life.

Keep Learning. Variety is the spice of life so keep learning new things, it will make you feel more confident, will boost your self-esteem and improve your overall well being. Use any spare time to unwind, learn a skill you were putting off – cook, study a new language, exercise or get stuck into that novel. Or why not try your hand at gardening – a pastime much reported as being beneficial for well being.

Give. Look outward as well as inward. Linking yourself and your happiness to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you, even if you can’t physically be there. Giving can be something as simple as using social media in a positive way to share messages or support. Make a call or send a text to a friend, older relative or someone living on their own – it might just make their day to know that someone is thinking of them.

Lastly, give yourself a hug. You can only do so much and you’re doing the best you can. Try to love yourself – you can’t pour from an empty cup, so give yourself time to relax and think of all the things you can look forward to with family and friends.

Based on the Five Ways to Well Being, developed by the New Economics Foundation.