Action Mental Health client Mark Kincaid experienced many years of mental ill health before seeking help from the charity, but now he bravely shares his story.

Marking last week’s Men’s Mental Health focus, Mark Kincaid told The Irish News about the importance of the help and support he continues to receive from Action Mental Health

Mark, a father of two from Lisburn, has recently found work in a caring role after his condition caused considerable upheaval in his former career as a graphic designer.

Mark revealed how a lifelong fear of death affected his mental health. “As a kid I was always worried about death… it was quite an anxiety for me. But this was something major for me. This was going to happen, and I couldn’t control it. It became an obsession. I couldn’t eat, I couldn’t sleep, I couldn’t do anything because I thought what’s the point if I’m going to die soon? 

“It turns out I have an obsessional disorder. I went through a wedding like this with these feelings,” he said.

“I wouldn’t have known this until I got really unwell, but I have had mental health issues as long as I can remember… probably since I was three years old but being at home in a good family environment protected me because I may have had those things that were bothering me, but the home environment was safe and secure.”

He noticed his mental well-being declining when he became a graphic designer. 

“I think of that job in that way: I loved it, but it was detrimental to me. In 1997, I was 23 at the time, I started getting bad thoughts. Really anxious thoughts. I was petrified that I was going to die.” 

Anti-depressants helped for a time, however, his obsessional thoughts returned time and again before he had to seek help with Action Mental Health.

“AMH has been a constant for me for two years. I call it Good Ship AMH. When you think about it, you are lost at sea – that’s your mental health. And it’s dark and you don’t know what to do.  

“You’ve got this silly little life jacket on, and that’s the medication. So, the waves come, and you go under because the life jacket isn’t perfect but then you see this big light, and the light comes and it’s a ship. The ship comes and it’s called Good Ship AMH.”

Read the full story in The Irish News https://www.irishnews.com/news/healthcarenews/2021/06/20/news/mark-kincaid-shares-his-experiences-for-men-s-mental-health-week-2360366/

Mark’s takes part in Action Mental Health New Horizon’s Working It Out programme, which is funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.

When Mary Donaghue became ill, it was a frightening time for her, but with the care and consideration of staff at AMH Promote, she is now on her way to regaining her strength and independence.

Mary, 66 was unfortunate enough to endure two cancer scares and following a major operation she is now facing recovery with a wide variety of activities to keep her hands and mind occupied.

The Newtownards woman is among the group of adults living with a learning disability who attend AMH Promote, based in Conlig outside Bangor, which provides opportunities for social interaction, and to develop new skills in a supportive and engaging environment.

Mary spends her time at AMH Promote alongside other adults, enjoying arts and crafts, learning practical new skills like computing and life skills, including banking safely in an era of fraud and scammers.

Among her favourite pastimes is time spent in the kitchen with AMH Promote’s skills coaches, where she enjoys making scones and soup. She also enjoys tutoring in sewing seeds in the service’s garden and picking and eating its varied harvests. Without AMH Promote, Mary said life would be very dull, and she counts herself very fortunate to be surrounded by such caring and friendly staff and great company.

For more information about AMH Promote download their information leaflet and follow them on facebook or visit the AMH Promote Webpage.

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Communication is something most of us take for granted, but for many, being heard is a daily struggle.

Brian Denny, 56, is one of those who relies on others and on modern technology to voice his thoughts, wants and needs. But he is among the lucky ones who has been fortunate to be able to have his ‘voice’ provided by one of the caring staff at Action Mental Health Promote and with the help of a very special gadget.

The Bangor man attends AMH Promote, based in Conlig outside Bangor, which provides opportunities for adults with a learning disability to be socially active and develop new skills in a supportive and engaging environment.

Brian has experienced gradual speech loss in recent years and finds it difficult to articulate himself. But in response, Skills Coach Cahir McCann has stepped in to provide the voice Brian lacks.

Just as people living with motor neurone disease (MND) have found their ‘voices’ through people with similar regional accents, as featured in recent national news, Brian can convey his wishes via the advances in modern technology.

Brian has been gifted with an electronic pad – a communication device called ‘GoTalk’, which was provided by his Speech and Language Therapy Team.

So instead of issuing his thoughts and desires through a robotic or computer-generated voice, in the style of Professor Stephen Hawking, himself a victim of MND, Cahir, who has a familiar Northern Ireland accent, does the talking for him.

Cahir said he was delighted to be able to provide the voice for Brian, who presses particular buttons on the device to speak for him.

“Now Brian has a voice that he didn’t previously have, which caused frustration for him. Brian is able to use the device very effectively, due to the physical (rather than digital) nature of the device,” Cahir explains.

“It works by recording the audio orally/manually, then, when a specific image/button is pressed, the corresponding vocal recording will play. It is much simpler than a digital equivalency, however this has proved to be very effective in Brian’s case.”

Frederick Douglass famously said in the 19^th century ‘it is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men’.

The former slave had been talking about the human tragedy of slavery more than 150 years ago, but it is a doctrine for men’s mental health that transcends the ages – as it is for all members of society.

But as we mark Men’s Health Week, we look at how the poignant words of Douglass – an African American who escaped slavery to become a stateman – are inextricably linked to issues surrounding early childhood experiences in the 21^st century.

His famous quotation hits on one of those milestone experiences for young people today: the transition for 11-year-olds from primary school to secondary level education, often especially difficult in Northern Ireland due to academic selection.

Youngsters used to familiar faces for seven years who have to deal with the prospect of unfamiliar surroundings and countless new people can find this a very difficult phase of their young lives. Many are left feeling vulnerable and afraid and fearful as they enter the next stage of their academic lives.

Studies have shown that positive well-being and mental health of a child or young person supports better outcomes in other areas, such as performance at school or behaviour at home.

Early intervention can help to build up the social and emotional skills which are so essential for learning and life, support future good mental health, and discourage risky behaviour such as smoking and substance abuse.

In support this, Action Mental Health’s new Healthy Heroes is an informative, year-long programme designed especially for children in P7, which aims to help them cope with the myriad issues that come with leaving junior school behind and on to secondary level education.

Read more about Healthy Heroes here: https://www.amh.org.uk/healthy-heroes/

The programme builds upon AMH’s popular Healthy Me programme, which aims to promote positive mental health and social and emotional wellbeing in 8-11 year olds.

The programme, which is delivered in Northern Ireland primary schools, explores emotional and mental health, healthy lifestyle choices, and pathways to effective support through imaginative and interactive play and song.

Learning Disability Week (14-20 June 2021) raises awareness of learning disabilities across the UK. Fittingly, this year’s theme celebrates art and creativity and the vital role they play in self-expression of people with a learning disability.

We will be celebrating Learning Disability Week by highlighting – AMH Promote, based in Bangor, Co. Down, and the many positive stories and incredible talent witnessed on a daily basis at our fantastic training facility. The service offers a wealth of educational opportunities for local adults with learning disabilities.

AMH Promote’s training is delivered through a day opportunities service, which focuses on the personal development of clients. This positive route can progress to employment options, socially inclusive groups and/or further education.

Courses such as those with ASDAN and OCN NI certificates, cover a diversity of topics such as Self Advocacy, Meal Preparation, Independent Living skills, Sports Studies, Personal & Social Development (PSD), computer skills, digital photography, baking skills, horticulture, communication skills, and crafts.

Above all, AMH Promote’s caring environment fosters confidence and independence, with many clients not only enjoying new hobbies, creative activities and careers but importantly, making lasting lifelong friendships as they learn.

Throughout lockdown our talented Promote artists have certainly been Embracing the Power of Creativity by attending Wednesday Art Zoomers and Friday Craft classes on-line and we’re delighted that we are now able to offer a blended services with the addition of face to face classes once more!

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For more information about AMH Promote download their information leaflet and follow them on facebook and tune into our social media challenges all this week!

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A ‘CAN DO’ Challenge is the theme for this year’s Men’s Health Week. The challenge embraces the five ways to well-being over the first 5 days; taking notice, giving back, being active, connecting with others and continually learning.

Men are being tasked with putting into action a different way to find their own well-being each day of the week, then rounding off the weekend by repeating their favourite two activities!

Connect – connect with the people around you: your family, friends, colleagues and neighbours. Spend time developing these relationships.

Be active – you don’t have to go to the gym. Take a walk, go cycling or play a game of football. Find an activity that you enjoy and make it a part of your life.

Keep learning – learning new skills can give you a sense of achievement and a new confidence. So why not sign up for that cooking course, start learning to play a musical instrument, or figure out how to fix your bike?

Give to others – even the smallest act can count, whether it’s a smile, a thank you or a kind word. Larger acts, such as volunteering at your local community centre, can improve your mental wellbeing and help you build new social networks.

Be mindful – be more aware of the present moment, including your thoughts and feelings, your body and the world around you. Some people call this awareness “mindfulness”. It can positively change the way you feel about life and how you approach challenges.

The Five Ways to wellbeing were developed by the New Economics Foundation. You can download the Take 5 poster here.

Organisers of the initiative, the Men’s Mental Health Forum, are also encouraging men to talk about how they feel. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, men’s mental health was already a cause for concern, with reduced numbers seeking treatment for depression, anxiety and other mental health issues. Lockdowns brought a considerable rise in youth unemployment and inevitable home schooling which reports claim has hit boys and young men both at school and university, especially from Black African Minority Ethnic (BAME) backgrounds.

Male-dominated workforces have suffered disproportionately in terms of income and some, such as self-employed taxi drivers, for example, have received little support to compensate for this loss.  Additionally, men are more likely to be employed in occupations not easily carried out at home, resulting in higher male-dominated workforces at greater risk during the pandemic.

In Northern Ireland, Action Mental Health operates three Men’s Sheds for men aged 50+. Based in Downpatrick, Enniskillen and Antrim, the sheds bring men together to share their skills, have a laugh and a cup of tea while working on practical activities of their choice. It’s the perfect place for members to be themselves, a place to work at their own pace, a place to exchange ideas and learn, a place for members to support each other and build friendships. For further information please visit here.

Alongside the Sheds, Action Mental Health’s New Horizons services across Northern Ireland cater for men from 18+ supporting them back into education, employment or further training following periods of mental ill health. A number of our services also run groups specifically for younger clients – Lisburn (Speer), Foyle (Boost), Fermanagh (Boost), Antrim (Evolve). Find out more here.

AMH New Life Counselling offers a range of services to support men experiencing mental health issues and those in crisis.

In the past year AMH New Horizons supported 725 males while 83 men were welcomed into the Mens Sheds. AMH New Life counselling further supported 442 male clients over the age of 18 through one-to-one counselling.

For more Men’s Health Week information and related free materials please visit: https://www.menshealthforum.org.uk/mhw