With services throughout NI, AMH Clients have praised the diverse range of activities on offer, in nurturing both their future employment prospects and overall sense of well-being. “AMH New Horizons has been a lifesaver – especially since the start of the pandemic. I am growing in confidence and learning more new skills with every passing week, reinforcing and supporting my recovery and journey to positive mental well-being.” For more information visit https://www.amh.org.uk/services/new-horizons/
Lisburn’s Elf on the Shelf had some great news to share – Mummy & Daddy Elf are expecting another little elf in June! Congratulations!
Follow his adventures on our socal media channels.
Have you ever been cruising along a busy motorway and suddenly had a puncture?
That’s what happened to me, metaphorically anyway.
There I was, cruising along in my forties, married, kids, steady job and then BANG!
Suddenly I found myself in a very unfamiliar place, where nothing was making the same sense as it was before. I couldn’t shake things off and get back to ‘normal’.
I was ill. Not so much physically, but mentally.
With the benefit of hindsight, I can rewrite the start of this.
I wasn’t so much cruising down the road with brand new tyres.
My forty plus years of driving had pretty much worn off all the rubber on my tyres and that puncture; it was more of a blowout.
So, that blowout was hard to control on such a busy motorway.
My whole life seemed to be turning upside down in super slow motion as I was rooted to a rollercoaster ride by my seatbelt, only able to watch and not able to control it.
We; us, you and me, the royal we……
WE
turned out to be extremely important in my metaphorical circumstances.
I was mentally unwell. I didn’t know what to do.
I was introduced to Action Mental Health at AMH New Horizons in Newtownards.
I’d heard of them, but didn’t really think about it before.
I was invited down to have a look around. So, I went with my wife, my anxieties, my depression and all.
One of the first things that caught my eyes was a black and white picture with a quote on it –
Never give up on someone with a mental illness. When “I” is replaced by “we”, illness becomes WELLNESS. Shannon L Alder
That struck me to my core. It made sense. It highlighted to me, that to try to recover on my own was like trying to navigate the motorway in the fog with no lights to turn on.
Suddenly, walking around AMH rooms made sense – AMH are a big part of the WE!
Art classes, computer classes, creative classes, all sorts of leisure classes to accredited classes; all designed to help people at their own pace and in relaxed surroundings with supportive and understanding ‘teachers’.
The classes aren’t like school. The teachers certainly aren’t like school.
The other pupils – well, they’re a true reflection of what 1 in 4 of the adult population is.
Why 1 in 4 of the adult population? That’s because, statistically, 1 in 4 people will experience mental health difficulties in their lifetime!
Think of your surroundings – work, friends, family or your social circle – how many people do you know could potentially be a ‘1 in 4’?
I am. I never thought I could be, but I am now.
Without WE (Action Mental Health Newtownards) I couldn’t have completed my European Computer Driving License, my Art (levels 1 & 2), my Beginner Photography (and photography levels 1 & 2) etc!
Never have I understood myself better than having been in Mandy Hanna’s programmes. Never have I gained so many warm people in my social circle before. Never have I had so much enjoyment while being unwell. Never have I been so encouraged by a teacher before Pauline Matthew. Never have I felt intelligent with IT before Nichola Feenan. Never have I felt supported until Clive Armstrong and Selwyn Johnston.
Never again will I underestimate the value of “we”!
Thank you to Neil Finlay, who has just completed his AMH training programme at AMH New Horizons North Down & Ards. Neil took part in our”Working it Out” Project which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
Thinking of choosing a local charity to benefit from a donation while wishing your loved ones or your customers a very Merry Christmas? Action Mental Health knows that many people like to celebrate the joy of the festive season by sharing with others, so this year we have created some beautiful seasonal cards to let you do both.
Just get in touch with our fundraising team 028 9182 8494 or [email protected] and we’ll tell you all the ways you can donate and send you the E-card of your choice, we can also add a personalised message such as :
This year rather than buying presents we have made a donation on your behalf to Action Mental Health. Action Mental Health Changes the lives of those living with mental ill health and promotes well-being to future generations www.amh.org.uk
Option 1Option 2
By choosing one of our Christmas cards you can send an attractive festive greeting while also helping people reclaim their lives from mental ill-health and ensure the well-being of Northern Ireland’s future generations.
One in five people in Northern Ireland will experience a mental health difficulty in their lifetime so by buying our Christmas cards you’ll be supporting the wide range of services designed for people from primary school to their later years. Options include donations in lieu of either presents or cards.
A donation of £10 could help to pay for arts & craft materials for a child taking part in an art therapy session
·A donation of £30 could help to pay for learning materials for a local primary school class taking part in emotional resilience training
A donation of £65 could help to pay for a counselling session for someone struggling to cope this Christmas
A donation of £100 could help to pay for specialist training for local people recovering from mental ill health, helping them develop strategies to cope with stress and anxiety.
Action Mental Health is proud to be Northern Ireland’s leading mental health charity, offering services across the region, for young and old alike, offering steps to employment, education, training – and most of all, hope.
The intrepid Michael Kerr, who has scaled the Stairway to Heaven in Fermanagh everyday in November and will keep on going until the last day of the month
A Fermanagh father of two is scaling one of Northern Ireland’s most picturesque peaks for three local charities – every single day for the month of November.
Michael Kerr, 35, is walking to the top of Cuilcagh Mountain, which looms some 665 metres over County Fermanagh, and down again, in a 15km trek which takes him two hours every day. Bordering County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland, Cuilcagh is Ireland’s only cross-border county peak.
Important for its blanket bog, the popular walk is known as the Stairway to Heaven following the installation of a pedestrian-friendly boardwalk which covers part of the track.
By day, Michael works at home, in his role with MFC Sports, sportswear company, but before that, he dons his walking boots at 7.30am to head out in all weathers, joined each day by fellow walkers.
Having different company on each trek is one of the welcome aspects of the walk that varies, Michael confirmed: “There’s someone new every day and it’s good because we get chatting and helps to distract me from the fact that I’m doing the same route over and over again.”
The weather is another factor that can vary greatly from day to day. Speaking on November 12, Michael commented: “On a good day you can see for miles, but I’d say out of the 12 days I’ve done it so for, eight or nine of those days we could only see about 50 yards in front of ourselves, but it’s that time of the year.
“Yesterday it was horrendous with the wind and the rain beating into our faces,” he said, adding that once at the summit he and his companions stay no longer than ten minutes.
And to prove that he goes out in hail or high water, Michael takes a photograph of the people accompanying him that day, confirming they have all made it to the peak with a short video which is then posted on social media.
Michael manages as local soccer club and has kept himself physically fit. This year’s lockdown however, resulted in him being less active, as many the world over experienced.
“I chose Action Mental Health because of the Covid-19 pandemic really. A lot of people suffer from mental ill health and this has only made things worse. A lot of players before the lockdown would have come to me with mental health issues but this pandemic has had impact,” he said.
“I would hate to think of anyone suffering in silence so I hope the awareness raised for Action Mental Health would help more people speak out and to reach out for help if they need it.
“I also hope that would encourage people to get active because I’m a great believer in physical activity as something that benefits mental health,” he said.
The Families Together Project was a 5-year transformative project for schools in Antrim and Strabane. The project was led by Parenting NI in partnership with AMH New Life Counselling and with financial support from the National Lottery Community Fund. The project worked initially in six schools within Antrim and Strabane, including Sion Mills Primary School, Ballycraigy Primary School, Six Mile Integrated Primary School, Parkhall Primary School, St Catherine’s Primary School & St Mary’s Primary School. The project was also able to provide support for an additional 4 schools across the two areas. After five incredible years the project came to an close with an virtual ceremony, in which the Families Together parents were awarded with their OCN Certificates.
The OCN Award ceremony held on 19th November 2020
Parenting NI has been providing parenting services across Northern Ireland since 1979 in the belief that effective parenting is the cornerstone of strong families, and that parents should be supported to enable them to provide children with a positive upbringing.
AMH New Life Counselling is a professionally accredited counselling service and part of Action Mental Health. AMH New Life Counselling is committed to supporting the emotional health and wellbeing needs of its clients through the provision of counselling, providing friendly and professional counselling services for children, young people, adults and families.
Parents are a primary influence on their children and that influence can either be negative or positive depending on the quality of the parenting (Campbell, 1995).
The Families Together project was designed around these principles in order to holistically strengthen these relationships. Strabane and Antrim were selected as the two areas for the project because of the high level of disadvantage. Primary schools within the most disadvantaged parts of Strabane and Antrim were invited to become partner schools with Parenting NI and AMH New Life Counselling to form the Families Together Project.
Once a year, the Families Together Project would host a Family Fun Day in Antrim and Strabane with a variety of local agencies joining in to provide fun activities for families as well as information on local support services. The project hosted a large number of activities, parenting classes, parent & child workshops and counselling sessions for parents and their children within each school. These included the ‘Time for Parents’ Support and Counselling service and ‘Time for Me’ informal listening and signposting sessions and Time Together for the parents and their children. Families Together ran a variety of free parenting workshops for participating schools. These topics ranged from subjects such as Relaxation, Handling Children’s Behaviours and Healthy Choices. The programme ran numerous child workshops, a Parenting Café for parents to informally meet one another and a highly successful Walking Group.
One of the school principals remarks on the programme;
“I am struck by the diversity of needs and parents being engaged – not just those who are always targeted because of high needs, but also fathers and people of different social backgrounds. This is de-stigmatising.”
Over the 5-year duration of the project, the engagement of the schools and families involved in the programme has grown significantly. This has been particularly noticeable with families who lacked confidence in their parenting ability and self-esteem. Parenting NI, AMH New Life Counselling and the Families Together Project are delighted to celebrate all the great work and engagement the parents, families, children and the teachers in each school have brought to the project over the past five years.
One parent remarked on the programme:
“It’s like a wee lifeline. A good experience – brilliant and highly recommended. I’m definitely more confident as a parent and I have a better support system.”
A principal remarks on the project;
“It’s hard to imagine the school without them – they’re part of the school now and an important part of our annual pastoral action plan.”
As Alcohol Awareness Week continues (running from 16-22 November 2020) we highlight this year’s theme of Alcohol and Mental health. It has been a week of awareness-raising, campaigning for change, and more.
The physical health risks linked to consuming alcohol are well documented, such as a higher incidence of cancer, diabetes and elevated blood pressure. However, alcohol can also have a negative effect on mental health and wellbeing.
Alcohol consumption has increased since COVID-19 lockdown measures were introduced earlier this year. In part, stemming from uncertainty, alcohol is used to stem boredom, to numb anxiety and to facilitate a new home-based social drinking norm.
Self-medicating to help with depression or other mental health issues brings with it the highs and lows, as alcohol initially lifts mood but then decreases lowering mood levels.
The good news is that cutting down on alcohol will improve your sleep and anxiety levels, you’ll feel more relaxed and you’ll save money too.
Rather than turning to alcohol, there are other ways to manage symptoms, such as learning relaxation and controlled breathing techniques to relieve stress and anxiety, and by making time for things that make you feel good in your daily routine to boost your mood and improve your wellbeing.
With one in ten people suffering from a mental health disorder around the world – and one in five in Northern Ireland – the Covid-19 pandemic and new lockdown measures will continue to be a particularly anxious and uncertain time.
Recently, a new wellbeing hub for Northern Ireland launched and is packed full of helpful resources and links to support, the site can be reached by clicking here.
A message from our Chief Executive, David Babington
Following on from the Executive’s announcement, regarding restrictions aimed at reducing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting the NHS, I want to reassure our clients and staff that our services will remain open and continue to operate as they have been.
I know that this has been an extremely difficult time for many and it has been particularly hard for those already living with a mental illness. That is why I warmly welcome the Executive’s decision to allow mental health services to remain open, to support people at this time.
I would encourage clients to contact their local service manager or key contact if they have any concerns around their attendance.
Action Mental Health will continue to follow all relevant public health guidance. We encourage people entering our buildings to wear a face covering (where possible), maintain social distancing and continue to ensure good hand hygiene. Please do not attend if you have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been asked to self-isolate.
I would also encourage staff and clients to download and use the StopCOVID NI app.
In addition, I recognise that there are no easy decisions in the current situation and know that other closures announced last night will cause undoubted stress and anxiety for many people across Northern Ireland, who are worried about their job or their business.
With this in mind, it is vital that the necessary economic support, for people affected, is put in place urgently. Ensuring this, alongside continued access to mental health services when required, will be a key step in helping to protect mental health and well-being across our wider community.
If you or someone you know is in crisis or despair, please remember that help and support is always available. You can contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or by Textphone on 18001 0808 808 8000, trained counsellors are available by phone 24/7.
You can also access support by contacting Samaritans on 116 123 or Childline on 0800 1111.
International Men’s Day (IMD), Thursday 19 November, is a global day of observance held every year. Now celebrated in 60 countries worldwide, It invites everybody to come together and celebrate men and boys in all their diversity.
The campaign also provides a platform for male issues such as the role of new fathers. The arrival of a new baby can put a lot of additional pressure on new dads. Conventionally the role of caregiver has for the most part, been fulfilled by mums. However, more men are now either the main or sole caregivers, as single parents, or in some cases, separated from their children. This brings many problems to light. Most people are aware that anxiety and depression can affect new mothers, but fathers are also at risk with almost 50 per cent of dads not aware of this fact. And while anxiety during pregnancy and after the birth of a baby is not as well recognised as depression, it is likely to be just as common among new parents.
Anxiety and depression can sometimes be hard to spot in new dads because of the overlap between symptoms and the general stress and exhaustion that comes with caring for a baby. It can be hard to know if what you’re feeling is ‘normal’ when your sense of normal has been completely blown apart.
That’s when it can be helpful to take a close look at how you’re feeling – about yourself, your partner, and your baby. If your thoughts and feelings are predominantly negative, this can be a sign that you’re experiencing anxiety or depression.
Are you at risk –
• Have you ever had anxiety or depression before?
• Does your partner have anxiety / depression?
• Lack of practical, emotional or social support available?
• Financial worries?
• Provided support for your partner through a difficult birth?
• Current or past issues with drugs or alcohol?
• Your baby is ill?
• Major life changes or relationship difficulties?
• Reality of parenting different from expectations?
Other factors may include:
• Not able to bond with your baby.
• Not feeling able to get support.
• Changes in your relationship with your partner.
• Worries about extra responsibilities.
• Is your baby premature or unwell?
If your baby is premature or has other health complications, they may have to spend additional time in hospital. This can be a worrying situation for any new parent, which could put you at risk of developing anxiety or depression. You should look after your mental health at this time. Many hospitals have dedicated support services available for families.
Tiny Life is Northern Ireland’s premature baby charity here to help you and provide support services both in the Neonatal Unit and in the community https://www.tinylife.org.uk/
Lifeline is the Northern Ireland crisis response helpline service for people who are experiencing distress or despair. People living in Northern Ireland can call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000.
