Hello my name is Jackie and I am 60 years old. I first attended AMH New Horizons in Downpatrick several years ago with complex mental health issues. I was aided from the onset by a wonderful group of people who took me from a very sad horrible place to somewhere where I could see that there was light at the end of the tunnel. Through their tutoring and assistance I was able to go on and live a relatively normal life.
This year I called on their services again as I had fallen slightly by the wayside and needed their help. They thankfully accepted me and I had started on a new road to recovery filled with optimism when coronavirus struck and I was forced into self-isolation alone and scared.
However this story is not sad but very hopeful. In AMH I had been taught Mindfulness and a real appreciation of art so I began to meditate and paint.
This is my offering which I hope brings a smile to people’s faces and encourages them to do the same.
The work is entitled “And the earth breathes”. We through our actions over the last months have given our planet a much-needed chance to revive itself and through its resurrection we will do the same. There is a lot of symbolism in the painting such as the stones meaning the rocky road we are travelling, the wheat symbolises growth and the butterfly encourages you to keep faith.
Have some fun finding trying to figure out what the other animals symbolise – knowing that all of them are encouraging you to grow!!
Many thanks to Jackie for sharing her story and her incredible piece of art.
AMH New Horizons activities are operated through 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.
Audrey is a client of the Workable programme, and had been receiving support since May 2015.
Here she tells us how life has changed, but how the support she receives from Action Mental Health through the Workable programme is so vital.
” Prior to lockdown I worked three days a week as a Peer Recovery Trainer within the Northern Region Recovery College. My role saw me co-producing and co-facilitating our Recovery College courses in community venues throughout the Northern Health and Social Care Trust. Since lockdown, our roles have changed significantly. We are no longer able to facilitate our courses in the community. As a team our work life looks very different to before lockdown. We are all doing partial working from home.
We are not all in the office at the same time so we can effectively social distance as per government guidelines. We have weekly conference calls where we can all be in contact at the same time. As a team we are now looking at new ways of working to potentially be able to provide an online service for our students. Hopefully it won’t be too long before we can move to an online service
I really miss my work life the way it was prior to Covid-19. I thrive when I’m working, I absolutely love my job, my colleagues and the students we come in contact with. I’m finding it difficult having to social distance but I’m doing it as it’s so important at the minute! And hopefully if we all continue to take it seriously, it won’t be too long until we can get back to some sort of “normal”.
Life for me is very different than my life before lockdown. I’m usually a very sociable person who loves to spend time with family and friends. I live by myself so have found life quite lonely since lockdown. I can’t see the people I love and care for most but I utilise modern technology like facetime to be able to keep in contact with people. I’m trying to stick to a routine, for example, going to bed and getting up at my usual time every day, trying to do some exercise daily, eating balanced meals, keeping to my usual work days and keeping in contact with people. I live in hope that someday soon we can go back to some normality.
Despite my work life being a bit different at the minute I really appreciate the telephone contact I have with the Workable (N.I.) project. Knowing someone is still there at the other end of the phone is really beneficial for me. I have been able to discuss fears for the future – I lack confidence at times and am worried how I will adjust to our “new normal” when that will come. Knowing I have the support of Workable helps me when I’m struggling and I’m so grateful for that”.
Thank you to Audrey for sharing her story.
AMH is one of seven partners within the SES – Supported Employment Solutions consortium. SES is contracted to deliver the Department for Communities Workable (NI) Programme across Northern Ireland and has brought together disability organisations to provide specialist employment supports to people with a range of disabilities and health conditions.
The SES partners include AMH and Cedar (Lead Partners), Mencap, Orchardville, NOW, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss.
SES Aims to offer a Supported Employment approach in the delivery of programs to assist people with disabilities and health conditions to enter and stay in employment.
The Workable (NI) Programme is funded by the Department for Communities.
This week is Maternal Mental Health Week (Monday 4th May – Sunday 10th May 2020) when greater focus is placed on one of the leading causes of death for women during and following pregnancy.
Left untreated, perinatal mental illness – which affects more than one in ten women – can be devastating, for the new mother, her child’s future emotional well-being, and all her family.
Ante and post natal mental health issues can lead to anxiety and depression, obsessive compulsive disorders, as well as more severe conditions including PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) and post-partum psychosis.
The campaign, co-ordinated by the Perinatal Mental Health Partnership UK dedicated to talking about mental illness while pregnant or after having a baby, as well as raising awareness of how people can seek support.
Supporting greater support for this area of mental health, Action Mental Health has signed up to the Maternal Mental Health Alliance Northern Ireland Forum, an umbrella organisation of many bodies.
Along with those bodies, AMH is supporting the campaign for the improvement of perinatal services, in light of the fact that Northern Ireland lags behind the rest of the United Kingdom in terms of specialist care.
photo credit: Luma Pimentel on Unsplash
In a review of mental health services – ‘Making Parity a Reality’, a policy paper by Ulster University academics, they highlighted that, in spite of Northern Ireland’s Regional Perinatal Mental Health Care Pathway, up to 80% of those in need of specialist care had no access to it.
It referred to the 2013 study which confirmed Northern Ireland’s need for a specialist mother and baby unit – yet there is still no such facility here, despite pledged funding through the UK’s Government’s annual grant to Northern Ireland.
AMH New Horizons FOYLE has unveiled its virtual lockdown programme to support clients’ mental health during the continuing coronavirus quarantine period.
The service has launched a comprehensive training calendar, delivering remote control activity packs to clients, offering them workshop activities, online entertainment and educational, plus arts and craft materials.
And for those feeling the effects of isolation from their fellow clients and in need of emotional support, staff are offering a listening ear service in the form of daily telephone calls.
Service Manager Pauline Flanagan explained: “Having routine and structure are important for everyone, but it is especially essential for those with mental ill health. With that in mind we have a full programme to offer clients to help fill their days and keep up their spirits.
“We have had a soft launch with clients who have tried and tested the workshops via Zoom and early indications are that this approach is having a positive impact on their mental health.”
Staff at New Horizons are also providing daily phone support, through a listening ear service, offering signposting, advocating, emotional support, essential Covid-19 information and safeguarding provision.
“In addition to the interactive training calendar, staff are delivering a ‘stay at home activity pack’ which complements the training schedule and allows clients who have no access to WiFi to be equipped with everything they need.
“It includes materials to enable clients to engage in myriad projects: wool for the future knitted Christmas tree project, seeds for our sunflower project, instructions for photography, a sketch pad, pencil art, instructions for sockology, recipes for cookery competitions, note paper pens for poetry and storytelling,” listed Pauline.
Each piece of work will be assembled, when New Horizons clients are allowed to meet again and will be put on display.
Pauline added: “Isolation impacts negatively and can exasperate mental ill-health; this pack give clients ‘remote control’, a real sense of connectivity, plus and materials to ignite the spark of creativity without going to the shops.”
The pack contains ten sections which replicate the buttons of a remote control, including: On, including a virtual calendar; OK, featuring a workbook on the Five Ways to Well-Being; Volume; information on how to connect with AMH staff; Play, a self-directed activities wordsearch, Sudoku, crosswords, etc.; plus Fast Forward, including instructions and materials for projects to make together while clients all apart.
It also features Pause, withinformation and actions to help in the battle against addictions; Rewind, withphotos of Foyle muse, ‘The way we were’; Mute isolation activities when one’s buttons are been pressed; Off, offeringagratitude journal and tips for sleeping; and finally Record, with information and links for support services in Western Trust area.
New Horizons activities are operated through 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.
There are two AMH New Horizons services in the Western Trust area, including AMH New Horizons Foyle and AMH New Horizons Fermanagh, both of which are providing responsive, innovative, provision at this difficult time.
Collectively, the services each have over 28 years of providing successful and highly skilled, professional services to clients experiencing mental ill health throughout Londonderry and Co Fermanagh.
AMH Services are continuing to receive and accept referrals at this difficult time from the Western Trust Community Mental Health Teams and other referral agents teams in both regions. Intake procedures have been amended and adapted to ensure services are responsive, compliant and adhere to GDPR and safeguarding protocols. Should you wish to be referred to AMH Foyle or AMH Fermanagh in the Western Trust area please contact Community Mental Health Teams, Jobs & Benefits offices or your local GP multi-agency team.
People all over the world are adjusting to new methods of working, connecting, and filling their day with activities to keep up their spirits during the continuing coronavirus pandemic.
Here at Action Mental Health we have also been adapting to new ways of supporting and promoting positive mental health among our clients, during these strange times.
And as we enter the next phase of the lockdown staff at New Horizons Downpatrick have been busy, in their home working environments, preparing a variety of activities to keep clients engaged and entertained.
Joanne Stroud, Service Manager at New Horizons Downpatrick said, that thanks to modern technology, clients haven’t missed out on much since the lockdown restricted our movements.
“We have been running sessions via zoom. We’ve had brunch together, music, creative writing, mindfulness and quizzes.
“We are also supporting clients in further education, helping with theory sessions for clients currently registered for Health and Social Care courses, as well as our popular horticulture classes,” she said.
Joanne added that a new timetable, introducing more of the accredited OCN training, including Stress Management and motivational classes, will also soon be on offer to clients.
“It has been all go, and we welcome all clients to join in on the fun. Outside of working hours and mindful of all the current restrictions, we are cycling, walking, baking and trying to keep a structure to clients’ days as far as possible.
“This is a good time to connect with nature and to keep active, enjoying the great outdoors all the while. We have also encouraged clients to fill their indoor time with activities like baking and reading, but we are also continuing to find ways to reach out to people who aren’t so keen on zoom.
“But still, we still can’t wait to see everyone face to face again!” she said.
New Horizons activities are operated through 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.
Action Mental Health warmly welcome the announcement of plans to appoint a Mental Health Champion for Northern Ireland.
David Babington, Chief Executive commented ‘This is something that Action Mental Health and our partners in the Together For You partnership have long campaigned for. We all know the very specific challenges that Northern Ireland faces in relation to rates of mental illness and suicide.
It is our hope that the new Mental Health Champion can work across Government and the statutory agencies and alongside the community and voluntary sector to ensure we have a joined up approach to tackling these issues and really start to ensure parity for mental health in Northern Ireland.
The challenges caused by the current Covid-19 pandemic only serve to remind us of the need for urgent action, the first task for our new Mental Health champion must be to secure a fully funded and properly resourced mental health strategy for Northern Ireland, one that recognises and addresses all the challenges we face including those arising from Covid-19.’
Action Mental Health have been campaigning for many years for a Mental Health Champion – you can find links below, which highlight the journey to the Health Minister’s announcement.
Lynne Troughton Trainee Counsellor and Personal Trainer. Cycle your way through Covid 19 help peddle the stress away
I personally enjoy exercise, cycling being one way to help with my mental wellbeing. Exercise isn’t only good for your physical health but it is also good for your mental health.
Health Benefits
Relieves stress Reduces depression and anxiety Boost self esteem Boost energy Promotes better sleep Improves mood Mindfulness Increases stamina, strength and aerobic fitness increased cardiovascular fitness Improves joint mobility Increased muscle strength and flexibility Improves posture Decreases body fat levels Fun and a low-impact form of exercise for all ages.
Self Care – Mindfulness Tool:
I use this grounding technique with clients to help focus on the here and now. You can use this grounding technique to help create space from distressing negative thinking and feelings. Felling overwhelmed with our emotions and thoughts can happen to all of us. Especially during this difficult time of COVID-19.
Last year staff from Danske Bank helped our clients plant over 1000 daffodils which were kindly donated by Lidl.
These are now in full bloom and a lovely beacon of hope and encouragement to those who walk past on their daily period of exercise
Many thanks to Amber & Sarah Louise from our previous charity partner Danske Bank UK, who joined us in Ards to finish off planting our spring bulbs! Despite the freezing conditions our volunteers were full of enthusiasm & smiles!
