A new virtual wellbeing hub to promote positive mental health during the Covid-19 pandemic has been launched.

The Department for Communities and the Department of Health have partnered with 15 leading mental and well-being health charities and the Healthy Living Centre Alliance representing 28 local Healthy Living Centres to focus on promoting mental health and well-being during and after the Covid-19 emergency.

A UK wide study involving Queen’s University Belfast has explored the psychological impact of lockdown and the Covid-19 pandemic on people here.  The survey of over 2,500 people  included 470 people from NI of which one third have been found to meet the criteria for anxiety (30%) and depression (33%), and one in five (20%) meet the criteria for Covid-19 related PTSD due to the current pandemic. 

Commenting on the launch of the online hub Communities Minister Deirdre Hargey, said: “The CovidWellbeingNI partnership draws together an unprecedented wealth of expertise and support with one clear aim – to promote the positive mental health of people including those vulnerable people and communities who are struggling at this time.

“Existing inequalities have been amplified by the Covid-19 pandemic and it is important that information and support reach as many people as possible.”

The CovidWellbeingNI partnership is calling on people:

• To acknowledge how they are feeling and coping at this time
• Take  positive action to look after their mental health
• Reach out for help and support.

The online well-being hub at www.mindingyourhead.info draws together information, self-help guides and ways to find support on a range of mental health and well-being issues.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: “This is a key part of the Covid Mental Health Response Plan I announced two weeks ago. I would encourage people to use this unique and impressive resource created as a direct response to the emotional impact Covid-19 is having on our society.”

Action Mental Health Chief Executive, David Babington added: “We are delighted to be involved in this brilliant initiative at this time, it is especially welcome to see so many organisations across different sectors pulling together to help support the well-being of our local communities.”

Employees at SDC Trailers in Toomebridge and sister company MDF Engineering in Antrim have together raised £25,644 for Action Mental Health during a 12-month charity partnership. As many fundraising events have been placed on hold due to COVID-19, the local trailer manufacturing group has signed up with the charity for a second year as they turn to digital channels to offer virtual sessions. The funds have been used to support Action Mental Health’s services which enhance the quality of life, and employability of people with mental health needs or a learning disability.

SDC Trailers President, Paul Bratton said: “Having seen the fantastic facilities and services that Action Mental Health offer, we were very keen to work with them for a second year. While the issue of mental health and well-being has come to the forefront during the pandemic, the services offered by Action Mental Health provide vital support to those affected. As well as fundraising, a number of our managers have been selected to participate in mental health awareness training online, which aims to give them the tools to recognise, understand and promote emotional wellbeing within the workplace.”

SDC established a joint campaign with the MensSana team to promote the charity’s ‘Healthy Me’ and ‘Provoking Thought’ programmes to eighty-three local primary and secondary schools. Before the pandemic, thirty-one workshops were completed with teachers and children at these schools, including Cookstown High School, St. Pius X College, New Row P.S., St. John’s P.S., Cookstown P.S. and St Columb’s P.S.

With social distancing measures now in place, Action Mental Health has re-shaped their programmes to offer sessions for children and adults at schools and community groups online. The charity’s Slieve Donard trek on 20^th June will be held as a virtual event where people take on the challenge of 2,230 steps – the estimated amount to go up and down the 850m peak.

 Fundraising and Communications Manager at Action Mental Health, Jonathan Smyth said:

“We are absolutely delighted that SDC Trailers and MDF Engineering have committed to supporting Action Mental Health for a second year. The staff have managed to raise an amazing amount already and those donations have been put to good use, providing vital services in our local community. As a local charity, we rely on fundraising and donations to help provide our services, so the support from SDC and MDF is sincerely appreciated.

We know that this period has been particularly difficult for many people, so this support is needed now, more than ever. Action Mental Health has been able to continue providing services remotely whilst face to face contact is not possible. Thank you to everyone at SDC and MDF.”

Since lockdown began, I have been working from home – in my bedroom!

It’s been an extremely stressful time for me and I’ve been quite anxious. At the start I felt I had no confidence and felt under a lot of pressure. I’ve been finding it difficult without the support of my work environment. I find it quite hard to adjust to and accept change, and this has been a big change for me and has affected me in many ways.

Life for me is now completely different, I don’t have a routine and it’s making me quite anxious.

The Workable (NI) programme has helped me through constant telephone contact and the knowledge someone is still there. Staying in touch with Nicola (AMH Employment Support Officer – Workable N.I.) has helped me a lot. I contacted her quite a bit at the start of the Coronavirus apedemic, when I was feeling extremely stressed and nervous. Nicola has helped me so much to settle into home working. She helped to calm me down and made me feel like I had her for support.

Going forward it is reassuring to know that Workable will be continuing to provide support and be there for me.

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Rachel has been receiving support on the Workable N.I. programme since January 2017, and works as a Social Media Advisor for BT.

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.

For more information – visit their website http://www.sesni.org.uk/

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

This year, people across the country are continuing to face new challenges as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.

They need to be recognised for the difficulties they are experiencing, respected for all they are doing, and provided with information, support and understanding.

So during Carers Week, we’re coming together to help Make Caring Visible.  https://www.carersweek.org/

During Carer’s Week AMH Menssana will be delivering ‘open’ Mindset sessions aimed at adults (18yrs+) within youth & community settings across the Northern, Western, Belfast and South Eastern Trust areas. Find out more and register on Eventbrite https://bit.ly/3eAx9Nw

Mindset is funded by the Public Health Agency

AMH MensSana’s Michael McLeane will be hosting a webinar as part of the Western Health & Social Care Trust’s Carer’s Week activities.

Carers must register for these events in advance. Once registered a link and password/pin will be emailed to access the online event.

Please email: [email protected]

Or call 028 6634 4163 or 028 7135 5023

AMH New Horizons Foyle is promoting the Western Trust Carers events to clients with daily text alerts all next week via sinch. 

In addition AMH Foyle are encouraging carers to register for AMH Foyle’s virtual mental health support via our website (ref. #OK02B0k).

AMH Foyle have made a pledge to offer virtual support for carers in Derry-Londonderry. Information will be available on the following websites : Carers NI and Western Health Trust.

In addition our AMH Employment Officer will be hosting a morning with clients informing them about an opportunity to be a carer rep.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists is seeking 1 carer representative to join the RCPsych in Northern Ireland Devolved Council as Workers.  The successful applicant will have recent lived experience of caring for someone with mental illness. The Carer Representative will be an integral member of the committee working with the chair and vice chair, to engage the wider membership and partner organisations in advocating for the Devolved Council patient group. Find out more here.

As we near the end of National Volunteer Week we acknowledge the support and commitment of all our volunteers in Action Mental Health.  Time is the greatest gift that anyone can give and AMH volunteers make a difference in the lives of others.  Hughena Gregory and Kirsty Reilly are two of our volunteer stalwarts who have supported AMH New Horizons North Down & Ards over many years.  Selwyn Johnston, Service Manager has paid tribute to their dedication and  warm welcome they have for each and every client or visitor on arrival to the New Horizons service.  Both have also been involved with supporting fundraising events for the service and look forward to returning to their volunteer roles in the near future.  He noted that volunteers are unpaid…not because they are worthless, but because they are priceless.    

Mr Mowbray, who was known as Robin, died unexpectedly in hospital on May 25. He leaves behind wife Denise, children Craig, Stewart, Bruce and Jilly, and six grandchildren.

Mr Mowbray, late of Millfort Green in Banbridge, joined the board of AMH as a Director in 2006 and served as Vice-Chair and a member of the Finance and General Purposes Committee.

In business he had been in partnership with an HR consultancy firm and previously an HR Director of major UK drinks firm, Bass Ireland.

Robert will be sorely missed by all of us at Action Mental Health. We are grateful for his support and friendship over the years and send our love and condolences to his family and friends.

AMH New Life Counselling is indebted to a highly skilled and generous bank of volunteers who provide vital counselling to people from all walks of life in Northern Ireland.

With an average of approximately 16 volunteers annually helping people in need of the counselling service, these roles are filled by a diverse range of people, ably assisted by students in training in relevant fields at Northern Ireland’s universities and colleges. 

AMH New Life Counselling Assistant Team Leader, Gail Calwell, who oversees and supports the volunteers explained the volunteers’ vital roles: “Many of our volunteers are fully trained counsellors who could work in any professional counselling service.  But while they have many different day jobs, from nurses, teachers and those who work for other counselling or addiction services – they give up their own, personal time to counsel people for Action Mental Health. 

“Our volunteer team also includes students working towards their counselling or therapeutic qualification and whom welcome the support that AMH New Life Counselling offers in the way of building upon client experience and skills.  We value our students greatly and the enthusiasm and keenness to learn that they bring to the organisation.  The volunteers support anywhere from 1 client per week to 4 clients per week.

“They are a vital resource to us, helping us to deliver counselling within the community” she added.

May is routinely the month in which AMH New Life Counselling recruits its volunteers but with the coronavirus pandemic that annual campaign has had to be put on hold this year.   

Volunteer Mary Rooney said: “Volunteering gives me the opportunity to continually expand my knowledge, skills and experience and along the journey I have the satisfaction of supporting people to lean towards good mental health by better understanding their life experiences and the impact it has had on how they relate to others.”

Fellow volunteer, Carole Chambers added:”It’s great to be part of a very supportive organisation and to help my clients progress and improve the quality of their lives.”

“I volunteer because of the flexibility and freedom with regards to how I can support clients.  It allows me to work more long term and to see the benefits this way of working can bring.  I also love being part of the volunteering community within AMH New Life Counselling,” said Hollie McAllister, another volunteer.

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AMH New Life Counselling is an Organisational Member of BACP and adheres to the Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions https://www.bacp.co.uk/events-and-resources/ethics-and-standards/ethical-framework-for-the-counselling-professions/

Gardening has been the saving grace of many people during the lockdown, with the benefits to people’s mental health being well-charted at the moment.

At AMH Promote, our green-fingered hero Andy Meaney has for two years been volunteering his time in the garden, ensuring clients reap the rewards of witnessing tiny seeds take root and prosper, alongside their own progress and development.

Since starting at the Bangor-based Service, Andy has been part of the production of vegetables grown in our raised beds that are destined for the popular Soup Club.  

Alongside all varieties of vegetables, from beetroot, garlic, onions, sweetcorn, potatoes, carrots, parsley, peas and herbs, to fruit, including tomatoes, strawberries and raspberries, AMH Promote clients get hands-on experience in soup-making, and also utilise them for a variety of healthy eating courses.

AMH Promote Service Manager, Naoibh Adams commented: “Andy works every other Friday morning and always has plenty to keep him occupied! During the lockdown Andy has continued to water and tend to the vegetables so they’ll be nice and healthy for our eventual return to our Service.”

“I find the work at Promote very rewarding although I rarely get to taste the end products!” Andy quipped.

Away from the garden Andy enjoys camping, fishing ­– always returning the fish to the water – walking and all sports. He is a fan of Manchester United and an avid music lover. He currently lives in Newtownards with his wife and two children.