The Department of Health’s proposed 5-year Mental Health
Action Plan will come under the spotlight during a special series of consultation
workshops.
The Patient and Client Council is hosting the workshops in
partnership with Action Mental Health, Inspire and the Department of Health,
giving the public the chance to discuss the shape of Northern Ireland’s mental
health services.
The workshops, taking place in Belfast, Derry-Londonderry and
Dungannon, will offer service users, clients, carers and other stakeholders the
opportunity to learn more about how the plan is developing and will give people
the chance to have their say on the emerging themes and areas of focus.
The workshops take place on Monday
21st October 2019, from 10am-1pm at
City Hotel, Queen’s Quay,
Londonderry, BT48 7AS; on Thursday 24th
October 2019, 10am-1pm at The Junction, 12 Beechvalley Way, Dunngannon, BT70 1BS;
and on Friday 25th October
2019, from 1pm – 4pm at Inspire
Wellbeing, Lombard House, 10-20 Lombard St, Belfast BT1 1QA..
My name is Colin. I
was first introduced to AMH in 2016 due to suffering from depression…
Colin is pictured in the middle with Stephanie AMH Employment Officer and Keith AMH Skills Coach – Horticulture
Let me tell you a little about me…… I was a married man with 4 children and
worked in various catering roles as a chef.
I worked endless hours to provide for my family. My marriage however ended and I found myself having to rebuild my
life. I continued to work as a chef and
found my life starting to improve.
In 2016 a tragedy struck my family when I lost my brother
to suicide. This caused a major set back
for me in terms of my mental health. I
struggled to come to terms with this and found myself feeling angry with life
in general. I found myself unemployed
and alone and falling deeper into depression.
On one of my many visits to my GP, the subject of Action Mental Health was raised. I was reluctant to go as this meant I had to admit to having a mental health problem. I was met by Joanna (Client Development Co-ordinator – AMH New Horizons Downpatrick) who made me feel welcome and introduced me to all the staff members. I remember going to the garden centre and spoke with Keith and thought “I could do this”.
Before I knew it I was attending AMH garden centre 3 days per week. I found that it was very beneficial as I was able to work on my own (if I wanted), I was getting fresh air and also learning new skills as well as meeting new people. I also engaged in the WRAP programme, First Aid, ECDL basics and finally NVQ Level 1 Horticulture.
In 2018 I had another set back as I suffered a heart
attack. After a few months I returned to
AMH who were supportive in helping me get my routine and structure back on
track.
In 2019 I decided that I would like to return to
catering. I found a job in Tels Coffee
Shop which was close to home. I enjoy
going to work each day and I work with a fantastic team of people. Stephanie the Employment Officer continued to
support me to help me settle in until I found my confidence again. I found this support to be beneficial and
comforting knowing I had help when I needed it.
So to sum it all up…. I was in a storm and Action Mental Health was the port which sheltered me. The staff were amazing and always took the time to speak to you. AMH give me a sense of security and I enjoyed attending week to week. A great bunch of people who will go over and beyond to help you in any way. I truly believe “AMH saved my life”.
Thanks to Colin for sharing his story. Colin took part in the Working it Out Project with is part-funded by the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
As the dust settles on another successful World Mental Health
Day 2019 , New Horizons Downpatrick would like to say a public thank you to all
those who took part in a variety of events hosted to shine a light on mental
health.
The annual event – which takes place each year on October 10 –
focused on suicide prevention for 2019 and to mark the day, the Downpatrick
service took the opportunity to host a health promotion fair.
Against the backdrop of a purple-lit leisure centre, many
other local groups and individuals took great lengths to help make the fair a
success, according to New Horizons Downpatrick Service Manager Joanne Stroud.
“I have so many people to thank,” she said, paying tribute to
all those assisted to create a memorable day.
Joanne singled out a number of people, including Linda Owens,
from Asda community, for supplying healthy snacks and allowing AMH the space to
host its information stand in the Downpatrick branch of the store during the
afternoon of WMHD 2019.
Joanne also named others who volunteered to make it a day to
be proud of.
“We had a number of people who gave up their free time. Catherine, Sport Therapist from Peak
condition, who gave advice on injuries, aches and pains; Steve for sharing with
us his amazing performance skills; Tropic consultant, Mary Jane for giving
complimentary hand massages using gorgeous greener and healthier products; and
Aisling for providing Indian head massage tasters.
Joanne further expressed gratitude to Julie and Susan from NISSA,
who joined New Horizons Downpatrick with a pop-up stand, outlining some of the
services provided by the local Jobs and Benefits office.
“We had a gratitude
tree for everyone to list what they are grateful for and positivity pouches to
hand out on the day. Finally, a big thanks to Newry Mourne and Down council
member, Deputy Chair Terry Andrews who called to show his support and to the
council for lighting the local Leisure centre purple to mark WMHD.”
Staff and clients from Downpatrick all helped with preparation, provided music and activities on the day, making it a resounding success and one not to be forgotten.
The AMH New Horizons activities the client participates in 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.
The global spotlight shone on mental health this week as a
diverse series of events all over the world culminated on World Mental Health
Day, on Thursday, October 10.
Close to home, Action Mental Health was delighted to see so
many supporters #GoPurple to help fundraise for the charity to help secure the
future of AMH’s recovery and resilience services for people of all ages across
Northern Ireland.
Companies, community groups and a diverse array of
individuals held events and went on social media to share the #GoPurple message
championed by AMH.
The night sky on WMHD was imbued with purple light illuminating some of Northern Ireland’s iconic buildings and local monuments. From Derry and Strabane Council Buildings and the city’s Playhouse, to Ards and Fermanagh Town Halls, Enniskillen Castle, Bangor’s McKee Clock, the Strule Arts Centre in Omagh and Downpatrick Leisure Centre. Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council, at Lagan Valley Island in Lisburn also went purple, as did the Titanic Hotel Belfast and Newry Town Hall.
AMH corporate partner, Danske Bank, which has raised many
thousands of pounds for the charity over the past two years, illuminated its
head office at Donegall Square West and its branches at University Road,
Belfast, as well as in Shipquay Street, Derry-Londonderry and in Newry.
Employees also spent the day fundraising for AMH at its various offices and
staff rooms.
Corporate partner MKB Law turned varying shades of purple for
the day, while Grant Thornton legal firm, which shares Danske’s Donegall Square
West building, also tweeted its support of the #GoPurple message.
Other bodies which got behind the spirit of WMHD included the
Mental Health Congress PPR, and The Consumer Council which hosted a ‘Make It
Fake It Bake It’ sale for WMHD, raising funds for AMH.
In Newry, the annual WMHD Big Breakfast was joined by a
number of local authority members and business interests, from Danske Bank, Murdock
Group and PKF FPM business advisors, to Autoline, Haldane Fisher, and
Saica Pack.
Patrons at Belfast’s historic Sunflower Pub took a lighter
view of WMHD with an hilarious comedy night in aid of AMH, while at the same
time in south Belfast, members of the construction industry also went purple in
the Construction Excellence Awards at Belfast’s Crowne Plaza Ramada Hotel.
A variety of events were also hosted at numerous schools
around Northern Ireland to mark WMHD. At Ballymacash Primary School in Lisburn,
each class participated in an activity which highlighted the importance of
mental health, while at Knockevin Special School, Downpatrick they were
practicing the FiveWays to Well-being.
Events were also staged at St. Colum’s Primary, Portstewart, Royal
School, Dungannon, New Row Primary School in Castledawson, and Phoenix
Integrated Primary and Nursery School in Cookstown
AMH Works took the message of WMHD to Kainos’ Birmingham while
closer to home Allstate also got its staff in on the WMHD act.
Edge Innovate in Tyrone and Harbinson Mulholland embraced the #GoPurple day with cake sales and similar events.
JP Corry in Enniskillen and Newry had in-store information stands for their customers (primarily men working in the construction industry), a really important initiative – knocking down barriers and enabling a meaningful conversation about mental health!
Warrenpoint FC showed its support WMHD in aid of AMH,
reminding fans on its Twitter feed that #ItsOkNotToBeOk, while Girlguiding Ulster
marked the day by signing up to AMH mental health awareness training.
Supported Employment Solutions used the platform of WMHD to
launch a new well-being room, The Tranquility Room in Belfast’s Lanyon Place.
AMH would like to say a great big thank you to everyone single one of you who took the #GoPurple message to heart, fundraising and embracing the true spirit of WMHD!
Art is one of the many activities enjoyed at Action Mental Health’s New Horizons services dotted around Northern Ireland. So, to help mark World Mental Health Day today, the diverse work of artists both amateur and professional, takes centre stage.
Clients at Antrim New Horizons are presenting their ‘Art of Recovery’ exhibition at Clotworthy House, Antrim until October 27.
Meanwhile, in Newtownards, artist Brian Kielt presents his one man show ‘Bardo: An Unknown Country’ at the Georgian Gallery, Ards Art Centre until October 26. His exhibition is being staged in aid of Action Mental Health.
A Manifold and Truly Glorious Strife by Brian Kielt
Cyclists in Fermanagh have been using pedal
power to raise money for AMH New Horizons Fermanagh.
Cyclists took part in the Tour of Fermanagh
Sportive in August, raising a whopping £1700 for the service which helps people
in recovery from periods of mental ill-health. Staff from the Fermanagh service helped out
on the day, marshalling and providing an information stand on AMH services.
Action Mental Health New Horizons
Downpatrick is currently benefitting from the Asda Foundation’s Green Token
Giving scheme. The service was nominated
by a grateful client and it is now reaping the rewards of the community-based
scheme which annually invests £1.4m in over 4000 good causes throughout the UK.
The Downpatrick service will receive donations from Asda Downpatrick shoppers all this month, right through to December 31. The scheme operates via a token system, and when Asda shoppers are at the till paying for items all they have to do is ask for a token and choose one of three causes to benefit. From the start of this month Action Mental Health Downpatrick has been one of those lucky three causes. The Men’s Shed, Downpatrick (part of the AMH family) and Knockevin Special School, Downpatrick, are the other benefactors.
Service Manager at New Horizons Downpatrick,
Joanne Stroud, commented: “We are very grateful to have been selected to
receive a donation from Asda’s Green Token Giving Scheme. Every pound raised will
help to ensure the vital training programmes and activities provided at New
Horizons Downpatrick which greatly benefit clients like the one who nominated
us to receive the great fundraising opportunity.
“They are just one of the many
hundreds who participate in the service’s programmes which exist to help people
recovering from periods of mental ill-health, who are
interested in progressing towards further education, training or employment.”
“We’d like to say a great big thank
you to Asda from everyone here at AMH!”
The “Working it Out” project clients participate in 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.
AMH New Horizons Derriaghy showcases its talent for global focus on mental health
A showcase of talent came under the spotlight at Action Mental Health as the rest of the globe marks World Mental Health Day this week.
Clients at AMH New Horizons Derriaghy used the worldwide focus on mental health on October 10 to unveil two animations depicting their own journeys from mental ill-health to recovery.
The event took place during the weeklong celebrations of mental health, on Monday, October 7 at Bridge Community Centre, Railway Street Lisburn, with the mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council, councillor Alan Given in attendance.
AMH Chief Executive David Babington
AMH New Horizons client Noel reads some of his poetry
Mayor of Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council
The men and women who attend the Derriaghy Service also committed their personal stories to prose following a series of creative writing classes. Their chronicles translate the impact of their illnesses on their lives, their families and work, and bring to life the positive impact of Action Mental Health.
Action Mental Health By Susanne
Action Mental Health is just a charity to some but to you and me, it is a sanctuary. It gives us hope when we see nothing ahead. It makes friends of us even when we are the loneliest souls. It brightens our lives by encouraging kindness. Lifts our spirits and makes us smile. Encourages our long lost talents to come out to the foreground. And helps us to discover new ones which without them would never be found. Our confidence grows and our problems disperse. All without pressure we can now see our worth. With gentle nudging, entertaining classes, we see the world in a different light. We can now face the future and heal from our pasts. We still have compassion but strengths now galore, Supporting us daily and we know when we fall, They will pick us up until we are ready to journey on. Through dark times and good, they never falter, always there to do what they do best. They restore faith – faith in human nature.
Thank-you AMH.
The two arts combined with a third, music, and treated the audience to the talents of the Service’s ukulele group.
Clients taking part in the day’s events participate in AMH New Horizons’ ‘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.
As Northern Ireland marks World Mental Health Day it’s
fitting that the rising incidence of mental ill-health here is remembered. One in five adults in Northern Ireland will show signs of a
mental illness, while the prevalence of mental illness in Northern Ireland is 25% higher than in England. Northern
Ireland also has the highest
rates of incidences and annual presentation for self-harm in the UK and the
highest suicide rate – 16.4 per 100,000 population compared to 10.3 in England,
9.2 in Wales and 14.5 in Scotland in 2014.
