The future is bright for hundreds of people who attend Action Mental Health New Horizons thanks to its effective Job Clubs which help people regain the confidence to get back to work.

People who attend AMH’s Job Clubs – at New Horizons’ nine centres across Northern Ireland – may sometimes fear their mental ill-health will rule out future paid employment. Today, however, astute employers recognise that people with a history of mental ill-health can make a valuable contribution to their workplace. They are helping to consign to the past the assumption that mental illness precludes paid work.

New Horizons Job Clubs are supportive places were specialist employment officers provide one-to-one advice and guidance who are applying for work. They help clients update their CVs, take them through interview preparation and techniques and help take those unfamiliar with online applications through the whole digital process.

AMH collaborates with organisations like the Northern Ireland Union of Supported Employment (NIUSE) and other bodies in the voluntary sector to identify opportunities for people with disabilities who can act as the conduit between clients and potential employment.

One of the leaders at the Job Club at New Horizons North Down & Ards, Katrina McIlmail, AMH Employment Officer, explained: “This is all delivered in an informal setting and we work closely with clients to help them gain new skills, either through work-based training, work placement or through volunteering.”

 “We arrange employability visits to help clients experience the wide range of jobs that are available within their industry of choice and how best they can use their qualifications once achieved.”

The Job Clubs complement the accredited qualifications delivered at AMH, which include a range of relevant contemporary subjects, including IT, retail and catering.

Recent visits have included delegations of AMH clients interested in the catering industry to one of Belfast’s newest hotels, Titanic Belfast and the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor. Clients also received  an insight into what it is like to work for one of the UK’s largest multi-nationals, visiting their local Tesco for employment tips.

But it’s not just employment that the Job Club focuses on – AMH also supports people wishing to get back into education.

“AMH Employment Officers are available to with assist clients with their enrolment into courses at colleges and to help arrange learning support for people with needs such as dyslexia for example. We can also attend the centre of learning with the client prior to the commencement of their course, if they are nervous about their new start.”

Participants of the Job Club undertake 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.

Employers interested in offering employment opportunities can contact Action Mental Health New Horizons North Down and Ards on 028 9182 2410.

CASE STUDY

One client who has progressed through the rungs of AMH’s Job Club is Gary. A very popular face round New Horizons North Down & Ards, he epitomises the benefits the Job Club can bring to clients.

At 47 years old, he is one of the countless clients who have completed an NVQ Retail Skills Level Two qualification during his time with New Horizons.

To fulfil the criteria of the course he worked at Assisi Charity Shop in Newtownards on a work-based training placement. Since achieving his NVQ Gary has continued to volunteer there and is now a much-valued member of the team. He serves customers, sorts stock, labels donations and puts his hand to any other jobs that are needed. 

Gary is also invaluable in helping staff at New Horizons North Down & Ards. He regularly attends information stands, bag packs and events with AMH Employment Officers and other staff, to inform the general public about the fantastic work that the charity does to assist people like him back onto the employment ladder.

As a keen gardener Gary takes part in New Horizons’ weekly gardening club, which is one of the reasons his confidence has soared. Gary, like countless others, has benefitted tremendously from the support he has received at AMH and by attending the weekly Job club, he receives ongoing support from AMH Employment Officers to help him secure a job in the local area. 

“One thing we are sure of is that he will be an absolute asset to any employer,” said Emma-Jayne Begley, Employment Officer. “Previously Gary worked in a service station and has taken part in the annual Job Shadow Day, run by the NIUSE, and he is very employment focused,” she added.

Action Mental Health has issued a ‘reserved and cautious welcome’ to the publication of a long-awaited strategy aimed at cutting Northern Ireland’s spiralling suicide rate.

As estimates put the number of lives lost to suicide as high as five a week in Northern Ireland, the Department of Health has published Protect Life 2 – devised to slash that by ten per cent in five years.

The strategy aims to dispel the myths around suicide and cites early intervention as among the ways to cut  suicide deaths in Northern Ireland – the worst in the UK.

The document contains 10 objectives and 44 actions and focuses largely on tackling the incidence of suicide in deprived areas of Northern Ireland.

AMH Chief Executive, David Babington said he hoped the new Strategy will place greater emphasis on getting support ‘out into the community’, where 70% of all suicides in Northern Ireland take place – outside hospitals and healthcare settings.

“But how do we reach those 70%?,”he asked, and pointed to a partnership in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area, as an effective ‘model’ and way forward. The Southern Area Protect Life Resource Service – a partnership between AMH, Pips Hope and Support (funded by the Public Health Agency) and the Southern Area Protect Life Community Voluntary Forum – has already been piloted in the region for a number of years and has been busy building resilience in the community, from schools to workplaces.

“It raises the issue of mental health at all ages and provides signposting to a number of services from Lifeline to specialist services, like AMH everyBODY eating disorder service. It helps by building resilience early, helping people before they get into crisis.”

“This is a model which can be worked on and with Protect Life Two we would hope that there would be much more emphasis on getting out into the wider community, into schools and into workplaces to help and support people wherever they are,” he added.

“The impact of suicide is just with not the individuals or their families, it’s complete communities. We know already that 70% of suicides take place out in the community, outside the care of hospitals, so we need to make sure there is support in the community, so we will be looking very carefully at the Protect Life 2 Strategy for that.”

Mr Babington expressed concern that despite an “initial ask of £3.5m”, Protect Life 2 heralded only an extra £1.35m toward suicide prevention in Northern Ireland.

Supporting You and Your Community

Suicide and Self-harm Prevention

To mark World Suicide Prevention Day (10 September), – we focus on the Southern Area Protect Life Resource Service – a partnership between Action Mental Heath and Pips Hope and Support (funded by the Public Health Agency) and the Southern Area Protect Life Community Voluntary Forum with a series of videos.

AMH MensSana – Roisin Tallon

For more information email [email protected]

Pips Hope & Support

for more information contact [email protected]

AMH everyBODY – Deborah McCready 

for more information contact [email protected]

Samaritans – Newry & Dundalk – [email protected]

AMH MenSana – Heather Robinson

for more information email [email protected]

Women’s Aid – Armagh & Down – [email protected]

Links Counselling Service – [email protected]

Samaritans – Newry & Dundalk [email protected]

Sail NI – [email protected]

Cause NI

Background – ‘Protect Life – A Shared Vision, the Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan (2006 – 2011)’ was launched by the DHSSPS in 2006.

In 2007, the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) established a Southern Area Protect Life Implementation Group, the members of which are all fully committed to the aims and objectives set out within ‘Protect Life – Northern Ireland Suicide Prevention Strategy 2006 – 2011’.

The Southern area Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) established a local Mental Health/Protect Life Implementation Group (MH/PLIG) in 2007, which provides cross-sectoral support and direction for the implementation of a local Action Plan.  The Group is Chaired by the Assistant Director of Mental Health in the SHSCT and co-Chaired by the Colin Loughran, Service Manager in Action Mental Health.

The Protect Life Community Resource Service (a partnership between PIPS Hope and Support & Action Mental Health) was commissioned by the Public Health Agency (PHA) to provide the majority of suicide prevention/emotional health and wellbeing and awareness raising sessions across the Southern locality.

Action Mental Health (AMH) and PIPS Hope and Support continue to be commissioned by the PHA to provide the Protect Life Resource Service in the Southern Area  The PL Resource Service provides outreach and engagement with individuals and communites in crisis and can provide early surveillance of suspected death/s by suicide in a
given community.

The Protect Life Community Voluntary Forum sits in parallel to MH/PLIG  with a function for disseminating information on the wider MH/PLIG agenda to
all members of the Voluntary and Community Sector, and feeds back to the main MH/PLIG. The Protect Life Community Voluntary Forum is Chaired by our Service Manager Colin Loughran in Action Mental Health (AMH).

The publication of a revised Protect Life 2 – Suicide prevention strategy for NI has been anticipated for some time and we continue to await its publication. In the absence of a new strategy to set the direction the PHA have rolled forward with existing commissioned projects in relation to Protect Life*.

Source: Protect Life and Mental Health Promotion Implementation in the Southern area Summary Report for 2017/18. SHSCT

*Update 10/9/19 :  the long-awaited Protect Life 2 suicide prevention strategy has been published today by the Department of Health.

https://www.health-ni.gov.uk/news/suicide-prevention-strategy-protect-life-2-published-today

10 September 2019  – World Suicide Prevention Day, a day marked annually to raise awareness that suicide is preventable. It aims to foster greater awareness, education and progressive ways on tackling suicide and to challenge the stigma surrounding the tragic subject.

World Suicide Prevention Day is held each year on 10 September, organised by the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).

It’s an opportunity, to showcase the host of programmes and projects Action Mental Health provides in the area of mental ill health prevention, education, suicide/self-harm prevention and early intervention.

AMH Works provides quality Mental Health training programmes for employers to support healthy, resilient workplaces.  AMH Works also develops the skills and learning required to effectively manage employee mental well-being in the workplace.

AMH MensSana supports all ages in the area of mental health and emotional well-being through a range of activities tailored to suit group needs. AMH MensSana operates across the whole of Northern Ireland.

In partnership with PIPS Hope & Support, AMH MensSana operate the Southern Area Protect Life Resource Service, here to help you regarding suicide and self-harm prevention and mental health promotion.

AMH everyBody aims to promote greater understanding and awareness of eating disorders. We have adopted a recovery approach to provide help and support to people with eating disorders and also to their friends and family. AMH everyBODY, is also part of the Southern Area Protect Life Forum.

Just one of the many programmes promoted by Action Mental Health  – Safetalk will prepare you to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first aid resources. Find out more on our service pages.

Suicide Prevention Strategy for Northern Ireland Unveiled

On Tuesday10 September the Department of Health unveiled the Protect Life 2 Strategy to reduce rate of suicide in NI by 10%. This long-delayed strategy is welcomed cautiously by Action Mental Health Chief Executive David Babington.

Read BBC’s report here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49639583

Listen to David Babington on Good Morning Ulster

On Tuesday 10 October, AMH’s CEO David Babington spoke on Good Morning Ulster, responding to the unveiling of Protect Life 2 by the Department of Health.

Listen from 2hrs 14min here

AMH’s Southern MensSana Team’s Protect Life Resource Service Campaign

Catch our team on our social media channels or watch them all in one place here

AMH’s Southern MensSana Team is at Tesco Rushmere, Craigavon talking suicide prevention and our Protect Life project

Southern MensSana provides this alongside PIPs

Pop in to Tesco Rushmere at Craigavon to chat to our Southern Area MensSana team who deliver our suicide prevention project Protect Life with @PipsCharity #SuicidePreventionDay #TakingActionOnMentalHealth pic.twitter.com/TkWV4dpe6O

— Action Mental Health (@amhNI) September 10, 2019

 

AMH New Horizons Foyle is at the launch of Elephant Talk at Western Health and Social Care Trust

 

#ElephantTalk launch in @WesternHSCTrust important discussion about supporting our young people speak about how they are feeling. @amhNI @cypsp #WSPD2019 pic.twitter.com/df7iVwrwzB

— Roseleen Maguire (@Rosie_amh) September 10, 2019

The silverware was being handed out this week at Action Mental Health’s Promote Service, honouring clients who have worked tirelessly all year to complete a range of courses.

Clients who attend the Bangor-based service for adults with learning difficulties took hold of their official certificates of completion before celebrating their success with an indoor barbecue and disco.

The annual awards day also featured a clutch of special medals conferred on clients – voted for on the merits of their progression, positive attitude, good attendance, motivation and enthusiasm.

The Most Helpful medal went to Emma Savage, while crooner, Tommy Baird, received the Best Singer award. The Kindest client award was handed to Gordon Stewart, while the Most Hardworking client medal was earned by Alan Webster. But there was a hung jury when it came to the gong for the Most Creative Client, so this year it was shared among two deserving clients, Anika Johnston and Rebecca Hanna.

The day’s events were then topped by the crowning of the Outstanding Client of the Year, Darren Woods, as voted by the whole Promote team.

The gang from Promote took the opportunity to show its gratitude to its loyal band of three volunteers with special gifts. The clients were even treated to an appearance by a Search and Rescue dog, during a visit to Promote’s own dog-walking group.

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s time once again for cyclists across Northern Ireland to sign up for the annual Granite Challenge, a 55-mile charity cycle through the beautiful Mourne Mountains, raising funds for Action Mental Health (AMH).

This year AMH is encouraging cyclists of all abilities, individuals and club members to don their lycra for the event on Sunday, October 6, to help support the charity’s Men’s Shed in Downpatrick, a social hub and support network for men over 50.

All the funds raised at the Granite Challenge will be used to support the Downpatrick branch of the Men’s Shed, which provides a relaxed and friendly environment where men form new friendships, share skills and learn new ones. Importantly, the Shed offers members a positive way to look after their mental health. AMH also have Men’s Sheds in Antrim and Fermanagh

By raising money you’ll be assisting the Sheds to bring together men to work on practical activities of their choice, at their own pace, while having a laugh and a cup of tea. Activities include horticulture, joinery, photography, arts and crafts, IT and cooking – every Men’s Shed is led by the needs and skills of its ‘shedders’.

Every cyclist who takes part will make a difference, with the funds raised being used to help pay for the men to attend as well as for equipment, like saws and drills and whatever essential kit for the Shed’s workshops.

As a local charity, Action Mental Health relies on the support of the local community to help provide its vital services. The Downpatrick Shed is annually supported by the Granite Challenge which begins in the cathedral town, following a route through Tyrella and Dundrum, along coastal roads through Newcastle, towards Annalong at the foot of the Mournes, before riders commence their ascent through the Mournes past Silent Valley, climbing to Spelga Dam. From there, it’s downhill toward home, through the pretty village of Bryansford, then Maghera and Clough and finally back to Downpatrick.

It’s a challenging route but the Granite Challenge benefits from the support of McConvey Cycles which will come to your aid if you’ve had a blow out or bicycle difficulties. First Aid will be on hand and you’ll enjoy camaraderie and filling snacks and refreshments en route.

The event takes place just ahead of World Mental Health Day, on Thursday, October, 10, when Action Mental Health will host a variety of events across its services to mark the annual day when mental health issues come into sharp focus across the globe.

One member of the Men’s Shed in Downpatrick, Terry Murphy, said: “I would encourage anyone our age to join the Men’s Shed; it’s very, very beneficial. You learn different skills and different crafts,  from wood-carving, and stained glass, to mosaic work.

“I enjoy my fellow shedders because without them there’s no shed. We all benefit from each other and as a group, together we all benefit from the support of the Granite Challenge. It’s an amazing community fundraising effort and we all really appreciate the people who come out to participate.”

AMH Chief Executive David Babington – who annually is among the hundreds of participating cyclists – reminds us that like any exercise, cycle promotes mental well-being.

“Physical activity plays a huge role in keeping our minds healthy as well as our bodies. With as many as one in five people in Northern Ireland experiencing mental ill-health at some stage of their life, it’s important to remember that simple things such as cycling to work or walking the dog can really help to reduce stress and clear the mind.

“As World Mental Health Day approaches we couldn’t think of a more fitting tribute than hosting a large scale sporting event that unites the community in a show of support for those impacted by mental illness whilst also offering participants the chance to raise vital funds to support our work.

“We’re always really excited to host our annual Granite Challenge, which over the years has proved hugely popular with local cycling clubs and individuals alike. Each year the number of cyclists continues to grow, so we are very much looking forward to participating and sharing in what is sure to be another highly motivating experience for all involved.”

Early Bird entrance fees start at just £20 plus Eventbrite fees, which includes a tea stop at Spelga where delicious homemade tray bakes and sweet treats will be provided.

Spaces are limited so register your interest now by clicking on our website www.amh.org.uk and following the links. You can also enter by visiting https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-granite-challenge-tickets-47219728479

Our Impact Report 2018/19 is now available to download!

Packed with stats from our recovery services and resilience services, it is a clear picture of how we are having an impact in our local communities.  We really are living up to our mission – to make a positive difference to people’s mental health and well-being!

A snap shot:

• 31,487 beneficiaries of AMH Resilience services
• 3,479 accredited training outcomes by AMH clients
• 221 clients progressed to paid employment, voluntary work  or further education or training
• Our messages to raise awareness and tackle stigma, reached 28M people via traditional and digital media
• New Life Counselling (a member of the Action Mental Health Group) delivered 13,065 counselling sessions
• The Northern Area Mental Health Initiative had 19,569 beneficiaries (April 2017-March 2019)
• We had 179 wonderful people working in Action Mental Health

A hard copy is available by contacting [email protected] 

A full copy of the consolidated group annual report and audited accounts of the year to 31st March 2019 can be obtained by contacting [email protected].

Hundreds of cyclists have put considerable leg work into raising money for Action Mental Health  during an annual cycle race.

More than 250 bike riders took part in the recent 7th Tour of Fermanagh charity event, braving wet conditions to traverse the picturesque environs of County Fermanagh. Many travelled considerable distances to take part, with one club coming all the way from Co Clare.

Cyclists had the choice of two routes – 60km and 120km – with the riders commencing and finishing their routes in the centre of Lisnaskea, in an event jointly hosted by Lisnaskea Emmetts GAC and Enniskillen Royal Boat Club in association with Clones Cycling Club. The routes were fully marshalled on the day by the Mad Dog Motorcycle Club.

Queen of the Rock, Lorraine Mullarkey, cycled home in 11 minutes and 24 seconds, while Glenn Phair, who came home in eight minutes and nine seconds, was crowned King of the Rock.

Speaking at the event ,  Caroline Ferguson, Service Manager at AMH, New Horizons Fermanagh said: “We are delighted that local people in recovery from mental health issues will benefit from this popular annual cycle event, and I would like to thank the organisers, sponsors and of course, the cyclists for their generous support.”