Patricia (right), with Wendy McDowell, Admin Services Manager at the South Eastern Trust
My name is Patricia and I am fifty eight years old. I am married with three grown up sons whom I adore and have such a rewarding relationships with all three. I first realised I had depression just after the birth of my first son. It took on a life of its own and I ended up unable to cope. I can best describe myself as being a nutshell – only when you open it there is nothing inside. The shell appears fine, as I kept my appearance well, through makeup and hair to perfection. But this was a mask which prevented people asking questions. Eventually, through time, my shell eventually cracked and I fell completely apart.
My depression at that time can best be described as an ocean and it behaved in the very same way: it can be serene and ebbing calm but sadly it can also be very turbulent crashing against life. I was in hospital a few times, including the day hospital. Approximately three years ago I was advised to join AMH to help me with my confidence and social skills. I was very reluctant, but I did, and I must confess I had no inkling as to the gravity that AMH could help to bring me, in terms of commitment, calmness and confidence, as well as belief in myself and in life.
I have completed many courses through AMH. The two most inspiring courses for me were Drama and NVQ Health & Social Care. My tutors were so patient, inspiring and believed in me, no matter what I said or did. They listened and offered help wherever possible and always had my back. They encouraged me throughout and offered all the guidance necessary to complete the course. One of the good things was if I was having a bad day they always made time to listen.
You become the centre of AMH and they will focus on that – nothing else. If anyone should ask which course is best, my advice is try something you know you wouldn’t normally do. I did that with Drama and can honestly say it was so involving, funny, thought-provoking and rewarding. I could easily fill this entire page with the positives of the course and I always dreaded the class ending. But as for advice? Try as many courses as you can get. It may seem too much at times but you will find you can manage it. And the friendships that form between the various classes are sincere and worth investing in.
I am proud to say, having gained my confidence, I am now volunteering with the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust as a meeter/greeter based in Downe Hospital. I go there every week and enjoy knowing that I am helping others as well as building on my own personal skills.
I totally enjoyed my time at AMH – in fact I would return in a blink. I gained a confidence that I am still finding out about. My advice: do only what you can. In time, you will see how doing other courses alongside is always beneficial to your personal development needs.
If I was able to dedicate awards I would give each and everyone in AMH an award for helping, guiding, encouraging and believing in me when I needed it most. I want to say a big thank you to every member of staff.
Patricia took part in the Working it Out Project which is part-funded by the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
As we bid farewell to one of our clients, David James, he reflects on his time with Action Mental Health.
April 26, 2016, morning: an individual who was confident, self-assured, respected and professional. Enjoying life and work.
April 26, 2016, afternoon: a lost individual.
An occurrence on that day (an assault) created someone I did not know, in a strange world. My new self had taken control of the “previous me” and was now looking after “broken me” in a myriad of different ways that I did not know about or had ever experienced.
A process of recovery then begins, although things are too broken to recover, more a process of adaptation to what is left. Part of that adaptation was a recognition that I have to reintegrate into this strange world; become part of it, roll with it, discover it.
New Dave was tentatively introduced to AMH New Horizons in Newtownards.
Originally I wanted to prove to myself that, once again, I could work within a group of people, be part of a collection of folk taking pleasure in an activity in the company of others. A spectrum of activities was offered in a comfortable, friendly environment.
What would I like to do?
What would appeal to me?
Something I knew I was capable of, but had no time to do, was photography and art and I was consequently admitted to the respective classes. After a while I left photography and concentrated on the art class. Every aspect of art was there to choose from; Tiffany Glass, Clay, Oils, Fabrics and Printing, a totally complete array of artistic media.
So I chose to sit and sketch, to see what developed, while enjoying being part of a group once again. I did that for several months developing a talent for soft lead pencil drawing. All the time receiving expert tuition and guidance and a sense of well-being and acceptance from the facility staff. An effortless niceness from reception to management, a pleasure to be part of.
I was given an opportunity to take a qualification in art using Mixed Media (wood, clay, fabric and paint) which evolved into a final piece which described the majority of events and emotions I had experienced since the afternoon of April 26, 2016. I called it – “A lost individual”.
July 2019. Reintegrating and adapting very nicely, Thank You.
We wish David all the best as he leaves Action Mental Health to start the next part of his journey, thank you for sharing your story.
David 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.
Pictured L-R Karen McMinnis, Cancer Focus NI; Robert Biggerstaff, Stroke Association; Eilish Simpson, Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust (BART); Stuart Kennedy (Official Coach); Alex Murdock, Action Mental Health; and Caroline Smyth, Air Ambulance NI.
One of Action Mental Health’s fundraising team is joining Belfast City Marathon’s latest band of novice marathon runners to run and raise money at the same time through the Deep RiverRock ‘Challenge 13.1’.
Fundraising and Engagement Co-ordinator Alex Murdock is taking part in the challenge which follows the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon ‘Experiment 26.2’ programme when 17 people ran their first full marathon, on May 5.
The Experiment 26.2 programme supported and mentored runners throughout the whole of their training and it was such a success the organisers decided to mount a similar effort for the 7th Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half-Marathon which takes place on Sunday, September 22.
Each of the five participants in the Challenge 13.1 team represents one of the five Official Charity Partners for the 2019 Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon and had completed a leg of the team relay marathon in May.
During her training, Alex, like the other ambassadors of Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust BART, Cancer Focus NI, Stroke Association and Air Ambulance NI, will also be focused on fundraising for their respective charities.
Alex will be joined by Eilish Simpson from Glenavy, running for BART; Karen McMinnis from Belfast, of Cancer Focus NI; Robert Biggerstaff from Belfast, representing Stroke Association and Caroline Smyth from Kilrea who will run for Air Ambulance NI.
Currently fundraising totals for the Five Official Charity Partners (all local charities) stands at a massive £220,000 and it’s growing, with monies going to vital research and services across Northern Ireland.
With the help of Challenge 13.1 and this year’s Half Marathon entrants, the organisers hope to see the total soar before the year is out.
With just over 12 weeks to go, Challenge 13.1 participants can expect a comprehensive half marathon training package from the event’s Official Partners including a 12 week training plan and one to one coaching from Stuart Kennedy (official coach); a tailored nutritional plan and consultation with Sarah Trimble Nutrition and complimentary services / training products from Framar Health (official nutrition partner); Better (official gym partner) will provide bespoke core classes to help support the team as they train.
You can follow and support the Challenge 13.1 ambassadors’ progress and fundraising online in the coming weeks at www.belfastcitymarathon.com/training-blogs. A series of training, nutritional and motivational tips will also be shared on the event’s social media sites Instagram, Facebook and Twitter to help all entrants prepare for the September race.
Perhaps YOU completed a leg of the Team Relay in May or have completed a series of 10K races and are ready to take on a Half Marathon challenge?
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Half Marathon is renowned for its popular, mainly flat and fast course, which is perfect for a first time Half Marathon or personal best! The event is expected to sell out for the third year in a row with a record number of participants anticipated – around 5000.
The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is sponsored by Athletics Northern Ireland, Daily Mirror, Belfast City Council, Better, Translink, Daily Mirror, Spar, Belfast Live and Framar Health. Sampling partners are Deep RiverRock, Tayto, White’s Oats and Linwoods. This year’s official charities are Belfast Arthroplasty Research Trust (BART); Cancer Focus NI; Stroke Association; Air Ambulance NI and Action Mental Health.
Mick Finnegan knows only too well how homelessness can affect a person’s mental health.
A Dublin man who turned to an Action Mental Health service dedicated to supporting individuals in their place of work has paid tribute to the ‘life saving’ care he received.
Mick Finnegan was taken under the wing of staff from Action Mental Health, which delivers the Workable NI programme, when he began to struggle with his mental health at his job.
With the help of the Workable Employment Support Officer (ESO), Stephanie Prince, Mick was able to express to management how the workplace was impacting upon his mental health. Workable thrives on the creation of a three-way partnership between the ESO, the client and the employer. Together, they created a personalised action plan which implemented measures to promote well-being in the workplace. Through one-to-one meetings, along with advice and guidance from the ESO, Mick’s employer began to show him more support and understanding towards his mental health issues.
Now, 36-year-old Mick, who lives outside Belfast, is an advocate for people with mental health issues, working with those affected by mental ill-health, locally, and also represents their interests nationally, across the UK.
Action Mental Health is one of seven partners within the SES – Supported Employment Solutions consortium – which is contracted to deliver the Department for Communities Workable (NI) Programme across Northern Ireland. SES supports people with disabilities and health conditions and helps them get back into employment and includes joint lead partners Cedar & AMH, as well as Mencap, Orchardville, NOW, RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss.
Mick is bi-polar and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, after spending some of his youth homeless and hopeless on the streets of Dublin.
In recent years, Mick has spent time in London working with the homeless, before later coming to Belfast, where again he worked with local people who found themselves sleeping rough on the streets. Working here in Northern Ireland however, he found himself victim of the stigma which remains to this day on the issue of mental health.
At the time, management had a limited understanding of mental health in the workplace which made it difficult for Mick to speak openly about his condition. His GP encouraged him to seek help and he eventually discovered Workable NI as a means of in-work support.
Enlisting their help about two and a half years ago, AMH staff, who deliver the Workable NI programme, helped Mick regain his confidence while also managing to smash the stigmas surrounding mental health.
“My keyworker Stephanie started by putting policies in place and it really did improve things. “Sometimes employers view people with mental health issues as a burden and sometimes employers think people with mental health issues are using that as an excuse for absences from work.
‘Getting Workable involved gave me breathing space and gave me the flexibility to take time off to deal with things and I went from feeling isolated and marginalised to feeling much better. It saved my life when I was going through a rough spot and I managed to keep my job,” he said.
“I wouldn’t have got through a lot of the things I did if it wasn’t for Stephanie’s support and the Workable programme.”
Though conditions did improve, Mick soon found new employment – allowing him the freedom to discuss his mental health issues with total impunity, as a mental health peer support worker with the Southern Health and Social Care Trust. He also works as a national advisor for the National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in London.
Patricia Kelly AMH Workable Project Co-ordinator commented: “I am delighted that with Stephanie’s help Mick was able to avail of the specialist in-work support that Workable (NI) offers and that his employer was able to glean a better understanding of how best to deal with employee mental health issues within the workplace as well.
“Our team of ESOs work tirelessly to deliver the Workable programme across the province, supporting a range of employees and employers to come to manageable solutions within the workplace.”
AMH everyBODY Project Worker Deborah McCready who scooped an ICE award.
A project worker with AMH everyBODY has clinched this year’s coveted ICE Award for the unstinting enthusiasm and sheer hard work she brings to her role every single day.
Deborah McCready only took up her role within Action Mental Health in 2018 but since her arrival she has been vital in helping to raise the profile of the specialist eating disorder service among the general public.
Receiving her award during a recent ceremony from Robert Mowbray, vice chair of the board of Action Mental Health, Deborah expressed shock and delight after being informed of her win by her manager, Colin Loughran.
Deborah, who is based in Portadown, had been nominated by AMH’s Communications team which had called upon Deborah on numerous occasions within the past year to help drive and steer communications campaigns on eating disorders and related issues.
AMH everyBODY, which operates within the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (SHSCT) area, introduced a vital and effective new model of support for people experiencing eating disorders and their families and carers in partnership with the trust.
The Chairman’s ICE award recognises individuals’ contribution to Innovation, Creativity and Excellence within the organisation and are presented twice a year to celebrate individual achievement. Recipients are presented with an ICE award and also win an extra day’s leave.
The awards were conceived in recognition that AMH’s people are “the organisation’s most important resource in achieving its mission and advancing its vision”, according to chairman Peter Fitzsimmons.
Reacting to the news, Deborah said: “Oh my goodness, I was like a deer in headlights shocked. I thought I was meeting Colin for a catch-up but little did I know! I can think of so many people deserving of it though, especially the Comms team. So much of the work I’ve gotten to do has been a team effort with yourselves, so thank you all too!”
Her manager Colin Loughran, Service Manager for AMH Craigavon and Banbridge, paid tribute to Deborah’s zeal for her job.
“Since taking up her post with AMH everyBODY Deborah has really owned and advanced all her duties, bringing vital support to greater and increasing numbers of individuals and families. Deborah has played a central role in elevating AMH everyBODY as the preferred provider status in the Southern Health and Social Care Trust area, being pivotal to the comprehensive rebranding process which led to its relaunch last September. That rebrand was critical in re-establishling AMH’s eating disorder service as a competent option, nurturing confidence from AMH funders and the general public.”
In the nomination, Deborah was highlighted for her expertise, warm and giving personal manner, and the empathy with which she deals with vulnerable clients and their loved ones.
In delivering the remit of her post, she was also noted for her skill in equipping people with better self-support skills, while informing and reinforcing healthy lifestyle behaviours to keep people safe and to allay their fears during times of distress.
In assisting the Communications team, Deborah has routinely gone well beyond the expectation of her job description on many occasions to ensure that the service provided is comprehensive and complete.
Key to her nomination was also Deborah’s development of a monthly carers’ support group which has been pivotal to clients and their families, and also, her key role in AMH’s collaboration with Queen’s University’s Mental Health Week campaign. As a speaker in the high profile event, she shared her insight and expertise on her specialist subject before a host of academic panelists.
“In short, Deborah was singled out for the honour of the ICE award for consistently going above and beyond for her clients and for Action Mental Health,” added Communications Manager, Tricia Browne.
I’m 30 years old and for 25 of those years I have been challenged over and over with the heaviest, deepest and darkest of experiences. I’ve felt lonely, weak, worthless, lifeless and distinct. I was bullied, I was abused, I was used, I was neglected, I was homeless, I was targeted in a terror attack, I had special needs, I watched the domestic violence within family life, I watched the Troubles from my bedroom window, I struggled with my identity, my sexuality, psychologically and physically.
I struggled mentally and emotionally, but I smiled, I joked, I laughed, I gave up my time to raise money, to volunteer and to help the community. I pretended I was normal. I pretended I was ordinary, but the fact is I was just a person, a human and a self-taught, self-managed and a genius of an actor.
I didn’t want to stand out from others. I didn’t want to be an obstacle, a thing people avoided. I simply didn’t want to be judged, yet I was that obstacle, I did stand out from others and I was judged. I wanted to be noticed for the right reasons and not for the bad, I wanted to fit in, I wanted to see myself when I looked in the mirror but realistically I saw a person I didn’t recognise .I attempted to end my life numerous times. I was unsuccessful, hospitalised and struggled through recovery.
A doctor said my actions was deliberate self-harm and was it? Absolutely not, I needed to escape. I wanted to escape. I had no control of my life and that needed to be changed. I lost my pride, my childhood, my teenage years, my early adulthood; I lost people I thought were my friends, I lost family who I thought I’d have for ever. I was betrayed and my sanity was stolen from me. I was struggling and gasping for breath as if I was drowning, unable to escape from the chains around my feet, arms and neck feeling as if I was anchored to the seabed.
Change was needed, so I began to look more into my inner-self, self-compassion, my values and ethics, I needed to find a distraction, I needed meditation in my life and began my search for inner peace. I thought I lost everything, but that was just a thought. I looked too deep in every little thing and found the skills to be able to categorise my thought process into realism. My search to find inner peace continued and I began to self-care. I eventually found strength and courage to learn and then to practice gratitude. I began to seek the positives in every negatives.
Support was what I needed, a listener, I needed compassion and some understanding. I was referred to AMH, New Horizons in Downpatrick by the mental health services in the South Eastern Trust. I was nervous, anxious and scared when I made my first initial visit to meet my key worker to plan my interested and create a time table. I instantly felt at home, the welcome was warming, the staff felt like friends and when my journey ended I felt as if staff where family.
The support was huge, I could call upon any of the staff in the many different areas of the organisation to ask for support or to answer a question and it was never a problem. Always smiling, always laughing, always involving you. The staff didn’t make me feel as if I was a service user, I felt part of the team. It felt like family.
The variety of educational programmes was huge, courses ranging from music, IT, gardening, to photography, customer service skills, yoga, health and social care, and management programmes stress, confidence and self- esteem.
The staff, the establishment, the organisation itself and all the positives that come with these factors has helped me grow to become the person I am today. I was timid, shy and felt lost at first and now I’m able to interact more positively with people. I am much more confident, I am able to voice my worries and concerns, I appreciate the values I gained, I’m grateful for the opportunities to finish with qualifications I worked hard for.
Not just staff, but supporters and the listening ears when it’s needed and more importantly it’s helped me understand mental health and has guided me back to employment and fulfilling my hopes, dreams and ambitions.
These guys at New Horizons and all the dedicated work they all do is tremendous and they shouldn’t be overlooked. These people are no superman or wonder-woman, they are real life heroes, assets to our community and the more people who are made aware of the organisation, the bigger the chance stigma around mental ill health will reduce and those affected by mental health can be supported through their recovery.
I’m so appreciative and privileged to have been involved and hope our paths cross within the near future. Thank you.
James K
Thanks to James for sharing his story – James is taking part in the “Working it Out Project” at AMH New Horizons. The project is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
L-R Gerard Bentley, Iona Erskine, Przemystaw (Ruddi) Czerwonik, Kathryn Charlton, Gary Smyth, John Higgins
This year’s the drama group from AMH New Horizons Downpatrick , worked tremendously hard to put on a holiday themed show entitled ‘The Sky’s the Limit’ as part of a CCEA Performance Skills qualification.
The show comprised of 3 scenes which traced the character journeys from Cloud9 Airport to the sunny skies of Majorca!
We asked the troupe of actor’s to tell us about their experience …
Gerard – ‘It is exciting and thrilling to perform in front of an audience – I challenged myself in a way that I never thought I would be able to’
Iona – ‘It is exhilarating to see the end product of the months of hard work have such a positive audience reaction. It was a cathartic experience’
Gary – ‘The sense of achievement is amazing. It was so uplifting to have taken part in the performance’
Kathryn – ‘I feel humbled that the audience were so supportive of what we had created. Theatre has helped me to deal with anxiety. I feel I have more confidence to interact with new people’
Many congratulations to you all – inspirational! Well done!
Our Theatre Group take part in the “Working it Out” project at AMH New Horizons Downpatrick, 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.
A Review of Mental Health Policies in Northern Ireland
By Professor Siobhan O’ Neill, Professor Deirdre Heenan and Dr Jennifer Betts
Supported by Action Mental Health
Professor Deidre Heenan, Gary Lightbody, David Babington
As Ulster University launched a new review of Northern Ireland’s mental health policies, it has been revealed that waiting lists for services in Northern Ireland are now 24 times greater than in England and Wales combined.
Brand new figures set out in the policy review by Ulster University
showed that as of March 2019 approximately 120,000 people of all ages in Northern Ireland were waiting over a year for access to health services.
The UU policy review, launched in conjunction with Action Mental Health, is a call to action for a ten year mental health strategy in Northern Ireland – the only UK region without one. It comes in the face of rising suicide rates and a system delivered in a fragmented and piecemeal manner.
The figures, obtained by the University, cast a damning light on health services here in Northern Ireland in comparison to similar statistics for England and Wales combined, where approximately only 5000 people were waiting for over 12 months.
‘Making Parity a Reality’ was unveiled at Stormont on Friday, June 21, at an event featuring special guest, Gary Lightbody of internationally renowned and multi-award winning rock band, Snow Patrol.
Last November the Co Down born singer, who has suffered from depression in the past, hit out at politicians over the impact on mental health services of the absence of a functioning devolved government at Stormont.
Other speakers addressing invited guests of health practitioners, academics, departmental officials, campaigners and local political representatives included policy review lead author, Professors Deirdre Heenan, Ulster University; Action Mental Health Chief Executive, David Babington; Dr Gerry Lynch, Consultant Psychiatrist at the Northern Health Trust and Chair of the Northern Ireland division of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; and Professor Nicola Rooney, chair of the British Psychological Society branch for Northern Ireland. The event was sponsored by the Ulster Unionist Party’s spokesperson for Mental Health, Robbie Butler, MLA for Lagan Valley alongside Nichola Mallon, MLA from the SDLP and the Alliance Party MLA Chris Lyttle.
Report author, Professor of Mental Health Sciences at Ulster University, Professor Siobhan O’Neill said: “The evidence suggests that in NI there is an urgent and compelling need for a fully costed, mental health strategy as current provision is fragmented, under-funded and overstretched. We need a long-term commitment to address the changes required.”
Commenting on the latest figures for waiting times in Northern Ireland, Professor Deirdre Heenan, Ulster University, said: “Waiting times for services here have become even worse relative to Wales and England – largely because both regions have made progress in reducing their long waits, whereas Northern Ireland has not. The impact of this extensive waiting on a patient’s mental health and well-being, and on their families, can be only negative, indeed a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner explained how vulnerable young people talked about their mental health deteriorating, for some to a crisis point, as a direct result of the delay in being able to access services.’
“As of March there were 120,000 waiters over a year in Northern Ireland, compared to 5000 across England and Wales combined. That equates to 1 in 16 people in Northern Ireland being on waiting lists for more than a year, compared to, at most, 1 in 750 in Wales and 1 in 48,000 in England.
“A patient on the waiting list in Northern Ireland is at least 36 times more likely to have been waiting for more than a year compared to Wales, and more than a thousand times more likely to have been waiting over a year than a patient in England. This is simply not acceptable. For too long mental health services have been an afterthought in Northern Ireland. If the health service is to become more efficient, it is vital that physical health and mental health are integrated.”
The launch of Making Parity a Reality heard calls for a fully costed, ten year mental health strategy with clear targets, aligned to other health strategies, with spending, as a percentage of the overall Northern Ireland health budget doubled to at least 12%, on par with spending in England.
Campaigners are also calling for the Protect Life Two suicide prevention strategy to be urgently implemented, to help reverse Northern Ireland’s suicide rate and for better crises services. The rate of suicide here outstrips all the other UK regions, indeed in 2017 it was more than double the rate of England, standing at 18.5 per 100,000 people compared to 9.2 per 100,000 in England.
Action Mental Health Chief Executive David Babington welcomed the new review, stating: “Northern Ireland’s policy makers need to be ambitious as the mediocre approach that’s been delivered up to now is not good enough. Mental health has for too long been the Cinderella service of the NHS and despite an increased focus and awareness in the area of mental health, as championed by the likes of Action Mental Health, many key challenges remain.
“There are a number of systemic barriers that limit the mental health sector in providing consistent high-quality care, from inconsistent variable commissioning of services, increasing demand and inadequate funding, to the lack of integration with other services. Northern Ireland urgently needs a joined-up approach.”
Dr Gerry Lynch, chair of the Royal College of Psychiatrists NI and a Board member of Action Mental Health said: “We would like to see parity for Mental Health made real by the commissioning of services currently unavailable or under provided in Northern Ireland, as well as access to crisis services and a targeted increase in trained staff.
“Funding must be put in place in any plan and we need access to data in order to judge progress. This further contribution by Ulster University to the public discussion on mental health is most welcome and we are delighted to support this launch.”
Making Parity a Reality calls for a more holistic approach to health services, with a greater focus on prevention and early intervention to reduce the long term impact for people experiencing mental health problems and their families, and to reduce the costs for the NHS and emergency services.
The review calls for Northern Ireland’s high waiting lists to be presented in relation to their impact on mental health and for a new emphasis on creating mentally healthy communities. Urging politicians and policy makers for greater innovation within Northern Ireland’s devolved administration, the review calls for strategic leadership roles for people with lived experience of mental ill-health.