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.”

Clients at Action Mental Health’s New Horizons Derriaghy have been enjoying an active and productive summer.

Members of the crochet group used their crafty skills to create a number of beautiful sensory blankets which were a big hit with the residents of the Louisville Nursing Home on Belfast’s Glen Road.

The sensory blankets were created to provide a visual and tactile stimulation for those residents who have dementia and have provided great interest and comfort among the men and women at the home.

Meanwhile, clients have been enjoying a number of outings in recent weeks, including the Coca Cola factory in Lisburn, where they got to the see all the processes behind the production of arguably the most famous beverage in the world. AMH is fortunate to have the support of Coca Cola HBC as a corporate partner.

They also got to see behind the scenes of the Tayto factory in Tandragee, and got to sample the product – this time, one of Northern Ireland’s most famous exports!

One of Northern Ireland’s most well-known and highly respected family run businesses recently threw its weight behind a nation-wide focus on mental health well-being.

Gordons Chemists, who have been supporting their customer’s health and well-being for 39 years, decked out all its 53 branches across Northern Ireland in Action Mental Health’s trademark purple for Mental Health Awareness Week, 13^th-19^th May 2019, raising over £5000. The pharmacy chain was helping to raise awareness among staff and local communities on how best to support and care for their emotional well-being.

The focus came as the public spotlight shines ever greater on the rising incidence of mental ill-health in Northern Ireland, with Gordon’s Chemist signalling its desire to step up and take action in partnership with Action Mental Health.

On Friday, May 17, all 53 stores united in one massive day of fundraising and both Action Mental Health and Gordons Chemists are pleased to announce that a phenomenal £5,070 was raised!

Owner and co-founder, Robert Gordon, commented: “Action Mental Health changes the lives of those living with mental ill health and we are delighted to support the great work of this local Northern Ireland charity”.

Action Mental Health’s Fundraising & Engagement Coordinator, Alex Murdock, said: “First and foremost I want to say a massive thank you to all of the staff at Gordons Chemists for really getting behind Mental Health Awareness Week and of course, to all their incredible customers for supporting them. Together you raised an absolutely outstanding amount of money that will go back into your local communities as Action Mental Health continues to promote emotional well-being and resilience right across Northern Ireland.

She added: “It has been an absolute pleasure working alongside Gordons Chemists and their whole team. Thank you for helping us to step up and take action on mental health. We honestly could not support our local communities without businesses and people like you by our side.”

Last week Action Mental Health New Horizons Downpatrick welcomed staff and clients from Kwintes in the Netherlands – it’s the eleventh year we’ve hosted a group from Kwintes Guidance and Relief!

While staying in Killough, they’ve been out and about taking in all the wonderful sights  NI has to offer. Of course, they needed to call in and see their friends at NH Downpatrick. We spent time touring our garden, the garden centre and staff and clients sat down with a cuppa to properly welcome our guests. It was particularly interesting sharing ideas and creative new ways we each support our clients in our organisations.

Kwintes provides supported housing and holiday packages for people suffering from mental ill-health in the Netherlands – you can find out more on their website.

Thank you for taking the time to come out and see us! We look forward to catching up with you next year!

Titanic Hotel Belfast has made smooth sailing of its partnership with Action Mental Health in the past year, recently sealing a deal for a second consecutive year of helping the charity support the emotional well-being of its employees and the local community.

The landmark hotel enjoyed a successful first year in partnership with AMH, undertaking myriad fundraising events and raising awareness – despite a busy calendar of events following its opening in 2017.

Staff powered full steam ahead with their charity efforts and raised an outstanding £3,000 as a result. But keen to do even more they decided to keep up their support for Action Mental Health into a second year and have much more planned to do that.

The second year of fundraising got underway with a coffee morning in May to mark the annual Mental Health Awareness Week, and they have many more exciting plans in the pipeline for the rest of the year.

Wonderful staff from our corporate partner Danske Bank came out to AMH New Horizons Downpatrick’s garden centre to give it a summer spruce. Our potting shed was beautifully re-stained, the grass bank cut back and our polytunnel was given the weeding of its’ life. The gang from Killeaton House were fantastic -racing to see who could weed and strim the fastest. They were so competitive that they barely stopped to have a proper tea break!

Thank you again for coming folks!

Danske Bank has been our Corporate Partner since 2016. Their fundraising supports our Healthy Me programme in schools across Northern Ireland.