Two brothers have taken an emotional journey to raise funds for charities, including Action Mental Health, in memory of their late sisters.

The pair, Alan and Philip Shaw, originally from Dunloy, County Antrim, lost their sister Heather Shaw almost six years ago, late of Ballymena, and it is in her memory that Alan was fundraising for AMH, raising £1643.75, by tackling Britain’s highest peak Ben Nevis.

His brother Philip joined the poignant journey, also fundraising in memory of their sister, Yvonne Courtney, who they lost to cancer, the beneficiary being another local charity, Cancer Focus.

Alan said of the trek, in relation to Heather:  “Along with my brother Philip, we’ve decided to raise some money and awareness of an illness that affects so many people, yet is something  we find so hard to come to terms with. Heather loved to walk, so the challenge of going up Ben Nevis would have been something she would really have enjoyed.

“The climb was completed along with my brother Philip Shaw who was collecting for our other sister Yvonne Courtney, who died earlier this year from cancer.”

Alan, who now hails from Glasgow, said he and Philip made it to the peak of Ben Nevis in four hours and an arduous two and a half hour trek back down again – cold and sore

“But it was all worth it,” he said, “When I think of all the support and donations we’ve had. Some of the views were stunning and I know Heather and Yvonne would have enjoyed the day if they’d been with us.”

 

Action Mental Health has teamed up with fashion emporium Pia Rossini to launch a new bag to help promote better mental health.

The canvas shopper, bearing the slogan ‘This is who I am’ reflects the brand’s dedication to creating fashion pieces that celebrate individuality. But the campaign acknowledges that when you’re feeling low, it’s more difficult to embrace this.

Pia Rossini states: “We realise that for some people, it isn’t always easy to shout about who they are. Many people struggle with mental health daily. We are proud to have teamed up with Action Mental Health to support their work with children and young people in promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being for our future generations.”

“By purchasing this product, you are helping us make a small difference on a massive scale, as we commit to donating 100% of all profits made from this product to Action Mental Health. Your money will be used to support Action Mental Health’s work with children and young people, promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being to our future generations.

“Keep up to date with our campaign across all our social media platforms and help to share the message by tagging #thisiswhoiam in your photos.”

Fundraising and Communications Manager Jonathan Smyth said: “We are delighted to be the recipients of the proceeds of the Pia Rossini “This is who I am” bag. This type of partnership is something we are always very grateful to be a part of.”

To purchase the bag and at the same time support Action Mental Health follow the link https://www.piarossini.com/mental-health-awareness

 

 

Schools, individuals and groups who go that extra mile to support the mental health and well-being of young people across Northern Ireland were rewarded today for their efforts by Action Mental Health.

To mark 2018’s World Mental Health Day which is on the 10 Octopber each year, Action Mental Health unveiled the inaugural Head First Awards which recognise organisations and people within education and the community who avail of the pioneering mental health promotion work carried out by the charity’s MensSana team.

The awards’ ceremony was led by Cool FM radio presenter Paulo Ross, who has spoken publicly about his mother’s mental health struggles in the past. He has said Action Mental Health’s New Horizons recovery service had been life-changing.

Belfast Giants’ chief coach Adam Keefe Belfast was also in attendance to hand out the specially-commissioned awards, hewn in Action Mental Health’s trademark head shape.

The awards were conferred at W5 at the SSE Arena, on World Mental Health Day which this year focuses on ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World’ – a theme very close to the heart of AMH’s MensSana service.

MensSana provides tailored activities to support positive mental health and emotional well-being, directly in schools and across a variety of community-based organisations.

Encompassing age ranges from 8 to 25-year-olds and their key contacts, a variety of programmes are delivered in schools, youth clubs and community groups. The workshops are young people-friendly, positive, interactive and informative, exploring issues and facilitating discussion around issues of mental and emotional well-being.

The Head First awards celebrate exceptional commitment to mental and emotional well-being within the various education and community sectors. Nominees were selected based on their success in raising awareness of issues of mental health and well-being, tackling stigma, fundraising and championing young people’s mental health during the academic year 2017 – 2018.

There was also a special award which recognises the outstanding efforts of one inspirational young person.

Winners were first shortlisted from a panel of MensSana project workers following assessment against agreed award criteria. A wide range of nominations were made by a panel of MensSana project workers, and winners were selected against agreed award criteria by a panel of judges.

The winner of each award receiced a framed certificate and personally inscribed Head First award.

The Results :-

Category 1 ‘Commitment to Mental Health and Well-being for the Community’

This award recognises the schools, colleges and community organisations who have supported AMH to reach a wider audience and raise the capacity of communities to support mental health and wellbeing throughout life.

This category recognises those who have gone above and beyond, taking a whole community approach to the promotion of mental health and wellbeing through engagement of teachers and parents, guardians or key contacts of young people as well as the young people themselves.

The standard of nominations received was extremely high and because of this, the panel felt it necessary to award additional Special Recognition and Highly Commended awards alongside the overall winner.

The nominations :

• Andrews Memorial School – Comber
• Glencraig Integrated Primary School – Holywood
• St Colm’s High School – Draperstown
• South Eastern Regional College, Ballynahinch Campus
• St Dominic’s Grammar School – Belfast
• Community Intercultural Program – Oasis Youth Centre, Portadown
• St Columba’s College – Newtownards

Special Recognition:

A nomination was received in this category for a community youth group which the panel felt showed extraordinary commitment to the mental health and well-being of young people and the wider community but it was felt that additional pressures faced by this community group made their achievements even more remarkable.

The Community Intercultural Program at Oasis Youth Centre in Portadown stood out as a grass roots group taking positive action to address social exclusion, reaching out in their community through provision of the full range of AMH Mensana programmes, and extending key messages of positive health and well-being resulting in other community organisations in the local area also accessing resilience and well-being sessions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highly Commended was awarded to St Colm’s High school – Draperstown who have fundraised and partnered with their local council to create a hub and fitness trail within the school which are open to pupils, staff and the wider community.

The panel felt St Colm’s nomination demonstrated the schools approach to wider engagement with the community and a holistic approach to mental and emotional well-being.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Winner of the Commitment to Well-being for the Community Award :-  St Dominic’s Grammar School for Girls, Belfast

The winners of this category have accessed resilience and wellbeing sessions for students across their entire schools as well as working with AMH to offer mental health and well-being sessions for all staff and hosting health events for parents and carers over a period of four years.

The positive attitude of the school to promotion of wellbeing is evident also in the recommendations made to partner schools in West Belfast which has resulted in another 11 school’s in the area partnering with AMH Mensana to extend provision of mental and emotional wellbeing interventions to young people and those who care for them. The shortlisting panel remarked on the schools commitment to reaching out and to embedding health and wellbeing within the school and wider community.

Category 2 ‘Fundraising Initiative’

As you will no doubt be aware, charitable donations play a hugely important role in the work Action Mental Health does to deliver vitally important work in schools and community organisations throughout Northern Ireland.

The Fundraising Initiative Award is all about those people who have gone the extra mile.

It’s not just about the fundraising figures, the award recognises those that have got their whole organisation and community behind them in their fundraising efforts, groups that have used their fundraising to raise awareness of the very great need for better mental health promotion and provision for our children and young people.

The nominations :

• Sandleford Special School, Coleraine
• Andrews Memorial School, Comber
• Royal School, Dungannon
• Enniskillen Royal Grammar school
• Cafre Equine College Enniskillen
• Ballyvester Primary School
• Donegal Road Primary School
• St Joseph’s Convent Grammar
• Coleraine Grammar school

Again the judges where blown away by some of the initiatives and had to award a Highly Commended in this category, alongside our overall winner.

Highly Commended Award – Sandelford Special School who raised over 5 and a half thousand pounds for AMH through Belfast City Marathon and by hosting a Great Big Purple Picnic for Mental Health Awareness Week.

Aside from the very impressive achievement of raising so much money, the panel felt that the school demonstrated a commitment to a community well-being as they had involved the children, teaching staff and parents.

 

 

 

 

 

Winner:- CAFRE Equine College Enniskillen

For our winner the judges noted that an entire year had been dedicated to fundraising for AMH with a range of events hosted including a Christmas show and Quiz, a pyjamas and movie day, and a ‘Hell on the Hill’ Challenge Obstacle race.

Students had also visited their local AMH New Horizons Service to meet and speak with some of the service users. The panel were particularly impressed by the fact that the initiatives were all student led and had involved partnership working and communicating key messages to peers.

Category 3: Raising Awareness and Tackling Stigma

This award recognises a school, college or organisation which has taken a proactive approach to tackling the stigma of mental health and its impact on young people, providing a voice for young people’s mental health through their activities.

The nominations :

• St Brigid’s Primary – Mayogall
• St Oliver Plunkett’s Primary School – Belfast
• National Citizen Service Omagh
• Prince’s Trust Limavady
• Ballysillan Primary School Belfast
• Lismore Comprehensive – Craigavon
• Prince’s Trust Strabane
• Carrickfergus Grammar School

With so many fantastic nominees, the judges found this category particularly difficult to judge.

Everyone in this category has worked especially hard to support AMH in addressing stigma and getting key messages for mental health and well-being out to those who may be struggling or who may be in a position to help.

The nominations included examples such as creation of videos and animations, use of social media, specific campaigns to raise awareness, assemblies dedicated to mental and emotional wellbeing, and even a ‘wall of good vibes’ at a local music festival.

Following a very long process of deliberation, the panel did reach a conclusion and agreed it was not possible to select just one winner therefore we have two joint winners.

Winners:- Carrickfergus Grammar.

This school has shown an exemplary commitment to the resilience and well-being, not only of their students but of all young people in Northern Ireland.

They have worked with The Initiative project to offer mental and emotional well-being sessions to all staff and students – and they dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to a co-production project which involved their students scripting and producing a film which is now used in sessions and on the project website.

The principal, Kieran Mulvenna, has been a key enabler in all of this work, going above and beyond to support young people to address stigma and acting as a spokesperson for young people and for schools in media interviews to highlight the need for this work in schools.

The panel agreed this school showed leadership and empowered young people to take the lead by example.

Winner:  Lismore Comprehensive.

Lismore have shown incredible leadership in providing a voice for young people’s mental health.

Through a very impressive programme of initiatives including development of a resource pack for promotion of positive mental and emotional well-being for young people, supporting and training a mentoring group to be mental health ambassadors and annual health fairs, this school have set out to show young people ………… that it is ‘okay to not be okay’ and have involved their students in doing so.

The panel were blown away by the breadth of the activities undertaken and felt this nomination showed how positive messaging around mental and emotional well-being could be embedded to consistently raise awareness and address stigma.

Category 4: Championing Young People’s Mental Health

This category recognises the efforts and contributions of individuals who have shown a dedicated personal commitment to improving the emotional wellbeing and resilience of young people and individuals who have worked with AMH, while going above and beyond what could be expected of them in their role, through activities such as organising training, acting as a spokesperson for the media or promoting wellbeing information in their schools or community.

The nominations:

• Paul Walsh – South Eastern Regional College
• Liam McGuinness – St Malachys College, Belfast
• Helen Shields – Newry High School
• Caoimhe Devlin – St. Ronans College, Lurgan
• Brian Treacy – Holy Trinity Primary School, Enniskillen
• Michele Shaw – St Colm’s Primary School Portstewart
• Francis Pepin, Loreto College, Coleraine
• Geraldine Keenan, Hydebank College
• Jackie Stanfield, Hydebank College

Once again the calibre of those nominated was incredible and the panel were highly impressed by the dedication and sheer effort of all those shortlisted in helping to make a real difference to the wellbeing and future health outcomes of the people they work with.

In fact, the quality was so high that the judging team felt it was only right to have not one, but two highly commended awards for two very deserving individuals who stood out in the already very impressive list of achievements. Both of these nominees have shown personal commitment to improving the well-being and resilience of the young people they work with.

Highly Commended : Caoimhe Devlin from Saint Ronan’s College Lurgan.

Caoimhe has shown leadership in supporting the young people she works with, and her colleagues during a time of significant change.

As the school was created from three schools amalgamated into one, Caoimhe identified that extra support was essential for the young people involved in this transition.

She then brought organisations who could help such as AMH Mensana together to offer Health fairs and wellbeing sessions, while also involving young people in supporting their peers through promotion of positive wellbeing messages at assemblies and through the establishment of mental health ambassadors within the school.

The panel agreed Caoimhe has shown personal commitment, dedicating her own time and taking the initiative to involve young people in improving the mental and emotional wellbeing of their peers and key contacts and deserving of a highly commended award.

Highly Commended award : Brian Treacy, Principal of Holy Trinity Primary School, Enniskillen.

Brian has been proactive in promotion of mental health awareness amongst primary schools and parents in Enniskillen and throughout Fermanagh.

He took the initiative to attend the local Family Early Intervention hub meetings where he was made aware of AMH Mensana services.

From there he organised Healthy Me sessions for the children and teachers in his school and shared information out through the Enniskillen Cluster schools programme.

Brian has organised two health and wellbeing months for children and parents… and has encouraged involvement of teachers and children in promoting messages of positive mental health and wellbeing through the creation of a ‘Healthy Me’ wall in the school.

The panel felt Brian’s actions demonstrated innovation and leadership and that he deserved recognition for the use of his position to positively influence others.

Winner : Geraldine Keenan from Hydebank College Learning and Skills department and the pastoral care team within the safer custody department.

Geraldine is a glowing example of what it takes to be a young person’s mental health champion.

She works in a very challenging environment with young people who are marginalised and experience significant barriers to positive mental and emotional well-being.

The nomination noted the support Geraldine has offered to AMH Mensana to both reach and engage with young people who most need our services, but who are traditionally least likely to come forward.

Through her work in supporting young people they have directly encouraged engagement, and on a wider level within the work environment, they have promoted AMH Mensana programmes and contributed time and expertise to evaluations and funding bids, linking colleagues and young people with the project workers.

Over the last 5 years, Geraldine has been absolutely integral to the involvement of young people in Mensana services in Hydebank college.

The panel agreed Geraldine fits the brief for our ‘Young Peoples Mental Health Champion’ going above and beyond to promote and support young people’s mental health and wellbeing.

Category 5 : Inspirational Young Person of the Year

Winner – Katie Graden Spence

This award recognises the efforts of an individual young person who has gone above and beyond to raise awareness of mental health and draw greater public attention to the need for improved resilience and well-being within local communities.

Katie raised over £1,000 for Action Mental Health by walking 297 miles – a very significant distance as each mile represented one of the deaths by suicide in Northern Ireland in 2017.

A very impressive and heartfelt fundraising feat made even more remarkable by the fact that she was then able to obtain all-party political support for her efforts which is quite the achievement in Northern Ireland.

Beyond that, this year’s winner has shown an incredible passion for developing mental health care for young people, not only in her own community but across the country.

This is being achieved through her ambition to establish a student led mental health and well-being committee for every school here, a proposal very close to the heart and work of AMH.

Her plans are already achieving success and she recently delivered her proposal to the Department of Education and the All Party Group on Mental Health with a number of potential one-year pilot schemes also receiving a lot of interest from local schools and universities.

Her drive to promote mental health, well-being and resilience in schools inspired the judges. However, her determination to make it a reality through direct political engagement completely blew them away.

 

Congratulations to all our nominees and winners! 

 

 

 

Around 330 people took part in this year’s 7^th annual Granite Challenge on Sunday raised over £8000 for Action Mental in the process.

Some 330 cyclists took the roads of the picturesque Mourne Mountain area of Co Down on Sunday for the 55-mile sportive raising £8116.85 for Men’s Shed at AMH New Horizons, Downpatrick.

They battled driving rain, winds and a bitter autumn cold from the start after a fuelling up on White’s Oats porridge and were buoyed along by a collective fundraising spirit.

 

 

As a local charity, Action Mental Health relies on the support of the local community to help provide their vital services. This year, all funds raised at the Granite Challenge will be used to support the AMH Men’s Shed in Downpatrick, a social hub and support network which caters for men over 50. The Men’s Shed provides a relaxed and friendly environment where men can build new friendships while sharing skills and learning new ones. Most importantly, the Shed offers members a really positive way to look after their mental health.

AMH have three Men’s Sheds across Northern Ireland, in Antrim, Downpatrick and Fermanagh. The Sheds 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’.

The annual event kicked off this year’s World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, October 10, when Action Mental Health will host a variety of events across its services to mark the annual day which this year focuses on Children and Young People in a Changing World.

Chief executive of Action Mental Health, David Babington commented: “Once again all our intrepid cyclists raised an incredible amount for Action Mental Health’s  Men’s Shed in Downpatrick. It really is a wonderful day out for the charity and for the hundreds who this year braved rather harsh elements to raise these vital funds.

 

 

Danielle McBride, Brand Manager of White’s Oats, which has partnered with Action Mental Health for a number of activities taking place throughout Northern Ireland this week, commented: “A healthy lifestyle can deliver many great benefits, not least the physical and mental benefits. With increasing reports showing that a healthy diet can support a healthy mind, starting with the food we eat, it’s fitting that the 10^th October is World Mental Health Day and World Porridge Day.

“We are delighted to support Action Mental Health on a number of its healthy initiatives, and in particular its annual Granite Challenge. A gruelling 55 mile cycle, the granite challenge requires stamina and fuel. Oats are a mighty superfood for cyclists and athletes alike owing to their complex slow release carbohydrates which are the body’s primary fuel source and vital for training and performance.”

Thanks go also to our wonderful “Shedders” who baked traybakes, prepared homemade broth and wheaten bread, marshalled, worked on registration, manned the tea stop and served lunch along with many other volunteers.  Thanks too to all our sponsors – Whites Oats, McConvey Cycles, Dale Farm, River Rock, we couldn’t have done it without you!!

Until next year ……

Find lots more photos on our facebook page @amhNI

Northern Ireland will be ablaze in purple on World Mental Health Day as Action Mental Health leads the way in shining a light on mental health.

Iconic buildings, schools and leading businesses across Northern Ireland will be bathed in Action Mental Health’s branded colour on Wednesday, October 10 as the global celebration of good mental health marks this year’s special theme – young people and mental health in a changing world.

Action Mental Health officially kick-started the annual celebration of mental health with the annual Granite Challenge cycle, which saw hundreds of cyclists from all over the province, follow a picturesque 55 – mile path through the Mourne Mountains, raising money for AMH’s Men’s Shed in Downpatrick.

Businesses, schools and civic buildings across Northern Ireland will be marking the global awareness day by acting as ‘shining’ examples of efforts to break the enduring stigmas attached to mental ill-health, by illuminating their facades in purple.

In County Down, Bangor’s historic McKee clock, will cast a purple glow over the town’s seafront, as a similar light will shine over Newtownards when the Town Hall follows suit. Newtownards’ YMCA will be hosting ‘Creativity Explored’ art exhibition featuring the amazing artistry of AMH clients at New Horizons North Down and Ards

In Downpatrick, the world-renowned St. Patrick’s centre will join the purple effort. While in Newry the City Hall will be lit in purple along with several local businesses. The city will also play host to the annual Big Breakfast event at the Canal Court Hotel, when local HR expert Emma Marmion, from Prestige HR will share great advice and guidance on how to look after mental health in the workplace.

In Antrim, the town’s Civic Centre will go purple, at the same time as Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council offices at Mossley Mill and Ballyclare’s clock tower face. The ‘Art of Recovery’ exhibition will also showcase the talents of the AMH clients at the town’s New Horizons. Lisburn’s Island Arts Centre will also join the purple example for the day.

Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Council will also be on board with the Craigavon Civic Centre, Palace Stables, Armagh and Banbridge Civic Building all going purple. In the north west, Derry City Council offices will also shine in the AMH branded colour.

A number of businesses around Northern Ireland will be hosting Go Purple fundraising events including Danske Bank, Caffe Nero, HMC Global, Prestige HR, Murdock Building Supplies and Pia Rossini.

Schools too, will be hosting events including Glengormley High School, Ballymoney High School, St. Mary’s High School, Brollagh, Belleek, Ballysillan Primary School, Belfast Girls Model High School and New-Bridge Integrated College.

David Babington, chief executive of Action Mental Health said: “This year’s theme of World Mental Health Day is focused on the mental health of our young people.

“We are delighted that so many councils are joining in the celebrations of World Mental Health Day by turning some of Northern Ireland’s most iconic buildings purple to show support for local people experiencing mental ill-health and also raising a positive message encouraging people to look after their mental health.

“It is very apt that we focus on the mental health of our young people. According to recent figures, some 10% of 5-16 year olds have a clinically diagnosable mental health problem, but only 70% of them receive adequate intervention, early enough. This must be seen against a backdrop in which only 7.8% of Northern Ireland’s mental health budget is allocated to CAMHS (Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services), leaving a large gap in funding to cope with rising need.

“This shortfall exists in a climate in which the actual need of children and young people in NI is likely to be much higher, considering estimates which put mental health need in Northern Ireland as 25% greater than England.”

To find out more information on Action Mental Health and the services it offers, please visit www.amh.org.uk.

Action Mental Health is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020 and the Department for the Economy.

Schools, individuals and groups who go that extra mile to support the mental health and well-being of young people across Northern Ireland are to be rewarded for their efforts by Action Mental Health.

To mark 2018’s World Mental Health Day on Wednesday, October 10, Action Mental Health is unveiling the inaugural Head First Awards which recognise organisations and people within education and the community who avail of the pioneering mental health promotion work carried out by the charity’s MensSana team.

The awards’ ceremony will be led by Cool FM radio presenter Paulo Ross, who has spoken publicly about his mother’s mental health struggles in the past. He has said Action Mental Health’s New Horizons recovery service had been life-changing.

Belfast Giants’ chief coach Adam Keefe Belfast will be in attendance to hand out the specially-commissioned awards, hewn in Action Mental Health’s trademark head shape.

The awards will be conferred at W5 at the SSE Arena, on World Mental Health Day which this year focuses on ‘Young People and Mental Health in a Changing World’ – a theme very close to the heart of AMH’s MensSana service.

MensSana provides tailored activities to support positive mental health and emotional well-being, directly in schools and across a variety of community-based organisations.

Encompassing age ranges from 8 to 25-year-olds and their key contacts, a variety of programmes are delivered in schools, youth clubs and community groups. The workshops are young people-friendly, positive, interactive and informative, exploring issues and facilitating discussion around issues of mental and emotional well-being.

The Head First awards celebrate exceptional commitment to mental and emotional well-being within the various education and community sectors. Nominees were selected based on their success in raising awareness of issues of mental health and well-being, tackling stigma, fundraising and championing young people’s mental health during the academic year 2017 – 2018.

There is also a special award which recognises the outstanding efforts of one inspirational young person.

Winners were first shortlisted from a panel of MensSana project workers following assessment against agreed award criteria. A wide range of nominations were made by a panel of MensSana project workers, and winners were selected against agreed award criteria by a panel of judges.

The winner of each award will receive a framed certificate and personally inscribed Head First award.