After all our hard work and campaigning over the last number of years we are thrilled to see that the NI Executive has committed itself to improving Mental Health in the Draft Programme for Government Framework.

Not only is this the first time mental health has been listed as an indicator in a draft Programme for Government, but it is also one of the few health indicators to gain a specific mention.

This is a huge accomplishment and we’re excited for what the future will bring to mental health support services!

To see the full framework, click here

As part of Lagan Construction Group’s health and well-being initiatives for employees, the company is working with Action Mental Health to deliver initiatives surrounding mental health to the entire workforce.

We’re working closely with Lagan Construction Group to deliver personal resilience courses to employees highlighting mental health issues such as stress in the workplace and depression.

To mark Lagan Construction Group’s commitment to their health and well-being initiatives, CEO Colin Loughran met with David Babington, CEO of Action Mental Health, to discuss the partnership.

David Babington said:

“It is a sad truth that as much as one in four people in Northern Ireland will experience a mental illness at some point in their life.”

“Our long-term vision is to break down the walls of stigmatisation and social isolation by encouraging more people to open up and talk about mental ill-health in our local communities.”

“AMH therefore connect with various organisations, such as Lagan Construction Group, to help increase awareness of mental well-being amongst employees and provide them with the right knowledge and support should they ever need it.”

Pictured: David Babington (CEO, Action Mental Health) and Colin Loughran (CEO, Lagan Construction Group)

Action Mental Health has today published recommendations which call on newly appointed MLAs to commit support for improving Mental Health services at the forthcoming Programme for Government negotiations.

The document outlines the views and recommendations of Northern Ireland’s Mental Health sector (following Northern Ireland’s first ever mental health summit).

To view the document click here

Pupils from Grosvenor Grammar School have raised an impressive £400 for  Action Mental Health (AMH) to help support people in Northern Ireland living with mental ill-health.

The Form 5 students raised the funds by doing weekly collections in the school from September to January as part of Grosvenor’s community out-reach programme. So far, Grosvenor Grammar School pupils have collected in excess of £16,000 this academic year which has been donated to a wide variety of both local and national charities.

Lower sixth pupil and charity committee member, Luke Johnston said:

“In Grosvenor we really try to think about others and not just ourselves: it’s part of our caring ethos.

“We are very lucky to have access to a fantastically modern, vibrant school, but we are also mindful that there are others who aren’t as fortunate as us, so that’s why we try to support them in whatever way possible through our various fundraising efforts.”

Ms Lorraine Gray, Head of Media Studies and Charity Coordinator added:

“As a school, Grosvenor recognises the importance of maintaining positive mental well-being amongst its students just as much as their physical health.  We strive to ensure all pupils are equipped with the right tools and knowledge needed to navigate safely through particularly stressful times, such as exam season when emotions are running high.

“We greatly admire and relate to the work AMH do by supporting the recovery of the 1 in 4 people experiencing mental ill-health in Northern Ireland through education, training and employment – which we too are extremely passionate about.

“It is for this reason that Form 5 pupils decided to raise funds for AMH so they can continue their vital work and act as a voice piece on behalf of those who have experienced or are experiencing mental ill-health.”

Action Mental Health operates in ten locations across Northern Ireland and supports more than 2,000 clients each year by delivering a variety of life-changing courses to the local community.

Programmes are specifically designed to assist individuals with mental ill-health in the recovery process by encouraging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and widen their social networks. AMH also provide clients with the skills to build a better future, set personal goals, develop coping skills, re-engage with society and become more employable.

Callum Clark, Fundraising and Events Officer of AMH, said:

“We cannot thank the pupils and charity committee of Grosvenor Grammar School enough for donating their time and funds to Action Mental Health. The fact that they have collectively raised so much money in such a short space of time is incredibly impressive and is a shining example of how proactive and caring the school really is towards the wider community.

“I would like to wish all the students of Grosvenor Grammar School all the best of success in the year that lies ahead and am in no doubt that they will achieve great things.”

Lloyds Banking Group has raised over £3,000 for Action Mental Health (AMH), to help educate school children about the importance of positive well-being and looking after their mental health.

The year-long partnership concluded with a grand total of £3,716.65 being donated towards AMH. The funds were raised through various charitable events and initiatives including a country western dance evening, a 55 mile ‘Granite Challenge’ cycle, a number of dress-down Fridays, and prize raffles.

Oonagh Cochrane, Monitoring and Verification Assessor of Lloyds Banking Group, said:

“Lloyds Banking Group strives to promote the mental well-being of its employees by encouraging an inclusive and communicative working environment, where everyone feels supported, valued and appreciated.

“We therefore selected AMH as our charity of the year as they embody our passion for opening up the lines of communication about mental ill-health and fight against the stigmatisation of those who are going through it.

“We have thoroughly enjoyed working in partnership with AMH over the last year and are thrilled to be donating towards such a worthy and important cause.”

Research has shown that one in four adults in Northern Ireland will show signs of mental ill-health, with the prevalence of it being 25% higher here than in England.

The funds raised by Lloyds Banking Group, including a match funding donation of £1,385 will go towards Action Mental Health’s Healthy Me project which promotes social and emotional well-being in children through prevention and self-help.

Fundraising and Events Officer, Callum Clark said:

“We are hugely grateful to Lloyds Banking Group for helping us equip the youngest members of society with the knowledge needed to nurture their mental well-being and invest in their emotional and cognitive development through our Healthy Me programme.

“We cannot thank the members of Lloyds Banking Group enough for donating their time and money to Action Mental Health over the course of the last year and to Oonagh for choosing us as their charity.”

A huge thank you to a local Weight Watchers Group in Lisburn which raised an incredible £740 for AMH.

The proceeds – which were collected through individual donations – will go towards supporting the resilience and recovery of the 1 in 4 people in Northern Ireland who are affected by mental ill-health.

Pictured (L-R) receiving the cheque is Carolann Mc Cord (Weight Watchers), Callum Clark (Action Mental Health) and Bernie Walsh (Weight Watchers).

A two year partnership between Belfast International Airport and Action Mental Health has concluded with over £16,000 raised to help increase awareness of mental ill-health in Northern Ireland.

Funds collected during the charity partnership, the first of its kind for Belfast International, will go towards helping people recover from mental illness in Northern Ireland and raise awareness of the symptoms.

Praising Belfast International Airport on its achievement, Chief Executive of AMH, David Babington said:

“We are extremely proud to have been selected as the very first charity partner of Belfast International Airport and are delighted with its unprecedented success.

“The money raised will further our efforts in reducing stigmatisation within the local community and transform the lives of those living with mental ill-health, as well as promoting resilience and well-being to future generations.”

During the two year partnership, Belfast International Airport employees collectively organised a series of fun-filled fundraisers for both customers and staff, including a VIP discounted Christmas shopping event, coffee mornings, and pilates taster sessions. In addition, Belfast International Airport kicked of the partnership with a substantial donation of £10,000.

David Babington continued:

“It’s hugely encouraging to know that such a prominent organisation such as Belfast International Airport has led the way in terms of raising awareness of mental ill-health both inside and outside of the workplace.

“It has been thoroughly enjoyable working with the entire team and we cannot thank them enough for their support.”

Action Mental Health operates in nine locations across Northern Ireland and supports more than 2,000 clients each year by delivering a variety of life-changing courses to the local community.

Programmes are specifically designed to assist individuals with mental ill-health in the recovery process by encouraging them to adopt a healthier lifestyle and widen their social networks. AMH also provide clients with the skills to build a better future, set personal goals, develop coping skills, re-engage with society and become more employable.

Managing Director of Belfast International Airport, Graham Keddie said:

“Belfast International Airport is extremely passionate about giving back to the local community, which is why we have a number of charitable initiatives in place to help fund a catalogue of worthy causes such as Action Mental Health.

“The topic of mental health is something which has touched most people’s lives in Northern Ireland, whether it’s through a friend or loved one. So with that said, we endeavoured to raise as much funds as possible for AMH so they can carry out their fantastic work and support those in need.”