Action Mental Health to merge with New Life Counselling

There is a new couple in town this Valentine’s Day, as Action Mental Health announces plans to merge with New Life Counselling, in a move that will pool resources, services and expertise, in a joint pledge to promote better mental health across Northern Ireland.

It is estimated there are between 7,000 to 12,000 charities operating in Northern Ireland, increasingly working for the same causes but competing for the same pots of funding.

In the last five years there have been fewer than 15 charity mergers in Northern Ireland, but joining forces, the Boards of Action Mental Health and New Life Counselling will endeavour, in a shared public duty, to ensure cost effectiveness and good value, while maintaining the highest quality service to its clients.

The full merger takes effect from April 1^st 2020, meaning the two charities will no longer compete separately for similar funding sources, but will now combine vital resources, resulting in a joint income of £7.5 million, supporting Northern Ireland’s spiralling mental health needs and working to address the issue of suicide across the region.

New Life Counselling will integrate into Action Mental Health and will cease to be an independent charity. New Life Counselling will retain their core name which is well known to local communities, clients and professionals and be known as AMH New Life Counselling.

David Babington, chief executive of Action Mental Health, said: “The Board of Directors of each organisation recognised that there was a real need out there for quality counselling across Northern Ireland. With combined forces, we can provide the best possible outcomes for our clients across Northern Ireland, provide greater security for staff and make the best use of our resources.

“We all agree that there is a really good mix here, and a complementarity between the two organisations. The Boards of each have approached the move in the spirit of a merger and which will refresh our vision, mission and identifies a clear path forward, including new potential routes to funding.”

Norma Patterson, Chief Executive of New Life Counselling has described this as a milestone moment in the legacy of New Life Counselling’s history.

“We have created best practices and have been steadfast in our support of therapeutic counselling services in the most disadvantaged communicates across Belfast.  Meanwhile, we’ve demonstrated our organisational resilience and ability to adapt to the changing needs of our clients through the most challenging times of the Troubles’ conflict. We have continued to support individuals, families and communities to achieve their potential.  As we put our strengths together the goal of both organisations is to grow regional counselling services across Northern Ireland. Together we have a greater depth of resources and a broader platform for influencing regional policy and representing our clients.  

“The current finding environment is challenging and the merger is the best way of ensuring we can continue to provide quality support to the people using our services. Action Mental Health is a charity that shares our vision, values and person-centred approach and like us, is committed to keeping the people we support at the heart of everything we do.”

Action Mental Health is one of seven partners within the Supported Employment Solutions consortium that helps people with disabilities and health conditions get back into employment.

Under the auspices of the Department for Communities, the Workable (NI) Programme is delivered by SES partners AMH and Cedar, along with Mencap, Orchardville and NOW – both social enterprises for people with learning difficulties and autism; RNIB and Action on Hearing Loss.

Case study

A manager of Conservation Volunteers who has been supporting a client of Action Mental Health through the Workable (NI) Programme, paid tribute to the scheme.

“I would like to extend my thanks to Action Mental Health personally and the wider AMH Workable NI Programme for supporting the client over the past 12 months. 

“I became the client’s direct line-manager three years ago when I became aware of her ongoing mental health issues, and the impact this was having on her work and personal life.  Within my role and experience I was only able to offer her a certain level of support and flexibility, and at times felt frustrated not being able to help on a greater scale, as I am not a mental health professional.

“The AMH Workable NI Programme offered the professional mental health support which the client required, enabling her to remain in her work routine whilst receiving specialist support to address her health needs.  The positive impact this has had over the past 12 months has been every evident in all aspects of her persona and behaviour towards her work and personal life.

“The person-centred approach used to identify the correct support for the client as an individual has undoubtedly had a really positive impact on her well-being.  The client herself, speaks very positively of the programme and discusses how she is incorporating techniques into her work and personal life to help her manage and cope with specific situations which would have previously caused her stress. She has increased her working hours as a result of support through Workable (NI) and is completing all aspects of her role with renewed self-confidence.

“From an employer point of view, I have found the format of the Workable (NI) programme appropriately inclusive.  Being involved in structured reviews gives the opportunity for open conversations between employee and employer, without the need for full disclosure of personal details. I feel I have also received the correct amount of information and support from Action Mental Health during the overall programme.

“I would 100 per cent recommend the AMH Workable (NI) programme to any employer struggling to support an employee to sustain their job and their mental health. I would extend many thanks again to Dorothy Greenaway, Employment Support Officer in New Horizon Craigavon and Banbridge, for all your help and expert support over the past 12 months.”

Olympic gymnast Rhys McClenaghan

That’s the message from Northern Ireland’s most successful gymnast Rhys McClenaghan who today helps Action Mental Health mark a week long focus on the mental health of our younger generation.

Children’s Mental Health Week this year shines a spotlight on the theme ‘Find Your Brave’ and in his special video to mark the occasion, Action Mental Health ambassador Rhys McGlenaghan, tells how he ‘finds his brave’.

The Commonwealth and European champion gymnast, who is preparing for the Olympics this year in Tokyo, speaks of the often difficult task of “opening up to someone and talking”. “Bottling things up in your head will not help things at all,” he says, but let’s hear it from Rhys himself …….

This year’s theme is ‘Find Your Brave’.

This year’s focus, from February 3 to 9, places children’s mental health in the spotlight at a time when around three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem. Many more struggle with challenges, living with the daily challenges of everything from bullying to bereavement.

We are delighted to be joined by some very special guests to find out what bravery means to them, and how they have found their brave.

Paulo Ross (28), originally from Ardglass, now lives in Belfast and co-presents the Cool FM Breakfast Show and sport every morning alongside Pete Snodden and Rebecca McKinney.  An avid Liverpool FC fan, Paulo has been a great supporter of Action Mental Health, having lived experience of mental illness in his family.  Nicknamed ‘Mourne Man’ on the radio show because of how much time he spends in the Mourne mountains, Paulo also cares for his mum and finds that a weekly hike is great for his physical and mental well-being.

Teacher, Mark Rodgers, Abbey Grammar School, Newry, Co Down

Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon

Pupils from Presentation Primary School, Portadown

Head Boy and Head Girl of Saintfield High School discuss “Finding Your Brave”

Northern Ireland gymnast Rhys McClenaghan created history last year as he became the first Irish gymnast to win a medal at the World
Championships, claiming bronze in the pommel horse.
The 20-year-old has also booked a place at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. In 2018 he won the Commonwealth Games title and the European crown.
In addition to his world medal in Stuttgart in October, he took gold on the pommel horse at the World Challenge Cup in Slovenia.
Brought up in Newtownards, Rhys has been one of Action Mental Health’s ambassadors for a number of years, promoting the charity and positive mental health.

Irvinestown Primary School

Presentation Primary School, Portadown

Lismore Comprehensive School Craigavon

Annabelle – Irvinestown Primary School

Presentation Primary School

Irvinestown Primary School – Nick, Tori Lilly, Rachel & Lana

Irvinestown Primary School – Noah

Irvinestown Primary School – Rachel

Irvinestown Primary School – Tori Lilly

Abbey Grammar School Newry – Trent

Irvinestown Primary School – Lana

Presentation Primary School Portadown

Irvinestown Primary School Amy, Rhianna & Emma

Lismore Comprehensive School, Craigavon

Caitlin Irvinestown Primary School

Presentation Primary School Portadown

Abbey Grammar School, Newry – Rory

Lismore Comprehensive School

Presentation Primary School

Children’s Mental Health Week was launched in 2015 by Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity. In its sixth year, the week continues to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

This year’s focus, from February 3 to 9, places children’s mental health in the spotlight at a time when around three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem. Many more struggle with challenges, living with the daily challenges of everything from bullying to bereavement.

Action Mental Health delivers a number of services dedicated specifically to young people, from Healthy Me for primary school children aged 8-11; Provoking Thought from 11 years of age; and Mindset, for young people aged 14 and up. https://www.amh.org.uk/services/menssana/

AMH also offers a host of resources for children: https://www.amh.org.uk/services/resources-for-children-and-young-people/

You can also visit Place2Be https://www.place2be.org.uk/

A Co Antrim man who slipped into a “dark place” during a bout of mental ill health is cycling across Northern Ireland’s football grounds to raise funds for Action Mental Health.

Mervyn Canders from Ballyclare, will set off on the sponsored challenge that will cover approximately 350 miles over three days and two nights, commencing at Dixon Park, the home of Ballyclare Comrades FC.

The 37- year-old, who is being accompanied on the route by a number of friends, is also inviting other cyclists and cycling clubs to join them for the event which wheels off on March 23.

The married father of two, then aims to make his way around all 24 Irish premiership and championship clubs grounds in Northern Ireland, hoping to gather up merchandise from each to raffle off, to bolster the sponsorship fund.

“As football is a sport mainly played and supported by men both young and old, there is a stigma attached to men not speaking about their mental health,” he explained.

“I, myself have had mental health issues and have found myself in a dark place. I needed to do something about it so I went and spoke to a counsellor and just by speaking to someone who I didn’t know helped me greatly, to just get things that had been simmering underneath for so long out and off my chest,” he said.

Mervyn played football since childhood up until recent years when work responsibilities precluded his enjoyment of the sport, so he came to cycling late, only pushing pedals on pavement in October 2019.

“The first time I went out on a road bike was really enjoyable and was great for the mind so I decided to tie the two together and I’ve come up with this challenge,” he added.

“Bearing in mind I have never cycled before, up until a few months ago, last October, this will indeed be a big challenge, not only physically but mentally as well, but one I am really looking forward to completing.”

Mervyn said many people have asked him why he has chosen the arduous challenge.

“I have previously suffered from mental health and I am not ashamed to admit that. I wasn’t in a good place and I took the first step and spoke to someone and from that day everything changed for me,” he told them.

“It is heart-breaking to see that people can’t seem to find an alternative, and that speaking out about their mental health and asking for help could potentially save their lives. The increase in especially males ending their own lives is absolutely devastating!

“Life is precious. It’s good to talk so don’t be ashamed and don’t bottle it all up. By just talking to one person and telling them how you feel, it could potentially change everything,” he concluded.

Mervyn has set up a Justgiving page https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mervyncanders and a number of local businesses have already signalled their support for his fundraising effort.

Anyone wishing to join the cycle should contact Mervyn on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/mervyn.canders

Disused mobile phones and empty ink cartridges are going to be transformed into funds for Action Mental Health in an ecological move towards a greener environment

Action Mental Health is delighted to have been chosen for the recycling partnership with Printer Cartridges Recycling Ltd which aims to counter the UK-wide dumping of more than 30million inkjet cartridges per year.

The specialist recycling firm steps in to recycle these cartridges that would otherwise take up to 1000 years to decompose. It also serves to make something useful of the glut of mobile phones in the UK – which is a huge number when you consider that on average, people ugrade their handsets every 18 months, with only 20% of them being reused or recycled.

Each reception of Action Mental Health’s sites will be provided with a box, in which staff will be invited to donate their disused items, no matter what the condition.

If you know of any businesses who can support us with this please ask them to visit our website.

https://www.emptycartridge.co.uk/pick-a-charity/donate-to-ni-charity/actionmentalhealth………… and they can donate through this page.

Next week is Children’s Mental Health week and underpinning the focus on the well-being of our younger generation, this year’s theme is ‘Find Your Brave’.

Bravery comes in myriad ways and is different for everyone. It can be about pursuing ambitious personal goals, about striving for a certain physical, academic or other achievement or pushing yourself past your comfort zone.

But bravery can also be about simply speaking out and sharing your worries –and often the bravest thing of all is to ask for help.

When life throws challenges our way it isn’t always the bravest thing to cope alone or hold things in. Bravery is about finding positive ways to deal with things that might be difficult, overcoming physical and mental challenges and looking after yourself. 

Children’s Mental Health Week was launched in 2015 by Place2Be, a children’s mental health charity. In its sixth year, the week continues to shine a spotlight on the importance of children and young people’s mental health.

This year’s focus, from February 3 to 9, places children’s mental health in the spotlight at a time when around three children in every primary school class has a mental health problem. Many more struggle with challenges, living with the daily challenges of everything from bullying to bereavement.

Action Mental Health delivers a number of services dedicated specifically to young people, from Healthy Me for primary school children aged 8-11; Provoking Thought from 11 years of age; and Mindset, for young people aged 14 and up. https://www.amh.org.uk/services/menssana/

AMH also offers a host of resources for children: https://www.amh.org.uk/services/resources-for-children-and-young-people/

You can also visit Place2Be https://www.place2be.org.uk/

Check in next week to see our tips on Finding Your Brave with the help of some special friends of AMH.

Building peace through emotional resilience in post-conflict Ireland.

A partnership of seven cross-border organisations are to share €6.1M (£5.1M) of EU PEACE IV funding to support communities to tackle post-conflict resilience and peace building throughout Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.

The partnership, led by Action Mental Health, has been awarded funding through the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB), to build positive relations and emotional resilience in communities impacted by four decades of the Troubles/Conflict across the island of Ireland.

Match-funding for the project has been provided by The Executive Office in Northern Ireland and the Department of Rural and Community Development in Ireland.

“Our Generation” is a cross-border partnership project which will be delivered through seven regional organisations, namely Action Mental Health, Donegal Youth Service, Co-Operation Ireland, Youth Action NI, Youthwork Ireland, PlayBoard NI and Ulster University.

It will reach 35,000 children, young people and adults who support them during the life of the project. Programmes provided will include accessible, age appropriate prevention, early intervention and recovery activities delivered on a cross-border and cross-community basis to support the mental and emotional wellbeing of children and young people within local communities.

Children and young people will engage in programme design and delivery, including provision of peer support, developing skills and confidence to improve well-being within their communities and act as agents of change, building peace for future generations.

David Babington, CEO of AMH and spokesperson for the project, said:

“The legacy of the conflict has left an impact on many communities in Northern Ireland and Ireland, which is still evident across generations of adults and young people. This innovative new project provides an unprecedented opportunity for communities, North and South of the Border, to come together to halt the intergenerational impact of the trauma and build emotional resilience and peace for generations to come”.  

The Executive Office Junior Ministers Declan Kearney and Gordon Lyons welcomed the investment and the combined focus on mental health and peace building.

“The Executive is committed to urgently bringing forward a Mental Health Action Plan and Mental Health Strategy” said Minister Lyons. “It is an issue which impacts on communities across the region and too many families are struggling or have already lost loved ones. This new project will complement existing community–based initiatives and encourage more joined-up approaches to reach those most in need”. 

Minister Kearney added: “Communities with a history and ongoing experience of deprivation and social tension are the ones most impacted by the legacy of conflict and division. Poor mental health as highlighted by local groups, youth work practitioners and schools is a barrier preventing our young people and communities from thriving. This project will support meaningful cross-border relationships and build on the good relations focus of the Urban Village Initiative.”   

Department of Finance Minister Conor Murphy said: “I am delighted to support this project through the Special EU Programmes Body. There is no doubt the programmes within this project will have great benefits for the thousands of children, young people and adults involved and will offer much-needed support to those suffering from conflict-related trauma by helping to build resilience and positive relationships.”

Michael Ring TD, Minister for Rural & Community Development commented: “I want to congratulate Action Mental Health as lead partner on behalf of the seven cross-border organisations involved with this project. I am pleased to see these seven regional organisations working collectively, bringing together years of effective practice in mental health recovery and building emotional resilience for the benefit of the wider community.  This project will assist large numbers of children and young people and their key contacts on a cross-community cross-border basis.

“The awarding of this PEACE IV funding will be a major boost for both the organisations involved and the individuals supported in Northern Ireland and the border counties of Ireland and is a testament to the hard work and dedication of everyone involved in the application process.  I am delighted that my Department is an Accountable Department for this funding and we will work with all parties to ensure delivery of this essential Building Positive Relations project.”

Underlining the importance of the project Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB, said: “The EU’s PEACE IV Programme recognises that a significant number of people, living across the region, are suffering from Troubles/conflict-related trauma. There is also strong evidence that this has been passed on trans-generationally to younger people; many of whom suffer from poor mental health as a result. Indeed, many of the young people that we currently support have openly discussed their struggles with mental health.

“This much-needed and highly innovative project will help to combat the impact of trauma through the development of emotional resilience within individuals and communities. It involves a number of organisations working together, on a North/South basis, to deliver highly effective therapeutic interventions which will result in the creation of a more confident, self-assured and peaceful society.”