All posts by actionmentalhealth

Help-Elephant-RIGHT-ONE

‘Taking the Elephant out of the Room’

Mental illness remains the ‘elephant in the room’, whether at home, work or school. It’s an issue that we are aware of but choose to avoid talking about. Here at Action Mental Health we want to take the elephant out the room, encouraging people to discuss their mental health, this Christmas.

Today is #GivingTuesday – a global campaign to encourage giving on the second Tuesday in December. But you don’t have to give money, you could give your time, your goodwill, or you could give us a tweet…

Today we launch our anti-stigma campaign with our very own AMH elephant touring iconic places in Belfast to raise awareness and get people talking.

Help-Elephant-RIGHT-ONE

When you share our elephant using the hashtag #ElephantInTheRoom you will show you care about the wellness of others and demonstrate that you are a safe place to talk about mental illness without fear of being judged.

Our elephant also needs a name! Tweet us your suggestions to @amhNI and we will pick a winner.

If you would like to donate your money as well as your time this #GivingTuesday you can do so securely online at www.justgiving.com/actionmentalhealth

Or Text: MIND17 and the amount to 70070 i.e. MIND17 £1 to 70070

Men’s Shed Champions!

mens shedMany Congratulations to our Men’s Shed, Steeple Antrim who won the Community Champion award from the South Antrim Community network.

This award is ‘in recognition of the valuable contribution to an exemplary illustration in creating opportunities to build capacity or bring innovative ideas to the community.’

Everything Goes …..

The Family Theatre Group2The play ‘Everything Goes…’ was performed yesterday morning in the recently refurbished training area of AMH New Horizons in Downpatrick.  Clients have been working collaboratively over the past few months to create 6 original, short scenes which explored issues from unemployment right through to couples who find themselves ‘stuck in a rut’.    

The performance was also assessed as part of a CCEA Performance Skills qualification.  This qualification has given clients the opportunity to explore and develop both practical and theoretical aspects of Performance Art.

Well done to everyone who took part in the performance.  The feedback has been wonderful.

‘Each act was very true to life.  Sketches were fresh, original and humorous…’

 ‘I didn’t stop laughing the whole time.  Each play was very funny and in my opinion the acting was excellent…’

 

AMH Celebrates in Portadown

AMH Celebrates Client Success in Craigavon and Banbridge

 

DSC_0114Today, family friends and supporters of Action Mental Health gathered in Portadown

Today, family friends and supporters of local charity Action Mental Health (AMH) gathered in Portadown Town Hall to celebrate the many achievements of clients in the last year.

Mayor of Craigavon, Mr Colin McCusker and Joanne McConville, Primary Healthcare Manager at the Southern Health and Social Care Trust were in attendance to listen to clients’ “Roots to Recovery” personal stories.

The special guests stayed to present certificates to clients for a range of OCNs and NVQs in personal wellbeing, employment, computer skills, domestic cooking skills and horticulture.

Throughout the year, clients of AMH’s New Horizon’s service also benefitted from a range of non-accredited personal and wellbeing activities from oil painting and jewellery making to sports like Boccia and Football.

The Mayor congratulated staff and clients on their success.

 

The staff from AMH New Horizons Craigavon & Banbridge
The staff from AMH New Horizons Craigavon & Banbridge

Congratulations Michael!

Martial Arts Medallist “Taking Action on Mental Health”

 

Congratulations to Michael Coyle from AMH New Horizons Foyle who recently competed in two rounds of the Martial Arts Championship in which he won two silver medals!

Michael proudly wore his AMH hoodie prior to the beginning of the bout and for the duration of his time in the competitors arena. He has donated both medals to AMH and had “Taking Action on Mental Health “ inscribed on the reverse side.

M Coyle (25 of 25)

 

 

Michael is a very modest, determined and obviously super fit young man, he is determined to win his ultimate fight to recovery, and wishes to use his recent experience to motivate others and remind them that, like all fights, they can be won!

Richard-Simms-Ken-Strang

Richard and Ken’s “Wee Walk” for AMH

Richard-Simms-Ken-Strang

Local men Richard Simms and Ken Strang are trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal to raise funds for both Action Mental Health and the Child Heartbeat Trust.

Humorously and humbly entitled their “Wee Walk In The Hills”, Richard and Ken are trekking to Everest Base Camp in Nepal. It will take them 10 days trekking to reach Base Camp at a height of 5,600 metres, where there is only 50% of the oxygen compared to sea level.

The two men will walk among 4 out of the 6 tallest mountains in the world. Including the return trek, Richard and Ken will be walking for 17 days in total.

They say they’ll need ‘a shower and a shave afterwards but it will all have been worth it.’

Richard told us he chose AMH to benefit from his fundraising challenge because:

“Having seen people very close to me suffer from mental health issues I feel very strongly about supporting charities that raise the awareness of mental health and help others in similar circumstances.”

If you would like to support these two brave men raising vital funds for mental health services in Northern Ireland, visit their Justgiving page here.

Mo Sistas AMH New Horizons Foyle

#Movember at AMH

Movember is the largest global men’s health charity with campaigns in 21 countries. The message asks men (known as Mo Bros, supported by female Mo Sistas)) to grow a moustache for the 30 days of November to raise awareness and funds for men’s health.

Originally campaigning to raise awareness and funds for Prostate Cancer, In the UK they have just announced their third funded program area – a commitment to invest £2.5million in men’s mental health initiatives.

Mental health issues clearly affect both men and woman but when you look at it from a male perspective the statistics are quite shocking. Movember 2015 will be applying a male lens on men’s mental health issues, with the aim of being better able to support men in seeking help and treatment earlier.

Teams of Mo Bros and Mo Sistas will take part in services and projects across AMH in Northern Ireland. including the Mo Sistas (below) supporting their male colleagues in our New Horizons service, Foyle!

Mo Sistas AMH New Horizons Foyle

You can support Team AMH at http://moteam.co/team-amh-movember or get involved yourself at www.movember.com