Whilst Action Mental Health’s offices are now closed for Easter (re-opening 25th April), our team continues to provide help and support to clients who need us, at this time, right across Northern Ireland.

If you are in crisis please contact Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 or by Textphone on 18001 0808 808 8000, trained counsellors are available by phone 24/7.

You can also access support by contacting Samaritans on 116 123 or Childline on 0800 1111.

If you would like to find out about our counselling services and how to access counselling in the future, or make a referral, you can do so by clicking here and we will respond when we re-open.

You can also find lots more helpful information on ways to support your mental well-being throughout this website.

This morning Graham Warke, Mayor from Derry & Strabane District Council visited AMH New Horizons Foyle, meeting clients/staff and heard all about the ‘Knit for Ukraine’ project.

Throughout March clients attending AMH Foyle began re purposing knitted squares used for their 2021 Christmas tree, into hats for children and young people fleeing from the conflict in Ukraine.

Pauline Flanagan, Service Manager said “we soon ran out of squares and appealed to the Community to donate wool to keep us knitting” This was picked up by BBC Radio Foyle, BBC NI News and local Derry newspapers, the word then spread quickly across all social media platforms.  Wool began to arrive from all parts across NI, including knitting groups and individuals all coming on board to knit for the project. 

Along with baby hats the Foyle Clients have now added comfort Teddies and Derry Dudes to their repertoire.

The comfort Teddies and Derry Dudes have today been gifted to Mayor Warke in preparation for the Derry and Strabane Council’s welcome reception to be hosted at the Guildhall for the Ukraine families arriving.

Glenn Carlin from the Foyle Advisory Group stated “It is our wish that a ‘Derry Dude or comfort Teddy would be given to every Ukraine child that arrives in the City.

Every stitch knitted is with Ukraine in mind, knitting is a very therapeutic mindful activity and is especially beneficial for improved wellbeing especially when knitting for such a worthy heart felt cause such as this.  This City has had its own adversities and people know only too well the negative impact this war will have on mental health and the long lasting legacy this conflict will leave for many generations to come.

We hope this gift will bring comfort in some small way to families who arrive to our lovely City. 

Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Alderman Graham Warke, said: “In a City renowned for the warmth of its welcome I am delighted to see projects such as this preparing the way for Ukrainian families who are really missing the comfort of home. I am happy to receive this donation of comfort teddies from AMH New Horizons Foyle, this is such a heartwarming project created by this talented group.”

AMH New Horizons support the recovery of adults experiencing mental ill health who are interested in progressing towards further education, training or employment. Clients take part in a range of courses, from therapeutic classes like arts and crafts, to accredited training and work placements through the “Working it Out” project. Working it Out is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

The “Working it Out” project is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

A Belfast Giant is taking a giant leap with Action Mental Health to help open up the conversation surrounding mental health by becoming a charity ambassador.

AMH’s newest supporter, Kevin Raine, has already shaved his head to raise thousands for the charity’s wide range of mental health initiatives for people of all ages across Northern Ireland. Now, the 29-year-old Canadian, who calls Belfast a second home, hopes to help spark important conversations around mental ill-health, in a bid to encourage people to speak up and seek support when they need it.

Commenting on the launch of the partnership with Action Mental Health, Kevin said: “I’m proud to develop my relationship with Action Mental Health. Since a young age I’ve struggled with my mental health. Prior to seeking help, I spent years of my life in my own isolation. I was convinced that seeking help was something I should be ashamed of and was in denial of my own pain.

“Finding inspiration in those sharing their own truths, I have since created a shift in my perspective. I no longer believe that to struggle means to be weak. Through teamwork and accountability, I’ve seen such a positive shift in my own personal growth. Having witnessed first-hand the impact this organisation has; I hope to inspire others that may benefit or find inspiration from my story to perhaps find the courage to follow my lead.”

Kevin, a native of Ontario Canada, has played with the Belfast Giants for four seasons and last September, he shaved his head in a brave fundraising effort for Action Mental Health. The event raised over £5,500, funds which directly benefit AMH’s diverse range of initiatives serving people of all ages across Northern Ireland. 

Steve Thornton, head of hockey for the Belfast Giants added: “Kevin has been a hugely positive role model for our fans and has shown great courage and strength of character in opening up about his own struggles with mental health. We’re proud to support his new role as an ambassador for AMH, which will spark discussion and dialogue that will make a difference to the lives of local people living with mental health challenges.”

Action Mental Health’s Head of Communications and Fundraising, Jonathan Smyth welcomed Kevin into the AMH family: “We are so delighted to have Kevin on board as a committed supporter, whose efforts have already raised a significant amount of money for the charity, to bolster its diverse services for people from childhood to old age here in Northern Ireland. We now look forward to working with Kevin on lots of other projects, we hope his sporting profile will help to raise

awareness of positive mental health and help break down enduring stigmas, that can still

often prevent people seeking the help they need.”

Kevin is also the founder of Personal Best, a lifestyle brand that offers guidance, mentorship, exercise programming, and encouragement to individuals pursuing their very own Personal Best. Through Personal Best, Kevin has released a YouTube video series, featuring a range of interviews discussing mental health, with guests spanning from his own mother to teammates, mental health professionals, and more. The series also led to invitations for guest appearances on similar channels, all in the effort to spread positivity throughout all sections of society.

“I founded Personal Best with the concept that our greatest competition lies within, and that by focussing on ourselves while accessing appropriate support, we can reach our greatest potential,” explains Kevin. “As I continue to navigate my own challenges with mental health, I hope that sharing my journey will have a positive impact on those that are in a similar position. The support I have sought out, combined with my own accountability, has helped me to learn and progress. I hope that by encouraging openness, kindness, and compassion, we can both seek and offer support when times get tough.

Find Kevin on Instagram, @kevinraine and find out more about Personal Best, including Kevin’s interview series at: www.personalbesthockey.com/advocacy

A Co Antrim man is celebrating his 65^th birthday by setting himself the mammoth challenge of running 600 marathons in 600 weeks!

Eugene Winters – known as Oggie – will commence his amazing feat of endurance with the Belfast Marathon after turning a milestone 65 on May 1^st this year.

The loyal supporter of Action Mental Health has already run 300 marathons in 300 weeks, when he was 55, finishing that challenge ahead of his deadline, at 270 weeks.

Some of Oggie’s highlights include running 85 marathons in 2014, 61 in 2015 and a massive 95 in 2016. The remarkable runner has completed all the ‘Marathon Majors’ – the London, Boston, New York, Chicago, Berlin and Tokyo marathons. He twice ran 10 marathons in 10 days and also took part in the Hell of the Hill Endurance event which involves running five of the toughest marathons in the UK, in five days. He’s also been a regular ‘back to back’, ‘treble’ and ‘quad’ runner, meaning running marathons two, three & four days in a row. In 2016 he successfully ran the Victoria Park endurance event in Belfast, running 100 miles in 24 hours.

Eugene is a member of several elite marathon clubs around the world including the Marathon Globetrotters, Marathon Club Ireland, the 100 Marathon Club, UK and the Super Marathon Club, Italy. His best time was the Newry marathon, which he finished in an impressive 3 hours 37 minutes.

Describing his achievement Oggie said: “It was very tough going at times, and I struggled to complete some of the marathons. I ran through injury at a few events and I had to rely on my own mental strength and toughness to get me through.

“I hope that my efforts will maybe inspire other people to go out and do something active. I firmly believe exercising and keeping active can help not just our physical health but our mental health too. “When I had completed the 300 marathons in 270 weeks, beating my own challenge of 300 weeks I thought what better way to celebrate than to donate some money to Action Mental Health, to help support the vital work they do across Northern Ireland.”

Jonathan Smyth, Head of Communications & Fundraising, Action Mental Health said: “Oggie got in touch with us again to let us know about his new personal challenge and we are absolutely thrilled to have his support and generosity once again. Oggie has pledged to donate £1,000 to support our vital mental health services, when he completes his challenge. We know that running and all physical activity is a great way of supporting your mental health, so we are particularly delighted to be the beneficiary of this amazing challenge and wish Oggie well.”

We are proud to announce a special collaboration between Belleek Pottery and Action Mental Health.

Looking for ways to raise much needed funds for this amazing charity, Belleek Pottery and Action Mental Health launched a design competition in 2021 to allow AMH Clients to express their mental health issues through art. The aim was to design a decal that will be applied and fired onto a Belleek Mug. We received many beautiful entries and after careful consideration from the selection panel, including guest judge, artist and designer Terry Bradley, Zoe’s Rainbow Mug was selected to go into production and offered for sale with 20% of the proceeds of the Rainbow Mug will go to Action Mental Health.

The winner, Zoe, described her design;

‘I made this design on my tablet because I was inspired by the theme of HOPE. When I think of hope, I think of rainbows which are a lovely symbol for healing and recovery. I have struggled with Mental Health issues from a young age and the most important thing I have learnt on my journey is that healing is not linear. For me and many others healing is an everyday process, some days are much harder than others. Drawing and connecting with others at AMH has helped me rediscover

HOPE. We have survived the most difficult days. You will be okay.’

Guest judge, Terry Bradley commented: ‘Zoe’s description of how healing is not linear perfectly fits her quote of ‘You will be ok’. Terry also told us: ‘This is honest and makes you smile. It is a positive affirmation during times when anyone is struggling and the rainbow and bright image acts as a reminder of the beautiful things in life.’

Recently, Belleek Pottery welcomed Zoe, along with representatives from Action Mental Health to celebrate the launch of her mug. Zoe got to see the production process and even got to apply one of her very own decals.

The Rainbow Mug is now available to purchase at Belleek Pottery, all Belleek Living Stores and www.belleek.com.

To purchase your mug(s) – click here or call into your local Belleek Living Store.

Proudly supported by Henderson Group

The Great Big Purple Picnic for Mental Health Awareness Week!

Register Now! 

The theme for this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week is ‘tackling loneliness’. Hosting a Great Big Purple Picnic and getting out together in the fresh air and engaging with the Five Ways of Wellbeing * are positive ways to tackle loneliness and of course raise vital funds to support the work of Action Mental Health.

The Five Ways of Wellbeing *

Connect
Give
Take Notice
Be Active
Keep Learning

*The Five Ways to Wellbeing was developed by the New Economic Foundation.  It is a set of evidence based actions to improve personal wellbeing.

Some great fun ideas are available in our Resource Pack which will be emailed to you upon registration.

We are encouraging our friends old and new to sign up and take part and are also delighted to be supported by Henderson Group for the Great Big Purple Picnic 2022.

As part of this support, any school registering will be automatically entered into our free prize draw to win one of six Henderson Group Great Big Purple Picnic Packs (one per county). The draw takes place by 1st May 2022 and the winning schools will be contacted to receive collection or delivery of their prize that they can enjoy at their picnic.

Further materials and merchandise are available upon request.

If at this point you have any questions, contact the team at [email protected]

Kathi is taking part in the Working it Out project at AMH New Horizons North Down and Ards. Below she tells us a little bit about the benefits and joy she has gained from taking on an OCN Level 2 Award in Floristry…

“Approximately 13 years ago I finished my third, third level qualification and jokingly said to my colleagues ‘The next course I do will be flower arranging or something else pleasant!!’

Fast forwards 13 years and I have had two break downs, I have been diagnosed with a range of mental illness’, I no longer work, I attend Action Mental Health New Horizons for support and I am studying for an OCN Level 2 Award in Floristry!!

This course has rewarded me in so many ways. I have, despite my self-doubt, panic attacks and tears completed a range of tasks in a set time frame!! I have felt a sense of pride in my achievements. I have enjoyed learning new skills and the two hours a week where I was able to focus on the task in hand and not have to deal with my bouncing, revolving anxious brain. I have enjoyed the creativity and have been able to make decisions. I have been able to be comfortable in the presence of strangers who were also working on the course, knowing that we had the shared experience of suffering from mental illness and that we didn’t need to talk about it. There were times when I was crushed by the sensation that I was not capable of completing the award, but with the amazing support of the tutor I battled on through and succeeded.

Now when I buy a bunch of flowers I no longer open them and dump them in the vase,vase,vase! I arrange them! And I smile every time as it is a reminder of my success.

Kathi”

Kathi also produced this lovely little video about her course, capturing some stunning images along the way:

The “Working it Out” project is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

A client at Action Mental Health’s New Horizons in Lisburn said her unsung key worker literally saved her life during the pandemic.

Carol McGoran’s partner died shortly before the pandemic and when she most needed support, she found it, among staff and fellow clients at the charity.

Carol, a mother of two, found much more besides at the service, located at Railway Street in the city centre – namely a new zest for life and renewed hopes for the future, prospects she said had died when she lost her partner of ten years.

Carol, aged 60, is one of the almost 1500 adults aged 18 and over who are steered back to better mental health every year, with the support of the nine AMH New Horizons located across Northern Ireland.

AMH New Horizons support the recovery of adults experiencing mental ill health who are interested in progressing towards further education, training or employment. Clients take part in a range of courses, from therapeutic classes like arts and crafts, to accredited training and work placements through the “Working it Out” project. Working it Out is part funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

Carol was able to begin working it out for herself when she arrived at AMH New Horizons Lisburn.

 “I was going through a lot of personal problems stemming back to when I was a child and the doctor referred me to AMH and then just after I joined the Lisburn service my partner died.

“I have a key worker called Mandy and when my partner died she was the first person I talked to. She has been a real life saver. When Covid struck she was really there for me, on the other end of the phone and she saved my life so many times when I felt suicidal. I still had her support when the lockdown meant AMH New Horizons had to close down to us coming in in person,” she said.

Nervous

“When I first came here I was very nervous. When you come in everyone has their own problems, but I quickly made great friends and got great support from them. They have their own issues but you are able to help each other.

“Every day that I leave this place I am so happy, and I’m not only saying that, I really do feel that. I can’t wait for the next day and it encourages me to get out of bed and get on with things.

“When my partner died I couldn’t’ get up in the morning; there was just no point in trying anything at the time, but AMH New Horizons has been a life saver, 100%.

“Doctors and nurses in the hospitals are top of the ladder saving people’s lives but in my opinion the key workers in AMH New Horizons were certainly saving lives, just being on the end of the phone in the lockdown, dealing with people’s anxieties and uncertainties.

“They are the unsung silent saviours,” she said.

To date, Carol has been enjoying a number of courses available at AMH New Horizons and is engaging with the Employment Officer. She recently started to attend the Women’s Tech where she plans to volunteer in the near future.

Support

Susanne Berrill first came to Action Mental Health New Horizons after what she described as a ‘so-called breakdown’. But she soon came to realise that her poor mental health was due to the impact of a difficult marriage which also had her seeking the support of Women’s Aid.

First a client at AMH New Horizons North Down & Ards, Susanne, a mother of two grown up boys, gleaned a great deal of comfort from her time there. But following a house move to the Lisburn area, a fire at her flat combined with a number of other personal issues had her reaching out for AMH’s support once again.

“I can’t say enough about AMH New Horizons. The support they give you on a one-to-one basis is so amazing, not just in improving your mood but for improving you overall. There’s so much empathy, but in a positive way. They allow you to be ill, when you feel ill – it’s OK to not be OK all the time and not every place allows you that. But they help you realise you will not always feel that way, and that you will get better,” she said.

“Very often, talking to other clients at break and during the courses, really does make a difference too. When you know you are not the only one it really does help.”

Looking back at my time with AMH New Horizons, Susanne recalls being apprehensive before taking that first step towards recovery.

“Before I started I was nervous, but I have always had the attitude that you have to try to help yourself, so I was willing to give it a go,” she said.

Like all clients who attend AMH New Horizons, Susanne has been able to supplement her education with the help of accredited courses she has undertaken.

“On top of all the courses I have done here, I was supported to go to Lisburn tech to do a course in counselling skills, and also an entry level degree in mental health. Though I don’t think I want to go down that route for a future career, it is a good thing to have done.”

A former hairdresser, Susanne now suffers health issues which prevent her from continuing in that field, but she remains optimistic of the future, nonetheless.

“My keyworker encouraged me to learn to do nails so I have another potential employment opportunity which I can pursue when I have fully recovered. I also engaged with the Employment Officer who supported me and set up a voluntary placement with the Atlas Centre. This gives me the opportunity to use my skills and help people.”

“I don’t know if I’ll ever work again but as long as I can do the volunteering, then that’s fine, because I love helping people.”

“I’ve done all the courses I wanted to and now I’m happy to move on to just the volunteering but I know that if I need them at Action Mental Health they are there for me and I can phone them or touch base if I feel I need it. It’s like a crutch, a lifeline and it’s great to have them in the background if I need them.

“It’s just such a great organisation.”

Priority

AMH New Horizons really does offer a lifeline to clients through routine, structure and hope, the new manager at AMH New Lisburn, Michelle Bolton reiterated.

“Mental health has increasingly come under the spotlight since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020, but at Action Mental Health, the wellbeing of its clients has always been its number one priority,” she added.

Overseeing life at AMH New Horizons Lisburn, post-lockdown, Michelle explained how clients and staff adapted successfully through ‘hybrid working’.

“The teams of clients were split and came in on different days. The skills classes are offered online through Zoom and accredited and non-accredited courses, in a blended approach meaning that we can have people in the classes, while others at home can join in via zoom.

“The size of the room allows us to accommodate up to six people at a time, bearing in mind continuing social distancing and enabling us to observe continuing Covid measures.

She continued: ‘We are being more creative in the way in which we deliver our services and It’s smart to use the technological advances like Zoom which we have all had to adopt to from the beginning of the pandemic.

“This smart technology will, in future, allow clients who are feeling physically unwell or going through a period of poorer mental ill-health to still join the classes, rather than miss out all together as would have happened in the past if they weren’t able to physically attend.

 “We continue to support clients to attend work and voluntary placements and to support them to achieve their individual, person-centred goals. AMH New Horizons offers clients realistic outcomes that they can see. That’s really important and so helpful. They are supported to achieve their own goals.”

AMH New Horizons continues to work to capacity in this hybrid mode, enabling clients to continue to glean the comfort of fellow clients and their staff key worker.

For more information on how to be referred to Action Mental Health New Horizons visit https://www.amh.org.uk/services/new-horizons/

The “Working it Out” project is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.