This week, as part of the #CovidWellbeingNI partnership, the AMH MensSana team have put together some tips & advice for children & young people as they start a new school year.
The way you talk to yourself matters. Your inner voice can help you through hard days, or it can also make hard days feel worse. Are you encouraging yourself or discouraging yourself? These simple reframes of negative self-talk can be a way to practice some self-kindness. Start to learn to speak to yourself the way you would speak to your best friend when they are having a hard day. Be supportive of you.
Instead of –
I can’t do this
That person is better
I probably failed
My work is awful
Try –
I need some help with this
Everyone is different, my strengths are:
I did my best today
It needs some work, I’m still learning
The Covid Wellbeing Hub is packed full of useful resources and sources of support. You can visit the hub by clicking here: https://covidwellbeingni.info/index.html
Youth In Action are working with Fermanagh & Omagh District Council the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and the UEFA Foundation and local partners, such as Action Mental Health, in Northern Ireland to train young people as Youth Leaders to help shape their communities.
Former Chelsea player Paul Canoville joined AMH’s Michael McLean to deliver Mindset!
Our AMH MensSana Project Worker – Michael was invited to deliver AMH’s Mindset programme yesterdayenniskillen to a group of young people who have completed an Open College Network qualification in Youth leadership, and are currently completing their Community Sports Leaders Award.
Mindset is a Mental & Emotional Health & Wellbeing Awareness programme for young people and is funded by the Public Health Agency.
Michael was joined by special guest Paul Canoville – a former professional footballer who played on the wing for Chelsea Football Club. Paul spoke openly and candidly about his own struggles with mental health and addiction. Also speaking during the Mindset session was Inspector Andy George (PSNI Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Unit and President of the National Black Police Association.)
The Rio Ferdinand Foundation is a youth and community development charity. They work in the heart of the UKs most disadvantaged communities, supporting young people (aged 10-25), to tackle the inequalities they face.
They create opportunities and pathways for young people to achieve their potential, through sports, media, arts and education.
AMH New Life Counselling is running art therapy information nights for the Deaf and HoH. The sessions will provide participants with an introduction and a taster to art therapy.
The details are as follows:
Introduction to Art Therapy Information Night for Deaf and HoH
Wednesday 25th Aug
Wednesday 1st Sep
Wednesday 8th Sept
7-8pm at AMH, Bloomfield House, Belfast
If anyone is interested they must register their interest to [email protected]
Clients at Action Mental Health New Horizons Downpatrick
Congratulations to the hard-working clients at AMH New Horizons Downpatrick who haven’t let the past turbulent year of the Covid-19 pandemic get in their way of their personal development and career progress.
Clients who attend the service achieved certificates in a variety of courses on the Working It Out project, which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
The client certificate presentation took place with the help of a grant from the Asda Foundation-Bringing Communities Together scheme, with the day being made extra special by a visit from some four-footed, furred friends from Kinedale Donkeys, based in Ballynahinch. Delicious refreshments were provided by Cafe2U in Belfast.
Clients achieved a number of ECDL (European Computer Driving License), British Computer Society certificates, plus OCNNI (Open College Network) courses in Personal Development, Employability Skills and Learning Endeavour. Others received NVQ awards in Customer Service Skills.
While working at ShopMobility I would say my mental health and wellbeing has improved. This is due to the people I work with being sociable and helpful, and the customers. I am also enjoying the work which involves booking people who hire equipment out into the system and updating when returned, showing how equipment is used to customers (for mobility scooters I had to complete a test drive before doing this) and taking them out on a short test to make sure they know how to operate a scooter, filing, scanning, forms. While I’m still learning, overall, I do enjoy working there. Everyone is helpful and social.
Mark is taking part in the “Working It Out” Project at AMH New Horizons Antrim, which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.Edit
Working in Action Cancer has given me a boost in becoming a better version of myself. I am practicing my communication, numeracy and customer service skills. Learning the running of the shop, being productive and carrying out tasks has made me a valued member of staff. I am a lot more confident and progressing to getting paid work in the near future. – Michael AMH New Horizons Antrim
Michael is taking part in the “Working It Out” Project which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020 and the Department for the Economy.
One of Action Mental Health’s senior managers has offered insight into the experiences of those living with schizophrenia, following BBC soap EastEnders’ storyline on a character living with the mental illness.
Colin Loughran, Service Manager with AMH New Horizons Craigavon & Banbridge, AMH everyBODY, and AMH MensSana, previously worked for 12 years as a service manager for the National Schizophrenia Fellowship, now Rethink.
During an interview on the BBC’s Good Morning Ulster programme, when a local woman living with the condition offered her experiences, Mr Loughran also spoke of the ‘sensitive’ way in which the television show had treated the sensitive issue.
He said popular shows like Eastenders helped to “create better awareness” and helped to “give opportunities to organisations like Action Mental Health to create better education among individuals and society”.
Mr Loughran said shows like this work well to address stigma. “And the stigma is one of the biggest reasons why people who experience issues do not seek the support that they need, so it encourages people who experience severe and enduring mental illness to talk about their experiences and then get the subsequent support that they can get from statutory services or from organisations like Action Mental Health.”
As expected, this year’s Pride events across Northern Ireland have moved online. Although June was Pride month globally, here in Northern Ireland Belfast’s Pride falls on 31 July. Belfast Pride is bringing you an online parade show featuring short videos from a wide range of people who would usually be marching on the streets of Belfast on Pride Day. Check out Belfast Pride’s social media pages at 1pm and 5pm on Saturday 31 July to watch this virtual festival of Pride.
If you want to get involved in the flesh there are still some events happening throughout Belfast. For example, The Big Gay Quiz is happening at Elmwood Hall, QUB on 30 July – grab your tickets here. Or if you’re more of a history buff there’s even a walking tour you can go on instead. Join Belfastlad Tours on a walking history of Belfast Pride on Sunday 15 August – grab tickets here.
Action Mental Health has long been a supporter of Pride events throughout Northern Ireland. Last year one of our employees shared why Pride was so important to them:
“Having a minority identity can be isolating, and Covid-19 has shut down the few safe places that many LBGT+ have to socialise/meet and emotionally connect. My heart goes out to LBGT+ people who live more rurally and who live with even greater social and geographical isolation. How do single people cope or attend to their social/emotional needs during a lockdown? What impact does this have?
“I know this has hit the LBGT+ community hard. I recall living in rural Limavady for many years, having few LBGT+ people in the area with nowhere safe to socialise nor meet others – homophobia and heterosexism were rife. It was very expensive to travel to the two major cities to get a night out (let alone pay in or buy anything) and I recall having to spend my hard-earned wages renting hotel rooms in Belfast just so I could have a safe night out in LBGT+ company; this wasn’t an optional city break treat but a mental health essential!
I am very aware I was one of the privileged ones that had a good job, a car and was ‘out’ to my friends and family, what about those who aren’t?
“I am a massive advocate of the essential work and achievement of efforts to eliminate homophobia, discrimination and hate crimes against members of my LBGT+ community. Pride celebrates diversity/equality for all, integrating LBGT+ services within mainstream funding/provision whilst retaining the unique needs of these amazing people, friends, colleagues and peers, that I call my LBGT+ family.
“I look forward to walking the parade route under the AMH banner with pride in the coming years.”
