Action Mental Health’s Chief Executive, David Babington has expressed extreme concern at the findings highlighted in the Northern Ireland Audit Office Report: “Mental Health Services in Northern Ireland” which has just been published. While many of the findings are sadly unexpected, the report emphasises the very stark reality for local mental health services. The report clearly states “the successful implementation of NI’s 10-year Mental Health strategy is at risk without sustained, additional investment.” The report also shows that spending on mental health here is around 32% less per capita than in other parts of the UK, and estimates that we would need to spend around £190m extra per annum to bring us in line with elsewhere in the UK. Conversely however, the report also stated that Mental Health’s share of overall health budget has fallen between 2010-11 & 2019-20. Following this theme it suggests a funding gap in the region of £8m in 2019-20 for vital CAMHS services
Overall, the report shows that even with the highest need, Northern Ireland still has the lowest level of mental health funding across the British Isles. This is undoubtedly contributing to many people not receiving the support they need in a timely fashion and the report also shows how waiting lists have increased since pre-pandemic. At the time of writing 16,000 people were on a waiting list. Around half of those on mental health waiting lists wait longer than the nine and 13-week target standards, with particular issues identified in relation to psychological therapies.
It should also be noted that the figures quoted in this report are based on previous years and will not take account of the current budgetary challenges facing services in Northern Ireland. Organisations in the voluntary sector, such as Action Mental Health, have already had to reduce services across Northern Ireland since April 2023, due to severe budget cuts already imposed and further, future uncertainty. These cuts in the voluntary sector will only be compounded by further reductions in statutory services as we move forward. In addition the report also doesn’t cover the undoubted impacts the cost of living crisis is having on the mental health of our population right now.
David Babington commented “The current situation is untenable, we need urgent action to see local Government restored and significant additional funding from Westminster to address these issues which are impacting on the lives of thousands of people across Northern Ireland, many of whom are really struggling and extremely vulnerable.”
Under his guidance, the Managing the Challenge program underwent a complete transformation, aligning with key objectives set by health professionals from the WH&SCT. The revamped program has been successfully rolled out, with plans to deliver 25 courses throughout the year in both in-person and remote sessions.
David’s commitment to excellence extended beyond program development, as he trained seven new Associate trainers to ensure high standards of delivery. The programme has moved from a licensed programme to one that belongs to AMH and provides the flexibility to adapt and change content to reflect more individual and client needs.
David’s innovative approach to program design also included creating online flip-books enriched with valuable resources and videos, as well as visually appealing posters and engaging social media content using Canva. He also collaborated with other organizations to make the program accessible to marginalized groups, employing strategies derived from various fields of psychology.
Throughout his tenure, David consistently pursued excellence, setting clear, target-focused goals and establishing the program as a benchmark for quality and effectiveness. He played a vital role in transitioning the program to be fully owned by AMH, facilitating improved communication and empowering clients to actively engage in their recovery.
Action Mental Health Chief Executive David Babington congratulated David on his achievement. ‘David Tierney has made exceptional contributions and shown unwavering dedication, which will make a lasting impact on countless clients of AMH. His achievements exemplify the values of innovation, creativity, and excellence which merit the granting of this award.’
OUR Generation, celebrated the launch of its brand new app as part of Mental Health Awareness Week.
David Babington, CEO of Action Mental Health,addressing teachers and pupils at Dromintee Promary School.
The event took place at Dromintee Primary School on Monday 15th May, with one lucky P.7 class given the chance to try it out for themselves.
OUR Generation is an EU PEACE IV-funded project led by Action Mental Health, which has been match funded by The Executive Office and Government of Ireland. The project aims to build positive relations and emotional resilience in children and young people.
Ulster University is one of a number of partners involved in the project, and the OUR Generation app was developed in collaboration with researchers at the University’s School of Psychology along with Prof. Maurice Mulvenna of the AI Research Centre in the University’s School of Computing.
The app aims to educate children & young people about mental health and wellbeing. It is designed as a game, featuring 5 levels with activities relating to mental health and well-being, coping and problem-solving skills, perspective taking, empathy and intergroup contact & trust.
OUR Generation partners fed into the content, with the view to ‘gamify’ aspects of programmes currently being delivered by them.
Children and young people were also involved in workshops across Northern Ireland and the border area to help app co-design the app.
The app is divided into two age categories, 11 years old and under, and 12 years old and above. Activities include simple drag-and-drop games as well as videos and links to other sources of help and support.
Players can select from four buddies who guide them through the app – Stripey, Roby, Hoofy or Bulby. Users earn stars as they complete their journey through the levels and climb the leader board from expert, ambassador, champion to genius.
Prof. Maurice Mulvenna, who was involved in the app’s design and development, said:
“The OUR Generation App will provide a fun, free, safe, and engaging way for children, young people, and emerging adults to tackle their worries on mental health and well-being, so they can build resilience, gain confidence, and thrive.”
He added: “The OUR Generation App aims to demonstrate an improvement in the emotional resilience of children and young people. The anonymous usage data collected will help us answer the question of whether using the App can improve the knowledge, skills and behaviours of users and improve users’ resilience.
David Babington, CEO of Action Mental Health, speaking at the launch event, said:
“We’re delighted to be launching the OUR Generation app at Dromintee Primary school. It was important to us that children and young people were involved in the co-design of this app, and pupils from Dromintee were involved in our initial research workshops that helped us get a sense of what types of apps they like to play, and the kind of content they enjoy.”
He added: “We hope the OUR Generation app will be used as a digital learning tool by children, young people and their key contacts to help develop awareness around resilience, mental health and wellbeing. For many years, Action Mental Health has been working to give children and young people the skills they need to look after their mental health through traditional programmes, so I am delighted to see this support develop digitally also.”
The OUR Generation app is free and can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple Store.
The objective of the OUR Generation project is ‘Growing Up Better, Together’. It is currently being delivered on both sides of the border in education, youth and community settings across the Five Urban Village Areas of Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Its aim is to build positive relations and emotional resilience in communities impacted by four decades of the Troubles, to help tackle the legacy of the conflict across the island of Ireland.
Seven organisations have partnered with lead partner Action Mental Health, including Donegal Youth Service, Co-Operation Ireland, Youth Action NI, YouthWork Ireland, PlayBoard NI and Ulster University.
Together, the organisations have utilised EU PEACE IV funding to support communities to tackle post-conflict peace building and mental health. The project will run until September 2023. The Executive Office in Northern Ireland, and the Government of Ireland have provided match funding for the project.
OUR Generation will reach over 36,000 children and young people who will engage in programme design and delivery, including provision of peer support, developing skills and confidence to improve well-being within their communities. They will also act as agents of change, building peace for future generations.
How to Download
Here is a magic link (depending on which device you access the page from, it will take you to the correct App Store): https://ourgeneration.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/appstore The direct App Store links would be:
Here is a magic link (depending on which device you access the page from, it will take you to the correct App Store): https://ourgeneration.fluxguide.com/fluxguide/appstore The direct App Store links would be – Google Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fluxguide.ourgeneration – Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/our-generation/id6444150482
Spring has sprung a number opportunities to fundraise over the next couple of months, so get involved in the events below and help us raise vital funds for Action Mental Health.
Belfast City Marathon 2023
30 April 2023
9am
Join us on 30th April at Belfast City Marathon as we get active and fundraise for vital mental health services in Northern Ireland.
You can take part in a number of different ways. Whether you are running the whole event, being part of a relay team or doing the 8 mile walk.
Deadline for entries to these events is 7 April.
Sign up for the event here and join our fundraising team here.
Great Big Purple Picnic 2023
15 May – 21 May 2023
Host a picnic for your business colleagues and collect donations for us as your local mental health charity.
If you need any support or ideas with your fundraising event do not hesitate to contact the team: [email protected].
Skydive for Mental Health
21May 2023
Do you want to conquer your fears and take to the skies? Why not take on our skydive challenge of 15,000ft this May!
Action Mental Health’s ambassador and former Belfast Giant Kevin Raine has hosted a very special fundraiser in aid of Action Mental Health. Kevin who recently retired from competitive sport, organised the fundraiser in conjunction with his company Personal Best, Giants’ supporter Angela Cragg Wright and the Stephen Clements Foundation.
Just before Christmas, Personal Best ran a giveaway with the grand prize being the first ever Personal Best jersey, of which Angela was the winner. Not content to just accept the prize, Angela decided there must be a way to raise funds for a good cause and came up with the idea of raffling off the jersey in aid of a mental health charity in memory of Stephen Clements.
Action Mental Health were the lucky beneficiaries and Angela explained why she chose the charity:
“I chose Action Mental Health as the charity to be the beneficiary simply because I’d become aware of the charity through Kevin’s role as ambassador and his previous fundraising efforts, I remember the hair before the shave! During his life Stephen was always helping charities and inspired others to do the same. With the help of Personal Best being able to hand over this cheque in memory of Stephen is a huge honour. I am so pleased that this money can help AMH deliver its services to those who need it, raise awareness surrounding mental health and help break the stigma that surrounds it. I have no doubt that Stephen’s legacy will continue to help others.”
Gavin Clements from Stephen Clements foundation commented:
“We are so honoured that AMH, Personal Best and especially Angela have dedicated the shirt in Stephen’s memory. Stephen had a very close relationship with the Belfast Giants and we continue to support any work that promotes mental wellbeing for all.”
The raffle raised the £1139 and Kevin, Angela and Gavin were on hand to present the charity with the funds raised.
Karen Quee, Service Manager at Action Mental Health was delighted to receive the funds and commented “we are thrilled by the ongoing support that Kevin gives and we are really touched by this special fundraiser, which not only raises vital funds for our charity, but also helps raise awareness of the importance of looking after your mental health. It is also a really special tribute to Stephen Clements.”
Kevin Raine explained why he is so passionate about supporting the work of Action Mental Health:
“I believe that the importance of organisations like Action Mental Health can’t be overstated. Inspired by what they stand for, I am called to use my platforms to spread positivity, inclusion, and encouragement. The messages suggesting “seek help in a time of need” or “talk to someone” were ones I’d heard many times before I decided to invest in my mental wellbeing. I believe that by echoing these same messages of compassion and encouragement, my words might be the ones some might need to hear.”
Image pictured left to right:
Gavin Clements (The Stephen Clements Foundation), Angela Cragg Wright (Fundraiser), Karen Quee (AMH), Kevin Raine (Personal Best), Charlene McShane (AMH).
Action Mental Health (AMH) CEO David Babington has welcomed the recent publication of the Shared Prosperity Funding but cautioned there is still significant work to be done to bridge the funding shortfall:
“We’re delighted with the announcement that our SkillSET consortium successfully secured 2 years of funding to deliver employment and training support for people with disabilities. However this new type of support under SPF is very different to previous provision, delivered under the ESF programme, and as a result we have grave concerns that those most in need and furthest from the workplace will be unsupported. Alongside this change in support there is also a significant funding shortfall and all providers are now grappling with adjusting their delivery of support whilst dealing with fewer resources.
“AMH will continue to work with sector colleagues to make the case to the UK Government and NI Departments that additional funding is required rapidly to cover the shortfall. The sector is very used to a flexible approach requiring innovation and service reconfiguration, but providers like AMH are delivering core services on behalf of the Health Trusts and vulnerable clients not covered under this new SPF funding will still need support.”
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About SkillSET
SkillSET is a disability employment support group comprised of Action Mental Health, Cedar Foundation, Orchardville, NOW Group, Royal National Institute of Blind People, Mencap and Adapt NI. The group of seven organisations who provide services regionally, across Northern Ireland, secured £12m funding to support over 4,500 clients with a range of disabilities to build their skills through education/training and access the workplace over the next two years.
SkillSET will support clients with a range of disabilities including people living with: mental illness; learning disabilities, physical and sensory disabilities, sight and hearing loss.
Do you wake up each morning feeling rested? Or do you drag yourself out of bed after one too many snoozes of the alarm, the incentive of early morning caffeine and the feeling that you could easily go back to bed for a nap by midday? If the latter sounds more like you, then you are not alone. It is estimated that more than 4 in 10 employees struggle to get the recommended amount of sleep every night. It’s not just sleep quantity that suffers. Indeed, 4 in 5 employees report feeling unhappy with their sleep quality and a quarter of people state that stress is the main factor contributing to their sleep loss.
In a world where we’re expected to juggle the 40 hour work week, family commitments, a social life and possibly even squeeze in daily exercise, you’re likely not surprised to hear that sleep is often the first thing that we sacrifice. However, what you may not know is that slacking on sleep can amplify our stress. The reverse is also true; maintaining high levels of stress increases our alertness and consequently reduces our bodies’ ability to enter a relaxed and sleep-conducive state.
This loop is known as the “stress-sleep cycle”, a process by which high stress levels prevent us from “switching off” and getting sufficient sleep, meanwhile sleep deprivation affects our ability to regulate emotions and manage daily stressors.
The good news? We can break the cycle. Here are 5 steps to restoring minimising stress and increasing sleep quality and quantity:
Schedule in de-stressing. Do you find yourself lying awake after a stressful day, even though you’re exhausted? Or perhaps you find yourself overthinking a workplace stress the moment your head hits the pillow? With many of us going through busy days at 100 miles an hour, it’s understandable that dealing with stressors often takes the backseat until bedtime. Instead, prioritise scheduling times in your day where you can process stressors or de-escalate tension. This may be making time for morning journaling, a lunchtime walk or post-work meditation. When we allow ourselves time to process and decompress throughout the day, stresses are much less likely to crop up to keep us conscious at night-time.
Control your light exposure: Most of us have heard that blue light from your phone, TV or computer screen can be detrimental to sleep. But, did you know that all light exposure affects sleep. To work with your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle (circadian rhythm), try to reduce your light exposure in the 2 hours prior to bed. Dimming the lights, choosing lamps over bright lights and avoiding screens can all be great ways to signal to your brain that sleep is approaching. You can also enjoy greater energy and focus in the mornings by ensuring that you get 30+ minutes of bright light when you wake up.
Take control of your tech: It’s not simply blue light from phone’s which perpetuates the sleep/ stress cycle, but also the bombardment of to-dos, emails and work tasks which crop up in the notification section. It’s easy to think that there’s no harm in quickly checking your emails before bed, yet in reality this puts your brain back into “work mode” rather than preparing to sleep. Your bedroom should be primarily for sleep so try to taper your tech usage in the run up to bed and leave your phone outside the bedroom overnight.
Keep a worry journal. Have you ever been settling down to sleep when you’re suddenly hit with a jolt of worry and anxiety? Maybe it’s worrying about whether you’ve put the bins out or sent that email. Or perhaps it’s a bigger issue, whether that’s finances or family, which is playing on your mind. In reality, there’s very few problems that need to be solved at bedtime, so resist the urge to address issues that can wait until morning. Instead, you may find it useful to keep a journal in your bedside drawers. This journal serves to get your worries out of your mind and onto paper, allowing you to get back to sleep with minimal disruption.
Prioritise rest. Whilst sleep is a fantastic form of rest, it shouldn’t be your only form of rest. In fact, not resting throughout the day will often result in higher nighttime cortisol levels and thus less sleep. To counteract this problem and prevent ourselves from becoming burnt out, we need to incorporate opportunities to rest throughout the day and consequently allow our nervous systems to regularly release hormones compatible with mood stabilisation and relaxation, rather than stress. This may include setting time aside for breaks throughout the day, setting time aside specifically for admin and organisation, scheduling in time at home which is specifically for relaxing or developing a list of relaxation and stress management techniques specific to you.
Need further help?
Escaping the sleep/ stress cycle rarely happens overnight! AMH Works is here to help. Our 2 hour Burnout and Rest course is the perfect opportunity for workplaces to equip employees with tools to manage stress, prevent burnout and incorporate rest into their daily routines. Delivered either in person or online, this course has been shown to increase productivity, decrease sickness absence and boost workplace morale.
Lauren currently works as a trainer within Action Mental Health Works which centres on reducing stigma and improving mental wellbeing in Northern Irish workplaces. Having gained the National Academic Performance Award and a first class honours degree in Psychology, Lauren’s professional pursuits have largely centred on reducing stigma and promoting early intervention for those suffering from mental ill health. Lauren has gained a breadth professional of experience within the mental health sector including complex mental health, homelessness, addiction, eating disorders and therapeutic intervention. Lauren has also taken an active role within the charitable sector. She is currently a committee trustee for both the Lawrence Trust and the Eating Disorders Association NI.
PRESS RELEASE ISSUED ON BEHALF OF CSPG, NICVA, CO3 AND NIUSE
Edyth Dunlop, NIUSE, Rev Andrew Irvine, East Belfast Mission, Celine McStravick, NICVA and Valerie McConville, CO3.
The Community Sector Peer Group, NICVA, CO3 and the NI Union of Supported Employment, which represent over 1,000 community organisations across Northern Ireland, have said that the community sector “feels abandoned by the political process and civil servants in London and Belfast”.
A 60% cut in funding has left dozens of community sector organisations facing closure within weeks. 1,700 staff employed by 67 different groups have been put on notice of redundancy. Employability services which help over 18,000 marginalised people annually will be substantially cut or discontinued.
Funding previously provided by the European Social Fund (ESF) finishes at the end of March and has not been replaced in full by either Westminster or Stormont. To date local Departments have declined to fully replace the £13m they previously provided whilst the UK Government’s new UK Shared Prosperity Fund provides only a partial replacement for the current ESF programme.
A cross-party pledge signed by 65 MLAs is now urging Stormont Departments to step in to help save services.
The MLAs acknowledge that the services provided are “invaluable to the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Northern Ireland who find it difficult to access employment” and that the services will cease if the current groups are not funded adequately.
The MLAs also noted that they have “seen first-hand how successful these services have been in helping the most vulnerable in our society into employment and training, and that they save the public purse money by reducing demand on social care and other pressurised public services.”
In particular, the MLAs urged “Northern Ireland’s Economy, Finance, Communities, Health and Justice Departments to make a meaningful financial contribution to ensure these services can continue to operate to their full capacity, which will in turn significantly help with cost prevention in other aspects of care.”
Rev Andrew Irvine, Chair of the Community Sector Peer Group and Chief Executive of East Belfast Mission said:
“It’s a scandal that despite years of forewarning both Westminster and Stormont have decided by their inaction to decimate services which help disadvantaged people get off benefits and into employment. It’s a case of saving pennies now only to spend pounds later.
“While Westminster has shown some flexibility with funding, the lack of purposeful engagement from our local departments has been extremely disappointing. Given that these departments have a statutory duty to provide employability services, I struggle to understand why they are prepared to let these services and jobs disappear.
“These are 1,700 real jobs providing critical services but also around £40m in salaries for the local economy.
“We’re grateful for the overwhelming support from local parties, but with just weeks of funding left it’s fair to say that the community sector feels abandoned by the political process and civil servants in London and Belfast.”
Celine McStravick, NICVA’s Chief Executive, said:
“Employability services provided by the community sector have a track record of delivering success which is unmatched by similar Government projects.
“It has taken years for the sector to build up the expertise which lies behind that success – those skills are now at serious risk of being lost and it’s hard to see how they’ll be replaced.
“If a manufacturing firm threatened to close with the loss of 1,700 jobs because of a Government decision, there would be a public outcry. Our groups feel, however, that their jobs and the services they provide are expendable.
“Report after report has demonstrated the community sector’s major economic contribution to Northern Ireland; we need Government to start nurturing rather than undermining the sector.
“At the end of the day, we help provide the services that keep Northern Ireland running, we’re not a ‘nice to have’ – we’re essential.”
Valerie McConville, CO3’s Chief Executive, added:
“I hope departmental officials will take this last opportunity to acknowledge the overwhelming political support to safeguard these services and respond with meaningful funding.
“We urge them to reconsider if there are monies available from underspend in other departmental programmes, but more importantly, will they commit to bridge any interim funding gaps caused by delays in the UKSPF becoming operational.
“Longer term, we need local politicians and officials to set out how they view the future of the sector. The current situation where groups are forced to stagger from funding crisis to funding crisis is unsustainable.”
Edyth Dunlop, Regional Manager of the NI Union of Supported Employment, said:
“The ending of the ESF Programme without a full replacement programme will not only impact on staff and services but on individuals who are at risk of being further left behind. Northern Ireland has the highest rate of economic inactivity and the lowest employment rate for people with disabilities in the UK. It doesn’t make sense to not continue vital services which address this. From 1st April 2023 there will be no pre-employment training for disabled people or those most vulnerable unless actions and decisions are made now.”
The costs of supporting someone through a community-based employability programme will vary depending on the complexity of their needs but it can be as little as £600. The costs of unemployment for health, social services and justice budgets are substantially higher, up to £40,000 for someone who falls into the justice system.
A recent review of employment services provided by the Belfast Works consortium led by the Upper Springfield Development Trust found that it exceeded its employability targets by 400% and delivered them at a cost over 50% less than projected.
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MLA Pledge Wording
The UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) was created to provide support for projects across Northern Ireland, focusing on people and skills, communities and place, and local businesses.
UKSPF was designed to replace the European Social Fund (ESF) that to date has helped over 60 projects in Northern Ireland to provide support to over 80,000 people furthest removed from the job market. Unfortunately, the level of funding available from UKSPF will not match the level that was made available through ESF, which will be to the detriment of these services and the service users.
The work of these services is invaluable to the most disadvantaged and marginalised in Northern Ireland who find it difficult to access employment. These service users have so much to offer, but may need some extra support. If these service providers cannot continue to deliver these projects, no one will. There is no alternative in place.
As a local representative, I have seen first-hand how successful these services have been in helping the most vulnerable in our society into employment and training, and that they save the public purse money by reducing demand on social care and other pressurised public services.
With the Northern Ireland Assembly operating with a highly restricted and challenging budget, it is vitally important to implement cost prevention.
For example, the cost of one adult participating in the many of the Jobs Programmes is as low as c. £1,500; however, the cost per year to the public purse on benefits such as ESA for one adult is c. £3,884 and the cost per year for one adult in the Justice system is c. £40,000.
I urge Northern Ireland’s Economy, Finance, Communities, Health and Justice Departments to make a meaningful financial contribution to ensure these services can continue to operate to their full capacity, which will in turn significantly help with cost prevention in other aspects of care.
