A Downpatrick woman who is joining Team Action Mental
Health at this year’s Belfast City Marathon is running to encourage other
people to help the charity smash the stigma of mental illness.
Hayley Priestly knows mental ill-health can affect
anyone.
“I feel like people struggling with their mental health
is unfortunately so common and it can affect anyone. The problem is, nobody
wants to talk about it and that’s what makes everything worse. It’s a personal
journey I have went through and continue to struggle with, so I want to raise
awareness and support for this amazing local charity and everything they do,”
she said.
“I think more people should get involved in running for
AMH because the more awareness raised, the more people will realise that they
shouldn’t be ashamed of their own stories and that it can inspire others more
than they know!”
If you feel as passionate as Hayley and wish to join us
at this year’s Belfast Marathon we would greatly appreciate your support!
Sign up as a fundraiser for AMH today via our Eventbrite
link:
Action Mental Health to merge with New
Life Counselling
New Life Counselling Chief Executive Norma Patterson and David Babington, Chief Executive of Action Mental Health unveil plans for the new merger between the leading mental health charities.
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.
A special animation for Valentine’s Day
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 1st 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.”
Dorothy Greenaway, Employment Support Officer at AMH New Horizons Craigavon & Banbridge
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.”
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 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/
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.
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.
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/
