New Mental Health Community Initiative in Ballina Co. Mayo

‘Minding Your Mind’

Young people and their families in are being encouraged to help break the cycle of stigma that surrounds mental health problems, in County Mayo over the next couple of months.

The Mind Your Mind initiative, which was successfully launched on Wednesday, 21st September, was started by 21-year-old June Devaney from Ballina. It aims to raise awareness and build a wider knowledge around mental health, the effects of stigma, and suicide prevention.

Her pioneering project has received support from Think Big, which is an initiative created by O2 and the youth mental health charity Headstrong.  The launch of this campaign was addressed by Mr. Declan Behan the CEO of the Irish Association of Suicidology, as well Mary Nolan a clinical psychologist in HSE West and members of Choose Life Reach Out and Living Links (two local suicide prevention and bereavement support groups)

June said there was a pressing need for young people and their loved ones to educate themselves on mental illness as it is something which many families are likely to encounter in some form or other.  Research has shown that one in every five people in Ireland is living with a mental health issue.

 She added: “Many people who live with a mental health disorder will not speak to others about their symptoms, for fear of being, judged, stigmatised, ridiculed and in a lot of cases rejected. Many do not seek help as a result of this, which can lead to isolation and further deterioration, putting them at high risk.

All these feelings and fears are caused by society's reaction to many mental health issues. With knowledge, comes understanding and power. We need to educate ourselves and our children about mental health as much as we do our physical health. We need to become more aware of how common these disorders are. We need to be able to spot early warning signs, how to ask for help and how to help ourselves and others.”

 Mind Your Mind aims to highlight services which are available to people who are experiencing difficulties in their lives and offer information about what is available to those in distress.

June said that, unfortunately, sometimes these supports and services didn’t have a loud enough voice.  She explained: “We want to speak out publicly, on their behalf to tell ordinary people that they mustn’t suffer in silence and that there are paths out of your problems, even if they are hard to see.”

 “Mind your Mind is also keen to help people access training in suicide prevention for those who are interested.”

The  campaign launch took place over a whole day, with a number of secondary schools attending a youth conference earlier in the day. The students took part in workshops and discussions to represent the views of young people to a panel of speakers who work directly with youth services. The evening event invited members of the community to explore information stands before hearing and taking part in open floor discussions with the panel members. At the end of the night she launched an “Essential Poster” which highlighted the things to look out for in loved ones as well as helpline contacts.

Presidential candidate and former youth worker Seán Gallagher spoke about the campaign; “I wish to commend the leadership shown by June Devaney in setting up this group. All too often the focus is on physical health but good mental health is just as important. The work done by June and other volunteers in providing support and advice to others is vital and I am confident that will have a very positive impact on individuals, families and the wider community. This kind of community initiative is one that I would like to highlight and celebrate if elected President because I know that June can act as an inspiration to others. “

Further information on the Mind Your Mind initiative should contact the MYM team at mym.ballina@hotmail.com or call 0862015265.

The Samaritans is one of the chosen nine charities to be supported by ITV's new Christmas charity show, Text Santa.  

ITV are calling on over 13,000 people to attempt to break the Guiness World Record™, for the ‘largest gathering of people dressed as Santa Claus’ and to participate in a special Text Santa song and dance routine to be used in the spectacular launch show in early December.

Find out more about the event on the Text Santa website.

Training

The National Office for Suicide Prevention is involved in a range of training initiatives around suicide prevention and mental health promotion. However, most activities regionally are coordinated by the Resource Officers for Suicide Prevention of the HSE. If you are interested in finding out about training opportunities in your area please contact the local Resource Officer.

The NOSP is also particularly interested in developing the ASIST Training Workshop across the country.

ASIST

ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) is a two-day interactive workshop in suicide first-aid. It is suitable for all kinds of caregivers - health workers, teachers, community workers, Gardai, youth workers, volunteers, people responding to family, friends and co-workers. If you would like to make a difference in your community, come to ASIST and learn how to help.

The Opportunity 
It begins with you…

Most people thinking about suicide signal and share their pain - they offer us opportunities to respond.

Suicide intervention training can help all of us see, hear and respond to these invitations. It can also increase our confidence to ask about suicide when someone's safety may be in the balance. If someone is at risk, suicide first aid prepares us to work with them to increase their immediate safety and get further help.

The Workshop 
Learn suicide first aid…

ASIST trains participants to reduce the immediate risk of a suicide and increase the support for a person at risk.

The workshop provides opportunities to learn what a person at risk may need from others in order to keep safe and get more help. It encourages honest, open and direct talk about suicide as part of preparing people to provide suicide first aid. Participants also consider how personal attitudes and experiences might affect their helping role with a person at risk.

Active participation is encouraged. It is stimulated by audio-visuals and working with others in small groups. A suicide first aid model provides a framework for skills practice.

Attendance at the two full days is essential.

The content of the workshop may be difficult to deal with if you are feeling emotionally vulnerable. If you have suicidal thoughts, or have been recently bereaved, particularly through suicide, you may wish to delay taking part in this course until you're feeling stronger, emotionally.

ASIST in Ireland to date

More than 70 trainers have been trained to deliver the two-day workshop nationwide. They are coordinated in 12 local areas. More than 125 workshops have been delivered to over 3000 participants in the past two years.  Participants in the 2-day workshop include various health services staff, voluntary staff, community members, teachers, the clergy and many more.

An ongoing evaluation has revealed that the course significantly impacts on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour. Participants are more confident about speaking with someone they are concerned may harm themselves, and engaging that person in a process of seeking help.

About LivingWorks

LivingWorks' mission is to create learning experiences that help communities prevent suicide. LivingWorks has been widely accepted and valued in Ireland since its introduction in 2003. Starting in Canada in the early 1980s, LivingWorks is now available in many other countries including Norway, the USA, New Zealand, Australia, Northern Ireland and the UK. Almost half a million people have participated worldwide - over 3,000 in Ireland.

LivingWorks' commitment to quality includes reviewing feedback, updating content, improving learning processes, ongoing evaluation and trainer support.

Other LivingWorks programs are companions to ASIST. They seek to increase awareness of suicide and explore ways the whole community might respond.

Find out more: www.livingworks.net

How to Get Trained: 

Contact your local ASIST coordinator to see how you can attend the 2-day workshop or to find out more information about ASIST and suicide prevention.

The Learning Curve Institute

Courses available Oct 2011 - Jan 2011...
The Learning Curve Institute | The Wheel

About The Wheel....

The Wheel is Ireland’s support and representative umbrella network for community, voluntary and charitable organisations. We help them get things done, we represent their shared interests to Government and other decision-makers and we promote a better understanding by the public of them and their work. In one line – we are a one stop shop for and about the charity sector in Ireland. 

 

Our vision is of an Ireland with a vibrant and dynamic community and voluntary sector...

What excites us is our vision of a vibrant, dynamic and healthy community / voluntary / charity sector. We believe passionately that it can act as a strong force in Irish society to improve the quality of our lives and our democracy. We value and cherish its diversity and we promote effective use of resources and high standards in all charitable organisations.

 

Following the collapse of the ‘Celtic Tiger’ in Ireland, community, voluntary and charitable organisations have a key part to play in building a more caring, just and inclusive society. We help them do that by promoting their role and helping to solve their shared challenges.

 

We are an independently governed membership based organisation operating with a national remit for the Republic of Ireland and our office is based in Dublin.

 

Our vision

Our vision is of an Ireland with a vibrant and dynamic community and voluntary sector, as united as it is diverse, operating at the centre of Irish life and decision making as a necessary part of a healthy democracy.

Our mission

Our mission is to strengthen the community and voluntary sector, focusing on organisations who seek to create a better world. We advocate for an environment that supports voluntary activity, and work to help this flourish by supporting organisations and by representing their shared interests.

We are a company limited by guarantee and a charity as defined by the Revenue Commissioners.

New DVD on how to support someone who is bereaved

The Irish Hospice Foundation has launched a new DVD and interactive training resource for bereavement support, entitled Lost for Words - Words for Loss. 

Lost for Words - Words for Loss' was developed by the IHF's Training Officer, Breffni McGuinness, and includes insights from bereavement counsellors with organisations such as Barnardos, AnamCara and Console.

Conceived as an introductory training resource, it presents the different levels of bereavement support, focusing on 'Level 1' support.

It also includes specific information on situations involving terminal illness, coping with the death of a child and bereavement following a suicide.

Launched on 23rd September, the DVD will be of value to anyone who wishes to know more about how to provide effective support to someone who is bereaved. 

It is available from the Irish Hospice Foundation at a cost of €20.

For further information, call us on 01-6793188 or email: info@hospice-foundation.ie 

The Irish Hospice Foundation 4th Floor, Morrison Chambers

32 Nassau Street Dublin 2

T

Coping with self-harm

Being there for someone who self-harms can be draining and hard work emotionally, especially when it's happening close to home. To get through this you need to look after yourself and realise your needs too.

Living with self-harm

Self-harm is more common than we think. Every person who self-harms has different reasons and life experiences and it's not something that's easy to make sense of. Health professionals train for years to understand it all, so don't expect to get it straight away. Just remember not to focus on the self-harm, but instead, on the person and what lies behind their distress.

What if they don't think it's a big deal?

If you think that it's a bigger problem than the person self-harming is accepting it to be, gently challenge them and tell them why you think so.  "Understand that for them it might not be a big deal," says counsellor and psychotherapist, Dr Andrew Reeves. "It is a big deal for us because we can often feel helpless and want them to stop, but for those who use self-harm as a way of coping, it might be something they've done for a long time and they might not be as fazed by it as you are."

Amy and Danielle talk about living with self-harm and supporting one another.

Should I tell my parents if it's my sister or brother?

This is tricky because you don't want to break their trust, and telling your parents may not be as helpful as you think because they are so emotionally involved. Try talking to your brother or sister first before you talk to your parents - especially if your folks are in any way part of the problem, which could make things worse. Talk to them gently and try not to be aggressive in any way. Every family is different so you'll have to trust your instincts and think about how your parents may help, or hinder, the situation. If you're really concerned that they are putting themselves at serious risk, get further advice from a health professional or support group. However hard it may be, especially in the heat of the moment, try not to judge your sibling and focus on why they are doing it in the first place.

Tell them that you want to be there for them, but that specialist help in addition to what you have to offer might be the best way forward.

What if it's my parents who are self-harming?

Having a parent who is self-harming is more common than you may think, so you're definitely not alone if this is something that is happening in your family. Supporting your mum and dad is not easy because in an ideal world they are the ones supporting, and worrying about you. Speak to your doctor (GP), a counsellor or call a helpline for advice on how to encourage them to seek specialist help. It's also important that you talk to someone about how your parents' self-harming may be affecting you, to make sure you are getting the right support.

If you find the right time to talk to your parent, or if it's easier writing them a note expressing your worries about their behaviour, try pointing them in the direction of their GP.If your mum or dad has a social worker or psychiatric nurse because of their mental health problems, it's a good idea to talk to them about any concerns you have.

Sharing the burden

You're not responsible for what your brother or sister, a friend, your partner, or parent does - there are many reasons why someone self-harms. It's natural to feel angry, upset, scared and confused, as to why they are self-harming, especially when it's someone you know and care about. "Trying to support someone all by yourself can be detrimental to their and your own mental health and could negatively impact on your relationship," says Karen Wright, at young people's mental health service, 42^nd Street. "Talking to a counsellor, specialist support group or helpline about how you feel will ease the pressure and strain."  If you are caring for a family member who has mental health problems you might get some useful advice from a local young carers project.

I can handle it...

"Be aware of your own feelings and take care of yourself. This may mean that you need to ensure you are getting support from someone else to support you in supporting them. Be open about the benefits of this and agree ground rules about what information you can share," says Karen. Acting like a spy will not help them or your relationship. Accept the fact you can't always be there for them, if and when they feel the need to self-harm. "Know your own boundaries," says Andrew. "Give information about support services or good quality websites. Tell them that you want to be there for them, but that specialist help in addition to what you have to offer might be the best way forward."

There's no quick fix

Recovering from mental health problems can be a slow, intense process. Be honest with someone who self-harms about the reality that you may not be able to help them with all the difficulties. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge the importance of your role.

Written by Monica Perdoni      www.thesite.org

What to do if you’re being bullied

When you’re dealing with bullying it can feel like there’s nothing you can do about it.  You can convince yourself that trying to stop it might make things worse.

If it’s happening in school, telling a teacher can seem like the last thing you want to do. Will your parents freak out and make a big fuss about it? If it’s happening in work, will anyone even believe you?

Everyone has the right to live, work, study and play in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence. No one deserves or asks to be bullied and you certainly shouldn’t go through it on your own. Don’t forget that. There are things you can do about it.

Asking someone for advice

If you’re dealing with bullying – be it verbal, physical or online – it can really help to tell someone about it and ask for advice. That can seem difficult and will take a bit of courage but you’ll be amazed by how much better you feel just by getting it off your chest.

If whatever’s going on is scaring you, if you feel threatened or you think you might be in danger, telling someone else what’s going on is really important. Don’t keep it to yourself. You’re not giving in and there’s nothing wussy or weak about reporting it or asking for advice. Anyone would need help with that.  Asking for support is actually a pretty brave move. Not sure what to say or how it could help? Read up on the benefits of talking to someone.

There are loads of people who might be able to help. Talk to your friends or to older brothers or sisters if you have them – they might’ve been through this stuff and they’ll understand.

If it’s happening in school, think of a teacher you trust to give you some advice or know how to handle it. Teachers and counsellors are specially trained in these situations and it’s their job to help.

Also, it’s good for them to know this is happening in the school because there might be other people going through it and they need to figure out how to prevent it. So think about it as helping other people.

It’s understandable you might be worried your parent or guardian will completely explode if you say anything and run down to the school screaming their head off. We can’t say it won’t happen, but remember they want to help, and they actually might. They’re also probably more clued in than you imagine, so explain to them if you don’t want them to do that and they might well get it. They could have suggestions you had never even thought of. Even if you don’t want them to do anything, it lightens the load, and that in itself is pretty good.

If you’re having a hard time with bullying in work, the person to talk to is your Human Resources manager. They deal with this sort of thing all the time. If you don’t have one or they’re not being helpful, talk to your manager or someone senior who can look into what’s happening. Alternatively, you can contact your union rep, the Health and Safety Authority or the Equality Tribunal. These organisations can give you advice on your options and your rights. You can also ask them to act on your behalf if you don’t feel comfortable doing it.

If it’s getting you down

If dealing with bullying is getting you down and affecting your day-to-day life, there are loads of people who can help, listen and support you. For more information on how people can help, see getting. If you need to talk to someone straight away, see telephone help for a list of help lines, like the Samaritans, that run 24 hours a day. In an emergency, go to I need help now or call 999. Someone will be able to help.

Tips for getting help

·         If you’re worried about speaking to someone, take a friend with you. If you don’t feel like you can talk about it out-loud or face-to-face, write it down or put it in an email. If you’d like to talk to someone outside the situation, have a look at face-to-face help and online and telephone help.

·         Talk to whoever you tell about what they’re planning to do. They might have a responsibility to act if they’re a teacher or counsellor and they’re worried about your safety, so make sure you check with them. They should run all of this by you first. Be clear about what you want and don’t want to happen. Read up on confidentiality and consent.

·         If you don’t feel as if you’re being taken seriously, or if no action is taken, it doesn’t mean what’s happening is ok. You were right to bring it up. Tell someone else and keep at it until something changes.

Dealing with bullying can be really tough. It affects your self-esteem and your confidence, and can end up affecting your work and your relationships too. It’s really important to do something about it, and if you feel you need a hand dealing with the effects of it, speak to someone like a counsellor to help you sort it out how you feel.

Working it out yourself

Depending on how bad the bullying is (and as long as you aren’t feeling in danger or physically threatened) you might decide to try to work it out yourself.

Here are some ideas that might help with this:

Ignore it (simple but effective)

Ignoring whoever’s trying to intimidate you or is giving you hassle can be really effective for verbal bullying. After all, they’re trying to get a reaction from you, so if you don’t give them one, they can get bored and give it a rest.

Suggestions for ignoring them: Walk away when they approach you. Try and imagine it’s a friend you’re walking away from – make sure your body language (which you’re usually unaware of) doesn’t give away a sense of fear.

If someone’s slagging you, try to laugh it off. This can be tough, but don’t rise to the bait. Stay calm and try not to get visibly upset by it. Remember it’s more about them than you.

Concentrate on thinking about something else (like what you’ll do next weekend, something daft like listing all the players on a football team or remembering the words of a song).

Have a mantra – a saying or a statement you can repeat in your head when they approach you that makes you feel confident enough to just block them out (could be a line from a song or a film, whatever works)

Be confident

People who hassle other people usually set their sights on someone who seems nervous or unsure of themselves because they think they won’t stand up to them. Being confident about whom you are can actually be your best defense. Even if you don’t feel it, as the not-so-old saying goes, “fake it ’til you make it”.

Suggestions for using your confidence to deal with bullying:

• Tell them to give it a rest – don’t be aggressive, just calm and sure of yourself.
• Turn around and be nice – killing them with kindness can throw them right off track.
• Using humour may also throw them off.
• Use positive self-talk – tell yourself you’re a better person than all that.
• Remember there are people who accept you for you who are and they’re the ones that matter.

Use visualisation

This might sound daft and it won’t work for everyone, but it can keep you from getting overwhelmed. Picture yourself as being miles taller than whoever’s hassling you, or imagine them in some ridiculous costume. This can help you realise they’re only human, and probably not as tough as they make out.

Stay positive
It can be hard to remember your good points when someone is doing their best to put you down. However, try to think of all the things you’re good at and proud of and stuff that makes you laugh.  Some of the world’s brightest and funniest and most talented people get a hard time when they’re young. Remember this will pass, and loads of people get through it and go on to do amazing stuff with their lives.

Safety in numbers

You’re safer in a group, so hang out with other people when you can. If you’re by yourself and worried about being hassled or feel threatened, be aware of places nearby where there’ll be other people.

Keep out of their way

It might be possible for you to avoid whoever’s bullying you. This can mean travelling a different way to school, or avoiding the places they hang out. This isn’t giving in to them – just getting on with life and taking care of yourself without them getting in the way or wrecking your day.

Moving on

 

Sometimes no matter how you or other people try to resolve a bullying situation, there might be no real solution other than to move school or change your job. This can seems like a massive deal, but sometimes making a fresh start is actually the simplest way forward and it can hugely improve how you feel day-to-day.

This isn’t always a possibility and it’s not the first option, but when it’s the right thing to do can actually be the best decision you ever make. You’re not giving up, just moving on. Parents can sometimes be resistant to the idea of moving school, but talk to them about it and explain how you feel. That way you can figure out what your options are.

More info and places that can help

There’s loads of information out there on bullying, and loads of people around the world who have started projects and campaigns to try and deal with it. Checking these out can be great ways to get some help yourself. You’ll see there are so many people who feel the same way you do, and who know that bullying is a really serious issue we all need to do something about.

From The Reachout.com website