Mental Health is the emotional and spiritual resilience that enables us to enjoy life and to overcome pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well-being and an underlying belief in our own, and others’ dignity and worth. Anyone can experience mental ill health in the same way as we can experience physical ill health, this can be mild, moderate or severe.
Statistically, 1 in 4 people in Northern Ireland will experience a mental health problem in any given year. There has often been a reluctance to talk about our emotions for fear of being judged or being seen as weak but most people struggle with their mental health and emotions at some time in their life. This can be because of life events such as money worries, relationship difficulties, loss or unemployment. Poor self-esteem, isolation and loneliness can also affect how we feel.
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Take Five Steps to Wellbeing
Being resilient can really help…
Take 5
Take 5 is the Public Health Agency’s framework for mental wellbeing. The Take 5 steps are:
Connect
Connect with the people around you: family, friends, colleagues and neighbours at home, work, school or in your local community. Think of these relationships as the cornerstones of your life and spend time developing them. Building these connections will support and enrich you every day.
Be active
Go for a walk or run, cycle, play a game, garden or dance. Exercising makes you feel good. Most importantly, discover a physical activity that you enjoy; one that suits your level of mobility and fitness.
Take notice
Stop, pause, or take a moment to look around you. What can you see, feel, smell or even taste? Look for beautiful, new, unusual or extraordinary things in your everyday life and think about how that makes you feel.
Keep learning
Don’t be afraid to try something new, rediscover an old hobby or sign up for a course. Take on a different responsibility, fix a bike, and learn to play an instrument or how to cook your favourite food. Set a challenge you will enjoy. Learning new things will make you more confident, as well as being fun to do.
Give
Do something nice for a friend or stranger, thank someone, smile, volunteer your time or consider joining a community group. Seeing yourself and your happiness linked to the wider community can be incredibly rewarding and will create connections with the people around you.
However, It is really important to seek help if you are concerned about yourself or someone you know. Talk to your GP or there are many local services that offer support.
Click here to see directories of mental health and suicide prevention services for all five Trust areas.
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Mental Health Helplines
Lifeline is a crisis-response helpline service operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you are in distress or despair, you can call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 and talk to an experienced counsellor in confidence.
Samaritans; A safe space for you to talk: 116 123
If you are a child or young person, you can talk to Childline by phoning: 0800 1111 for free, 24hours a day or online at www.childline.org.uk
24 hour Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline: Free phone support, advice and signposting for men and women: 0808 802 1414
NSPCC helpline; helping adults protect children 0808 800 5000
Inspire Workplace helpline (formerly Carecall): 0808 800 0002
For all other local helplines for a variety of services in Northern Ireland, please visit Helplines Network NI
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CRISPS | Crisis Resources Information and Support Provider
CRISPS – The Crisis Resources Information and Support Provider leaflet is designed to help people who may be suffering from mental health issues. We would encourage people to wait and be treated when they present to our Emergency Departments. However, if people decide not to stay in ED, the leaflet will provide contact details for relevant mental health services in their area.
- Useful Websites
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Free Online Training to Support Your Mental Health
Zero Suicide Alliance Training
Zero Suicide Alliance offers a free ‘3 step’ awareness training programme which provides a better understanding of the signs to look out for and the skills required to approach someone who is struggling, whether that be through social isolation or suicidal thoughts.
Take the Zero Suicide Alliance training course
Psychological First Aid
Psychological first aid is a simple, yet powerful way of helping someone in distress during and after a crisis like the COVID 19 pandemic. It involves paying attention to the person’s reactions, active listening and if relevant, practical assistance to help address immediate problems and basic needs.
Take the Psychological First Aid training course
Stress Control
The Public Health Agency funds free Stress Control programmes that teach skills and techniques for managing stress. Topics covered include what stress is, controlling your body, controlling your thoughts, controlling your actions, managing panicky feelings, getting a good night’s sleep and planning for the future.
Take the free Stress Control training here
Living Life to the Full
This is a six week programme using a CBT approach. It introduces participants to the ‘Five Areas Approach’ which illustrates that events and situations in our lives affect how we think, how we feel, how we behave and also affect us physically.
Read more about the Living Life to the Full programme
Recovery College
There is a recovery college in each Trust are that offers free courses and workshops that support people to better understand and manage their mental health and wellbeing. All courses are written and delivered by people with lied experience of mental health issues in partnership with those who have professional experience and knowledge. The free courses are open to everyone who is interested in good mental health.
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Holding on to Hope Campaign 2021
We’ve all lived through a year like no other. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected each of us differently and we have all had to adapt. Here at the Health Improvement, Equality & Involvement Department we have developed a series of workshops which have been designed to help practitioners gain a better understanding of both their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
‘Holding On To Hope in an Unequal World’ is a five week social media campaign which links World Suicide Prevention Day on 10th September to World Mental Health Day on 10th October 2021. Visit www.mindingyourhead.info for more information.
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Feel Well, Work Well | Information Sessions
During the campaign, we are offering a series of self-care workshops to support your emotional wellbeing and help you understand why you feel the way you do. The sessions will focus on simple techniques that you can use every day such as relaxation, deep breathing, guided meditation and education around mental health and emotional wellbeing. We have secured a number of fantastic guest speakers who are experts in their fields to deliver these sessions.
If you would like to attend any of these workshops, please register your interest by emailing Health.Improvement@westerntrust.hscni.net with your name, email address and the name of the workshop you are interested in. Once you register your interest, you will be emailed out a Zoom Link to join the workshop.”
- Useful Information