Recovery College

The Western Trust Recovery College offers free courses and workshops that support people to better understand and manage their mental health and emotional wellbeing.

All courses are written and delivered by people with lived experience of mental health issues in partnership with those who have professional experience and knowledge. The College strives to promote hope and self-awareness; increase understanding of particular conditions and treatments; and encourages self-management with an emphasis on taking back control.

Our free courses are open to all – those who use services, people with mental health issues whether diagnosed or otherwise, carers and supporters, students, health professionals – in fact anyone who is interested in good mental health.

We usually operate in 5 locations within the Trust area: Derry/Londonderry, Enniskillen, Limavady, Omagh and Strabane, and we work hard to make the College friendly and informal, and a place where we support and learn from each other.

Current Recovery College Prospectus

Download and Print the Autumn/Winter 2025 Prospectus

Access the online enrollment form

Recovery Services

What does the Recovery Service Do?
The Western Trust provides specialist, community-based mental health teams focusing on the needs of those with significant and longstanding mental health problems. Recovery teams aim to provide accessible, effective and timely interventions to support service users to develop hope, resilience and independence – and ultimately to lead meaningful lives. Recovery teams work in partnership with individuals and their families, offering help, treatment and care in an atmosphere of hope and optimism. We strive to build trusting, supportive, empathetic and non-judgmental relationships as an essential part of care, and we encourage service user autonomy, promote patient participation in treatment decisions, and support client self-management. The Recovery Service aims to provide multidisciplinary care and evidence-based interventions. We work with individuals with complex mental health and social care needs, and with those who are most at risk of relapse and hospital admission.

What staff work in the Recovery Service?
Recovery teams provide care through a range of mental health professionals including: community mental health nurses; social workers; consultant psychiatrists and trainee doctors; occupational therapists, and clinical psychologists/ CBT therapists.

Where are the Recovery Service teams located?
There are six Recovery teams within the Western Trust’s Adult Mental Health service.

These are based in Limavady, Strabane, Londonderry (2), Omagh, and Enniskillen.

How do patients access the Recovery Service?
Referrals to the Recovery Service can come from a number of potential sources, including: GPs; Western Trust Adult Mental Health Teams (for example, Primary Care Liaison Service/PCLS, Addictions, Psychological Therapies, Crisis Service, Forensic Service, Eating Disorders Service, Personality Disorder Service); Child and Adolescence Mental Health Services (CAMHS) via Transition panel meetings, Prison Healthcare, and transfers from other community mental health services teams/trusts outside of the Trust area.

When is the Recovery Service Available?
The Recovery Service operates on a Monday – Friday basis, 9:00AM – 5:00PM
Recovery College Spring and Summer 2025 Prospectus

Download and Print the Spring/Summer 2025 Prospectus

Access the online enrollment form
Recovery College Reaching Out Campaign

Reaching Out Campaign – Introduction

Week 1 – What is anxiety?

What is anxiety? – Flora’s Story

Question Video – What is anxiety?

Answering Your Questions – What is anxiety? – Click Here to View

Week 2 – Staying Connected

Staying Connected – Kate’s Story

Dr. Catrin Gabriel, Staying Connected

Dr. Catrin Gabriel, Review of Comments and Suggestions – Staying Connected – Click Here to View

Week 3 – Seeking Support for your Mental Health

Service User Story – Seeking Support for your Mental Health

Seeking Support for your Mental Health

Seeking Support for your Mental Health – Answering your Questions – Click here to view

Week 4 – Understanding Self Compassion

Eva’s Story – Understanding Self Compassion

Bernadette Doherty, Peer Volunteer – Understanding Self Compassion

Resources

Centre for Clinical Interventions – Self Care Workbook

“Self- compassion: The Proven Power of being kind to yourself” by Kristin Neff, Ph.D

Week 5 – Five Steps to Wellbeing

Sarah Crawford, Occupational Therapist

Resources

The original Five Ways to Wellbeing Report by the New Economics Foundation

Aware NI Video

Free Online Training

NHS Choices – Mindfulness and Taking Notice

Week 6 Coping Strategies

Answering Your Questions – Coping Strategies

Joanne Heavern – Dialectical Behaviour Therapy
Creating Wellness In Winter

Tapestry Weaving with Emma

Rocking Reindeer Craft with Melanie

Cheesy Bean Crunch with Olive
Creating Wellness in Autumn

Video 1

Video 2 – Tin Craft Art

Video 3 – Leaf Art
Video Resources

Journaling for Wellness

What is Depression?

Understanding the Cycle of Depression

Managing Depression

What is Anxiety?

The Cycle of Anxiety

What is Mindfulness?

Living Well with Bipolar

Getting Back on Track

Getting A Good Night’s Sleep

Food and Mood
Finding Hope

Click on the image above to download and print Finding Hope, the Western Trust Recovery College’s guide to help and support for mental health and wellbeing in the Trust area.
Recovery College Latest Newsletters
As part of their Reaching Out campaign the Recovery College’s is producing fortnightly newsletters to help people look after their mental health and wellbeing during the COVID19 pandemic. You can download and print the newsletters below.
Further Resources

Click here to visit the Further Resources Page
Recovery Stories
Caroline’s Recovery Story

Read personal accounts of individuals in the Western Trust area who have had mental health challenges in their life below:
- Read Grainne’s recovery story
- Read Annie’s recovery story
About Our Courses

Click on the icons below to hear more about our courses.
Mental Health Helplines
- Lifeline – 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
- Childline – 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 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
All of the helplines above are free to call.

For all other local helplines for a variety of services in Northern Ireland, please visit: Helplines Network NI