Date 26 June Number: P5

Ref: PR/PHM/8 66/6

Look After Yourself and Others

Local communities welcome a new resource that highlights the broad range of support and services available to help improve the mental health and emotional well being of those living and working in the Northern area.

In response to the Government’s Suicide Prevention Strategy 'Protect Life, A Shared Vision', a wide range of local action and initiatives are being progressed to help improve mental health and reduce the number of deaths through suicide within the Northern area. The Look After Yourself and Others resource, which comprises a poster and leaflet, was developed to support, encourage and empower local people and communities to focus on positive mental health and suicide prevention.

Targeted at individuals and potential referrers the user friendly resource will raise awareness and provide a comprehensive guide to the wide range of support that can be accessed locally to help improve mental health and emotional well being. The support available is wide ranging and includes help to cope with issues such as: bereavement; drugs and alcohol addiction; sexual health; and the concerns of young people or older people, to name but a few.

The Public Health Agency Promoting Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Steering Group, within the Northern area, developed the resource to empower and build resilience for all age groups and support them to make positive choices in relation to their own mental health. Chair of the Steering Group, Madeline Heaney, Northern Commissioner for Health Promotion, with the Public Health Agency, commented: ‘Suicide is a growing problem within Northern Ireland and it is widely acknowledged that reducing suicide and its tragic consequences for families and communities is a top priority. The Look After Yourself and Others resource has been developed in partnership across a range of sectors, including the local community networks based in the Northern area. We hope that increased collaborative working on developments such as this will ultimately lead to a reduction in the number of people dying through suicide.’

To date the resource has been widely distributed to key statutory, voluntary and community groups across the Northern area, and has been strongly welcomed by all the local community networks in the Northern area.

Speaking on behalf of Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network (CWSAN), May Devlin, Director, highlighted: “The Look After Yourself and Others poster provides an excellent resource for the community as a useful and practical guide detailing information on locally available sources of support and services to help improve mental health and emotional well being. Within the CWSAN area we are very pleased to have these readily available for community organisations to access the most appropriate support and information to meet the needs of their local communities.’

Speaking on behalf of Oakleaf Rural Community Network, Sandy Wilson, Manager, highlighted: “Mental Health support services are of no value unless they are accessible. The Look After Yourself and Others resource brings relevant information into the heart of the community to groups and individuals of all ages.”

Speaking about the new resource, Gabrielle Nellis, Northern Suicide Prevention Co-ordinator with the Public Health Agency, said: 'In seeking to help prevent suicide, we need to focus on how people cope with stressful and emotional life events. We hope this resource will equip individuals to take positive action to improve their own emotional well being and to support those they love and care about by sharing information, on sources of support or services that they can access.'

For further information on developments under Suicide Prevention in the Northern area or to request copies please contact Gabrielle Nellis ~ Tel: 028 2531 1172 or email: Gabrielle.Nellis@hscni.net

ENDS

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