PHA supports rural mental health and wellbeing

The Public Health Agency (PHA) is targeting £100,000 to support the improvement of mental health and wellbeing across the Northern area.

Four community networks have received the funding which will enable them to award community based ‘micro’ small grants in their respective areas.

Madeline Heaney, Head of Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement (Northern area), PHA, explained: “The PHA has a lead role in implementing the regional mental health promotion and suicide prevention strategies, in partnership with the community and voluntary sector and others.

“Providing each community network with funding for local activity is part of this work. It will help individuals learn how to cope with life changing events and help communities to promote positive mental health and build resilience.

“The projects funded by the Community Based Small Grants Scheme will help empower individuals and communities to take positive, protective action to improve their mental health and emotional wellbeing by providing relevant information on sources of support or services that they can access and building community capacity and resilience, especially in areas of higher need.”

The PHA has allocated a total of £100,000 for applications through:

• North Antrim Community Network (covering Moyle, Ballymoney, Ballymena and Larne council areas );
• Causeway Rural and Urban Network (covering Coleraine Council area);
• Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network (for Magherafelt and Cookstown council areas) and
• South Antrim Rural Network (for Antrim, Newtownabbey and Carrickfergus council areas)

‘Micro’ grants are available for approximately eight to ten projects in each council area and applications will be assessed on the potential to enable communities to improve health and wellbeing and to complete the work, including evaluation, by mid March 2013. The closing date for applications is Friday 28th September 2012

The scheme aims to encourage greater awareness of the issues surrounding mental health difficulties and to promote positive mental health and suicide prevention across the Northern Area. The PHA also wants to enable communities to take a more pro-active role in promoting mental health and suicide prevention and to build sustainable resilient communities.

Applications also should promote protective factors and build resilience, including eg early intervention, emotional wellbeing awareness work, increasing the capacity for self help and measures to improve quality of life.

Other key priorities include addressing the determinants of poor health and reducing health inequalities by increasing the delivery of resources, programmes and services to the 20% most disadvantaged neighbourhoods across the Northern area.
All projects will be required to give priority to areas and groups with higher prevalence rates of poor mental health, including those at higher risk of suicide or self harm.

Any non-statutory organisation, showing evidence of being an active group, within the Northern area, can apply for these ‘micro’ grants (of about £500). Larger grants (£1000 maximum) should target a large number of individuals and/or a large area.

For further information, guidance and examples of evidence based practice, along with support to develop a relevant programme, contact:

• North Antrim Community Network, Tel: 028 2177 2100
• Causeway Rural and Urban Network, Tel: 028 7034 4934
• Cookstown and Western Shores Area Network, Tel: 028 8773 8845
• South Antrim Rural Network, Tel: 028 9447 8645

If you, or someone you know, is in distress or despair, call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000. This is a confidential service, where trained counsellors will listen and help immediately on the phone and follow-up with other support if necessary. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also access the Lifeline website at www.lifelinehelpline.info

Closing Date for Applications: Friday 28th September