Mental Health Supports Online

Youghal Cancer Care: a wonderful support

Today we’re highlighting the excellent and valuable supports offered by Youghal Cancer Care to people suffering with cancer and their families and friends. They offer their support across East Cork and West Waterford and all their services are free of charge. 

Fire Safety at Christmas & Cork Community Response

Cork Community Response newsletter – information, ideas and more!

 

Family Carers

Many people are caring for someone at home, and the Carers Association have lots of supports to offer. This includes a Helpline, which can be so useful in these troubled times.

National Freephone Careline

1800 24 07 24

Careline hours are 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 12pm on Saturday.

They also have a wealth of information and support, so dont be afraid to call them. The llink below is to their website: this is the page with Covid-specific supports, so do take a look at their other pages and supports.

https://familycarers.ie/covid-19

 

More Mindful Musings

A Thanksgiving Mindfulness Activity
“Use the visual graphic below and follow the arrows as you take deep breaths in and out. Pair the deep breathing with thoughts of things that you are thankful for with each breath. For each feather on the turkey, you will concentrate on one thing, person, or aspect that you are thankful for. Maybe it’s a warm house. Maybe you are thankful for the sun shining outside. Maybe it’s a frantic house filled with family and friends. Maybe it’s a job that pays the bills. Thinking about whatever it is that you are grateful for is a simple way to pair the benefits of slow deep breaths with intentional thoughts.”
– theottoolbox.com

 Mindfulness Worksheets
Limitless Awareness. We limit ourselves by thinking that we are just one thing. One person with one set of ideas and emotions, or tendencies. We each have our habits, but we are not our habits. Nor are we our thoughts or emotions. These energies, like all energy, are in continual motion. When left to do their thing, they will change and dissipate. Our own potential for change increases when we recognize that we are more than just our current state of being. We are the awareness of our state of being, and that awareness is infinite and spacious. By identifying more with this spaciousness, and less with any one energetic pulse of the mind, we open ourselves to potential. We experience the limitless growth, happiness and contentment that comes from expanding our awareness, and by extension our identity, to all things.

Sean Fargo
Founder, Mindfulness Exercises – you can subscribe to his free youtube channel here

Subscribe to our YouTube channel for exclusive, free mindfulness trainings

 

Relaxation Tips from HSE

Relaxation tips

Relaxing gives your mind and body time to recover from the stresses of everyday life. Breathing techniques and remembering to be present can help.

Relaxation tips

Fit things into your day that help you unwind. It’s different for everyone – for you, it could be:

• listening to music
• going for a walk
• tea with friends
• yoga
• running
• reading
• watching television

Find something that you enjoy and make a conscious effort to do that relaxing thing every day. Even 10 minutes of downtime can help you manage stress better. The more pauses you can build into your day the calmer you’ll feel.

It can help to have a specific place where you go to relax. This can be your bedroom, bathroom, the garden shed or a small corner in the kitchen. It should be somewhere you feel comfortable and secure.

Related topic

Dealing with stress

Breathing

We all take breathing for granted. It’s something that happens without us being conscious of it.

You can learn better breathing techniques. This can help to reduce stress, anxiety and panic.

Life is hectic but it only takes a few minutes to stop and breathe.

Concentrate on your breath

Take a couple of minutes to concentrate on how you breathe. You might realise that your breathing comes from the top of your chest. When we are stressed, tired or feeling anxious we tend to take shallow and fast breaths.

When we are relaxed we take slower and calmer breaths. This also helps us to feel calmer.

More oxygen keeps us working better all around. Changing how you feel physically can change how you feel mentally. Calming the physical feeling of anxiety – with deep breaths – can help to relieve an anxious mind.

Breathing techniques

Better breathing techniques can be learned. Breathing better will help your mind and body regain control of the situation.

Practice these tips to help you take a moment and breathe:

• sit in a comfortable and supportive chair
• put one hand on your chest and the other hand on your abdomen
• breathe as you would normally, but notice where your breath is coming from in your body
• concentrate on taking a deep breath – notice how your abdomen rises and falls
• as you get used to taking deep breaths try holding the breath for a count of 4 and then exhaling to a count of 6 – this will encourage you to take deeper breaths
• when taking a deep breath it’s important to focus on the exhale
• as you get better at taking deep breaths, try working towards exhaling for 9 seconds and inhaling for 7

Being present

When your mind feels overloaded with thoughts or stress, it helps to pay attention to what’s around you.

Focus on what’s going on around you – the people walking past or the colour of the sky. Notice the colours, the textures, even the smells around you. This can help to remind you that you are more than the thoughts you are experiencing. It can bring you back into the moment.

Focus on your feelings

Whenever possible, take a moment to focus on your feelings at various points during the day. This gives you time and space to decide if it’s possible to change your feelings. This could help to improve your day or situation.

Even noticing how you are feeling can change how you feel. Despite how bad things may seem, sometimes you can change your feelings about a situation.

The more you practice noticing your feelings, the better you’ll get. The important thing is to focus on the feeling without judgement, just kindness.

Pay attention to your walk

If possible, when you’re feeling stressed, go for a walk for a minute or two. Really focus on each step that you take – concentrating on how it feels to bring your foot down and then up again.

Notice the movement of your body and the swing of your arms. All the related sensations and sounds you experience as you walk. It might sound odd, but this can help to focus you on the moment.

See more info at https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/mental-health/relaxation.html

YANA Domestic Violence Project

Provides free, confidential support and information to women experiencing domestic violence and abuse.

Contact June Murphy: Phone 087 2963957 Mon – Friday. Email junemurphy@yanacork.com

YANA also provides counselling, court accompaniment and links to other services

Youghal Community Health Project Virtual Dementia Cafes

 

Mental Health Supports & Community Responses

Resilience and Wellbeing ‘Keep Well’ campaign

The Department of Health is pleased to share the next phase of the Healthy Ireland Resilience and Wellbeing campaign. The Government Plan for Living with COVID-19 – Resilience and Recovery 2020-2021 highlights the important role that individual and community resilience will play in contributing to our ongoing response to COVID-19. This is a call to action to everyone across our society. It is an invitation to individuals, communities, voluntary groups, sporting organisations, those involved in creativity and the arts, local heritage and history, businesses, as well as local and national government to find ways to support everyone to discover new activities and routines that will do us good.

The “Keep Well” campaign will show people of all ages how to mind their own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to their daily and weekly routines.  The Healthy Ireland “Keep Well” campaign will provide guidelines, information, and tips on things to help all to keep well through the coming months.

This Resilience and Wellbeing information is being added on  www.gov.ie/healthyireland and placed under the following sections: Staying Active, Keeping Connected, Switching Off, Eating Well, and Minding Your Mood.

There is also an allocation of funding from Sláintecare to support a number of initiatives through the Healthy Ireland Fund. These are summarised in the attached release and will aim to help build Resilience and Wellbeing among communities. These will be rolled out over the coming months, and indeed some of you will be involved in the initiatives. 

The national campaign will unfold over the coming weeks across different advertising channels, and will be supported at a local level. Local Authority and Healthy Ireland /Healthy City and County colleagues are updating and linking Local Authority websites with information about local resources and initiatives and adding some of the campaign imagery.

There is a suite of creative assets available if you have use for them. Contact healthyireland@health.gov.ie

Your support on social media is always welcome. #keepwell

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Mental Health Support Lines.  

The Samaritans 24/7 service on 116123 or jo@samaritans.ie

The 24/7 service run by Pieta House on 1800 247 247

Childline on 1800 666 666 (for children under the age of 18).

The YourMentalHealth information line on 1800 111 888 is open 24/7. This is not a counselling service, but has information on available mental health supports and services and how to access them

Information is also available on www.yourmentalhealth.ie.

Anyone in crisis can get immediate support through their GP or the Southdoc service (1850 335 999, southdoc.ie). Round-the-clock psychiatric care is available at Emergency Departments for those presenting in crisis.

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Free Text Support

50808 is a first of its kind for Ireland: a free 24/7 text service, providing everything from a calming chat to immediate support for people going through a mental health or emotional crisis – big or small.

FREE-TEXT 50808 NOW

From breakups or bullying, to anxiety, depression and suicidal feelings, our Crisis Volunteers are available 24/7 for anonymous text conversations. Our aim is to provide immediate support in the short term and connect people to resources that will help them in the future.

The service is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE).

Do you need help now?

If you’re experiencing a personal crisis, are unable to cope and need support text HELLO to 50808. If your life is at imminent risk, call 999 for emergency help.

We can help with urgent issues such as:

• Suicidal thoughts
• Self-harm
• Anxiety, panic or stress
• Depression or sadness
• Isolation or loneliness
• Relationship challenges
• Abuse or assault
• Racism, homophobia, transphobia or any type of discrimination
• Bullying

We know that finding the right support is important, especially if you need someone to talk to right now. We will always try to respond to texters as quickly as possible however our responses will be longer at times of high demand. We will always respond to high risk texters as a priority. If you are at imminent risk call 999.

FREE-TEXT 50808 NOW

How does it work?

50808 provides a safe space where you’re listened to by a trained Crisis Volunteer. The Crisis Volunteer will introduce themselves, reflect on what you’ve said, and invite you to share at your own pace. You’ll text back and forth, only sharing what you feel comfortable with. By asking questions, listening to you and responding with support, they will help you sort through your feelings until you both feel you are now in a calm, safe place.

You might be provided with some signposting to other services offered by our partner organisations, so that you can continue to get support. Our service is based on a tried and tested model of crisis support. 50808 staff work alongside our Crisis Volunteers and monitor conversations 24/7.

• If at any time you wish to end the conversation, you can text STOP and you won’t receive any further texts
• If our team believe you or someone else is at imminent risk, we will contact the emergency services to ensure your safety and it will be up to the emergency services to determine how and when they respond
• It’s not a one way process: you won’t be told what to do. You’ll need to work with the Volunteer to address your crisis and look
 to move forward.
• Our Crisis Volunteers don’t provide clinical advice and the service does not provide therapy or long-term support
• We aim to respond to texters as quickly as possible. When we’re really busy wait times will be longer
• 

Writing Group, Stress Control, Parent Supports & Helium Arts for Children!

A FREE Creative Writing course suitable for everyone is starting on Monday, November 9th from 10.30am – 12.30pm and will run via zoom for 6 weeks.

It’s called ‘WARMING UP FOR WINTER’ – ‘If you’ve always wanted to write but didn’t know where to start, or if you’re returning to writing after some time away, this is the course for YOU! All you need is pen and paper and enthusiasm. During these Zoom sessions, you will be given prompts to get you started. Gradually, your notebook will fill up with a collection of writings that you can share with your family, or even develop into stories that might be published or broadcast. Most of all, with the tutor’s encouragement and guidance, you will hopefully start a passion that will last for the rest of your life’

To sign up contact Mariam on 087 6319608

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TAKE CONTROL WITH STRESS CONTROL: HSE & Healthy Ireland
Online course commencing Monday 2nd November: see link below for details

stress control november 2020

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One Family: Parent E-Learning and online courses

See https://onefamily.ie/education-development/parents-programmes/parenting-courses-via-zoom/ for more information and other course dates.  

Upcoming Evening Courses with John Sharry;

Positive Parenting: 2-9 yr olds
Runs over two Wednesday evenings, November 4th and 11th. Topics include:

Building Resilience and Self-Esteem in Your Children and Teenagers
Runs over three Wednesday evenings, November 18th, 25th and December 2nd. 

Places are limited and tend to fill quickly!

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ISPCC supports now contactable by email

The ISPCCs support line offers information, advice and emotional support to members of the public who contact them on any issue in relation to child protection and welfare and they now have a new email address for those who would feel more comfortable emailing us. Members of the public can email parentingsupport@ispcc.ie and we will endeavour to respond asap!

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Helplines, Dementia Cafe & the Youghal App!

The Happiness Ensemble & Low Cost Counselling

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Support Contacts

Health & Family Supports

Thanks to the Child & Family Support Network (CFSN) for putting these together

Today:

MABS Meal Planner Online / Parent Action Videos from CYPSC / Health & Wellbeing Advice: Posture and Smoking Cessation / Reporting Concern /Counselling Supports from Sláintecare & HSE / 

1. MABS Meal Planner

The MABS Meal Planner is now live across social media. This is a 4 week campaign to inspire people into creating healthy and balanced meals, while helping them save money.

Every Thursday, a new plan will be posted here: https://www.mabs.ie/en/publications/meal_planner/

Find Week 1 here: https://www.mabs.ie/en/publications/meal_planner/week_one.html

Join the event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/260350181945990/

2. Parent Action Videos

The Children & Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) ‘Supporting Parents’ Parent Action Leaflets have been turned into Parent Action Videos – link is here

https://www.cypsc.ie/your-county-cypsc/cork.228.html

3. Health & Wellbeing Advice: Posture and Smoking Cessation

The joint Department of Health, Healthy Ireland and HSE campaign continues to give mental health and wellbeing advice and resources that we can avail of. 

Please take a look if you think this is something that you might benefit from. 

New videos covering the following topics have been added here:
1.        Positive Posture while working from home: Anna O’Brien, Senior Physiotherapist, HSE
2.        Tips for quitting smoking: Miriam O’Shea, Smoking Cessation Officer, HSE

4. Reporting Concern

 

5. Sláintecare and HSE: Counselling and Psychotherapy Project

In response to the mental health challenges posed by COVID 19, MyMind is now working with Sláintecare and the HSE to provide fully subsidised counselling, psychotherapy and psychological support for individuals in all regions of Ireland. The main mental health issues include issues arising from unemployment, bereavement, social isolation/cocooning, illness, stress, depression, anxiety, addiction, domestic violence, etc.

This project has received funding from the Government of Ireland’s Sláintecare Integration Fund 2019 under Grant Agreement Number 478A.

All counselling and psychotherapy sessions delivered through this project will be provided by MyMind and will be carried out online via video call or phone calls. To learn more, please visit: https://mymind.org/online

AM I ELIGIBLE? *

To be eligible for the fully subsidised counselling sessions you should be:

• Presenting with COVID 19 related mental health issues (e.g. bereavement, social isolation/cocooning, illness, stress, depression, anxiety, addiction, domestic violence, etc.);

AND (at least one of the following)

✓ A front-line worker in a medical setting (e.g. HSE staff, nursing home staff, paramedic, public health worker, GP etc.)

✓ Employed with low income (see threshold in How Do I Apply section)

✓ Unemployed due to COVID 19

✓ Bereaved resulting from COVID 19

✓ Over the age of 65

✓ Cocooning due to ill-health (regardless of age)

*When registering your account, in addition to the employment status, you should also select COVID-19 affected or Frontline staff.

HOW DO I APPLY?

To avail of the fully subsidised sessions, you must be over the age of 18 and prior to any booking may be required to submit one or more items of documentation from the following list in order to verify eligibility.

Fully subsidised children and adolescent appointments may also be offered, but are limited to parental support, and not working with the child directly.

Documentation List:

✓ Proof of employment as a front-line worker in a medical setting e.g. ID badge, payslip, etc.; or

✓ Proof of receipt of Pandemic Unemployment Benefit; or

✓ Proof that average take-home weekly wage is €350 or less; or

✓ A referral letter from your GP.

HOW DO I BOOK AN APPOINTMENT?

To arrange an appointment/session with MyMind, please visit: https://mymind.org/register

or clink in the following: GET STARTED

Documents for eligibility can be uploaded and submitted through the online account you will create when registering
(https://app.mymind.org/Client/Client/ClientDocuments)

For any further questions

please email us at hq@mymind.org

or phone the office on 076 680 1060.

Terms and condition:

The client accepts the Terms & Conditions associated with the service prior to attending the first session which in addition to the normal T&C for service include:

1. Client accepts that fully subsidised of charge sessions are offered on a first come first served basis and that the overall number of appointments available under the scheme is limited;
2. A maximum of 3 appointments can be booked in advance at any one time;
3. Once the scheme is fully subscribed, if clients wish to continue treatment they may convert to regular client status and avail of the standard fee service applicable to their circumstances;
4. Appointments may be cancelled up to 24 hours before the session is due to begin. Once a client has had two late cancellations and/or no shows, they will be removed from the scheme and will no longer be eligible for fully subsidised of charge appointments;
5. All subsidised appointments must take place between 9th of June 2020 and 11th of September 2020, subject to availability.

Confidentiality:

MyMind is committed at every level and in all aspects of the service it offers to provide a confidential service to all those who are seeking mental health support. Confidentiality is between the individual and the organisation and between the individual and the mental health professional. For more information see https://mymind.org/confidentiality.
Further terms and conditions can be found on: https://mymind.org/terms.

 

 

 

Supports, Advice and Quick Maskmaking!

IICP College: Online Workshop – Emerging from COVID-19

Pandemics elicit an invisible anxiety between social-distancing and connection, cocooning and isolation, survival and death. Managing our responses to our usual anxieties is difficult enough, so how do we manage them when enmeshed with the shadow of a pandemic? This online workshop aims to explore how pandemics complicate our anxieties, and offers a range of therapeutic responses.
Book your place by: 21/06/20

https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/training/75629

Minding your Long-term health condition during Coronavirus

This HSE long term health conditions leaflet has been adapted by Pavee Point and is a useful guide.

Pavee Point_Chronic Health COVID 19 FINAL

Quick Face Covering

Stuck for a face covering? Plenty of odd socks around the house? Here’s a quick and easy way to make a mask from a single sock…while double or triple-layer masks are better protection, sometimes we just need something simple! The video isn’t in English but it’s very clear to follow.

https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2?ui=2&ik=138cebcefe&attid=0.1&permmsgid=msg-f:1669138635511846884&th=1729f8beda9057e4&view=att&disp=safe

 

Some more useful supports and information

Crisis Text Line Ireland Launches “For the Frontlines” emotional support for Healthcare Professionals and Essential Workers

In an effort to support health care professionals and essential workers who are increasingly putting their lives at risk during the coronavirus pandemic, Crisis Text Line Ireland, and its affiliate partners Crisis Text Line (US), Kids Help Phone (Canada), and Shout (UK), have created the For the Frontlines campaign to raise awareness about their free crisis support service. Crisis Text Line is funded by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland.

https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75434

Supporting Diabetes

People with diabetes are considered a high-risk group because having diabetes causes the body to raise glucose levels during times of illness or stress which makes it more difficult to fight infection. Hence people with diabetes have an increased risk of moderate or severe illness. https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75482

Barnardos Family Supports

Barnardos provides practical and emotional supports to children and parents in its 41 centres, in families’ own homes, through the school environment, and within communities across Ireland. Last year we worked with over 20,000 children, young people and their families.

Given our expertise in providing a wide variety of supports to families and children, Barnardos have launched a national telephone and email support service for parents in response to the challenges they are facing during the Covid-19 pandemic. This service will be staffed by Barnardos project workers who are trained professionals in the areas family support and social care.

The government’s response to Covid-19 has meant that normal routines and sources of support are currently unavailable to many families. Through our dedicated telephone and email support service Barnardos staff can provide support and advice to parents on the following issues:

• How to talk to your children about the corona virus
• Setting a good routine
• Managing children’s behaviours and sibling dynamics
• Managing aggression and family discord
• Home schooling/managing school expectations.
• Fostering natural learning opportunities in the home
• Healthy eating
• Accessing fun and educational activities for families and individual children
• Managing your child’s worries
• Self-care for parents
• Helping parents manage their own worries and anxieties
• Managing children’s online activity

Barnardos also provides specialist services and support in relation to bereavement, adoption and fostering.

You can make contact with this service by phoning 1800 910 123 between 10.00am and 2.00pm Monday to Friday or by emailing parentsupport@barnardos.ie.

HELPING CHILDREN COPE 2 (00000002)

Key Messages for Parents – Internet Safety

together_poster media awards

Webinar advertisement (8) PAKT

YourMentaHealth.ie

Bringing you some useful supports today…

these come via http://www.activelink.ie which has a weekly bulletin on their site,

including supports, training, grants and job vacancies

Now More Than Ever: from ALONE

ALONE, the organisation which supports older people, have teamed up with Gavin James and Bonfire Dublin to release their ‘Now more than ever’ campaign, a series of short videos on loneliness featuring Gavin James’s music, which call on members of the public to stay in touch with the older people they know who may be feeling lonely whilst cocooning. https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/news/75592

STEP AHEAD Vocational Service is open for new clients

STEP AHEAD is a project from Acquired Brain Injury Ireland and they are delighted to announce that they’re now open to accept new referrals and assessments for this free vocational service. Given the current restrictions on face to face contact, the assessment will be partially completed via Zoom until such restrictions are lifted.

https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75600

Free Employment Law Advice Clinic for Women during Covid-19

The National Women’s Council of Ireland and Community Law and Mediation are operating a free employment law advice clinics for women by phone. If you are concerned about your treatment at work or have a legal question you want to discuss in detail, NWCI and their partners in the clinics, Community Law & Mediation, can help.

https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75599

Threshold: Advice for renters whose tenancies are affected by COVID-19 measures

If your tenancy is at risk or impacted in any way as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, contact Threshold. Advice includes: Government measures, COVID-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment, Rent Supplement, Direct engagement with your landlord & Contact Threshold.

https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75498

Mercy Law Resource Centre: Know Your Rights

Mercy Law Resource Centre have begun putting together a Know Your Rights series, the first two parts of the series in particular focus in on new legal and policy updates in light of Covid-19 in particular those affecting rent, notice of termination and evictions. https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75499

Community Law & Mediation: Free Legal Advice Clinics by Phone

In response to the increased need for legal information and advice, we will be running Free Legal Advice Clinics by Phone in the areas of social welfare, housing, debt and employment. General queries also welcome. To book a phone consultation, please contact 01 847 7804 or 061 536 100 and leave your name, number and the county you are calling from. https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75410

Information guide and dedicated bank phonelines for cocooning and vulnerable bank customers

Banking & Payments Federation Ireland has published a special information guide providing practical advice for cocooning customers on the various ways in which they can manage their day-to-day banking and finances in a safe way while they stay at home. https://www.activelink.ie/community-exchange/services-requests/75424