ISSUE 3 AUTUMN 2013
WISECRAIC
inside this issue
NIAAS Report
MindWise Awards
Dear Reader…
Welcome to our third edition of WiseCraic. Over recent months we
have experienced some organisational change as we bid a fond
farewell to Bill Halliday, CEO, who retired, and have welcomed on
board our new CEO, Edward Gorringe. Read more on page 3.
The Editorial Team continue to welcome all your submissions for
publication in future editions of WiseCraic and while we would love
to see all of your work included this is not always possible and
for this we apologise in advance. Where we are unable to publish
an article in WiseCraic we would aim to publish your contribution
on the MindWise Website, www.mindwisenv.org, and will request
permission from you to do so in advance. We will make every effort
to reply to all advising them whether or not they have made a
successful contribution.
This really is a Magazine aimed at you the reader and we wish for it
to be a place that has everything you would like to read. Please get
in contact via email [email protected] or by phone:
02890402323.
If you would like work included in the next issue please submit by the
12th December.
Kind regards
Dorothy Lawrence
Editor (Publication of contributions is at the Editors discretion)
Please find MindWise on Facebook: www.facebook.com/MindWisenv
and on Twitter: www. twitter.com/MindwiseNV
If you would like to still receive copies of “Your Voice”
please arrange with the editor at: [email protected]
Views expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent those
of Mindwise, unless agreed by the Board of Trustees. For reasons of
confidentiality the testimonials used sometimes do not relate to the
individuals photographed.
Registered Charity in Northern Ireland Number NI071976
Registered Office: Wyndhurst, Knockbracken Healthcare Park,
Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 8BH
MindWise is the operating name of Mind Wise New Vision a company
limited by guarantee and recognised by HM Revenue and Customs as a
charity for tax purposes.
Transforming lives and developing new visions for mental health by
challenging stigma and discrimination, and providing quality services and
support.
Editor: Dorothy Lawrence
Print & Design: TH Jordan Ltd
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WISECRAIC
Editorial Team:
Elaine Kelly, Anne Doherty,
Gwynneth Witherow, Ken Bogle,
Robert Mulligan, Fiona Scullion.
Contributors:
Dr Boris Pinto, Caroline Mc
Menamin, Eileen Sweeney, Ross
Thompson, Stanley Booth, Stephen
Carson, Julie Russell, Gerry Leavey,
Dr Joy Bell, Dr Vanessa Craig, Julie
Hill, Michael Sheane, Mirjam Bader,
Joice Mathew
© MindWise 2013
Inside Features
3
CEO Letter
4
News Section
5
News section (NIAAS
Special report)
6
Complementary
therapies
7
Knowing disorders
8-9
Research article
10-11
Day in the Life:
Banbridge
12-13
Puzzles section
14-15
Pressing Play
16
Service User story
17
Criminal Justice
18-19
Creative section
20
Book reviews
21
MindWise Awards
22
Volunteer Section
23
WiseWords
Letter from CEO…
Hello! By the time most people read this I will, God willing, have started
work as the new Chief Executive of MindWise. I am therefore taking this
opportunity to pen a few words of introduction before I hopefully get out
and about to meet you all. As yet there is no photograph to accompany this
piece, and while that may actually be a blessing, the wonders of Google and
LinkedIn will satisfy the curious.
My background includes spells working within the voluntary sector and
with client-centred organisations and I am really excited about moving to
MindWise. I am fully aware of the high regard in which MindWise is held within
the sector and of the many strengths that exist. This is a great tribute to the
Trustees, my predecessor Bill Halliday, the management team and staff, the
volunteers, and the service users and members. I will be doing my very best
to help build upon this impressive foundation and to lead MindWise in the
next phase of what is an exciting journey. We do indeed live in ‘Interesting
Times’, and we undoubtedly operate in a challenging environment, but
the record of MindWise to date shows an ability to grasp the very real
opportunities that exist. I look forward to being part of an exciting, rewarding
and enjoyable future!
As I said at the beginning a priority for me will be to get out and about and
to meet as many staff and service users as possible. This will be essential
for me if I am to really get to know the organisation, so please do take the
opportunity to introduce yourself and to tell me about the role you play.
Equally, you should know a little about me, so I will be very happy to answer
any questions you might have as I go around.
That is probably enough from me for now; I look forward to our next meeting
being face to face at a service near you.
I am fully
aware of the
high regard
in which
MindWise is
held within the
sector and
of the many
strengths that
exist.
Edward Gorringe
New CEO of MindWise
WISECRAIC
3
NEWS SECTION
We are pleased to announce that
the Butterfly Ball will be taking
place next year!
Date for your diary - Butterfly
Ball 2014
It will take place on Friday 6th
June 2014 in the Culloden Estate
and Spa and will be compered by
Tim McGarry. Tickets will be £50
per person and will include a four
course meal and entertainment.
A discount is available upon
purchase of a table of ten. The
event is very much at planning
stages but if you would like to be
kept up-to-date with progress,
just send your name and email
address to [email protected]
and you will be added to the Ball
database.
If you have any suggestions or
would like to sponsor the Ball in
any way, please contact Catherine
at [email protected] or by
phone on 07928 140675.
Annsgate
Raymond Gray, local
Antrim taxi driver
presenting a cheque for
£1960 to Karen Crothers,
Registered Manager,
MindWise Belfast.
Raymond Gray
The annual Annsgate
Golf Competition - the
Richard McCombe Memorial Cup
was hosted at Carrickfergus Golf
Club in August. Thanks to all who
made donations and joined us on
the day. The weather was generous
too which contributed to another
successful event in Annsgate’s
calendar.
MindWise Graduate
Joice Mathew, Registered Manager
MindWise Lurgan & Banbridge
Resource centre, and MindWise
Millmount Housing at Banbridge
who recently graduated with
southern regional college with
CITY & GUILDS LEVEL 5 DIPLOMA
IN LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTH AND
SOCIAL CARE SERVICES (ADULTS’
MANAGEMENT) (WALES AND NI)
(QCF).
MindWise
Lurgan Award
Survey. Craigavon based
company Almac has made a
£1,000 donation to each of the
three charities its employees
have selected as part of Almac’s
Employee Charity of Choice
initiative.
Almac Employees Reward
Macmillan Belfast, MindWise
Lurgan and Craigavon’s Neonatal
Unit in Annual Charity of Choice
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WISECRAIC
Joice Mathew
MindWise
Abbeyside
Tenants at MindWise Abbeyside,
Antrim had a 3 mile sponsored
walk at Castlewellan Forest Park
on Friday 6th September. The
walk raised £585.20.
NIAAS Special report
The Northern Ireland Appropriate Adult Scheme completes another year.
Between the 1st July 2012 and 30th
June 2013 the NIAAS staff received
1891 requests to attend police
stations across Northern Ireland to
support vulnerable people, a 15%
increase on the previous year.
The service was delivered 365 days
of the year between 08.00 - 23.00
hours, with an out of hour’s facility
explaining specific challenges and
complexities but I can confirm that
vulnerable people were navigated
through a series of legal processes
that were intimidating and alien to
them, in a caring supportive way
that was worthy of the MindWise
ethos.
available for overnight attendance,
which was utilised this year on 81
occasions. Staff attended PSNI
stations province wide, regardless
of distance, weather conditions,
unsocial hours, or public holidays,
such as the four calls we attended
on Christmas day.
Confidentiality prevents me from
What does an Appropriate Adult do?
Our Appropriate Adults ensure that Police adhere
to correct procedures. This includes examination
of understanding custody records, explaining to
a person their rights, and the interview process,
knowing the cautions and special warnings and when
fingerprints, medical examinations and samples are
required as well as being familiar with the charging
and disposal methods. This can on occasions be a
difficult role which requires the skill to discuss issues
with police on behalf of the detained person and I
can assure you that interrupting a Police interview
requires a particular sensitivity and is not done lightly.
The pattern of appropriate
adult attendance
231 255
178
167
134 133 124
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89
74
76
57
39
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2
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Who are the people we support?
Anyone who has been arrested
by Police or attending a Police
Station voluntarily to answer
questions may require our support
if they are mentally vulnerable.
We are non-judgemental, whether
a person has committed an
offence or not is not an issue for
us. Whether or not that person
understands exactly what is
happening and why is a concern of
ours.
Generally we encounter people
with a diagnosis’s of depression,
anxiety, schizophrenia, bi polar
disorder; attention deficit hyper
activity disorder or young people
whom we support because they are
vulnerable by virtue of their age.
We encounter head injury that
affects a person’s memory or a
personality disorder affecting a
person perception of events and
occasionally we encounter posttraumatic stress disorder in former
military personnel.
MindWise
We remind all people we encounter
that we are from MindWise, and it’s
not unknown for a violent person
to calm down once they hear “Hi I
am from MindWise”. The schemes
success is an organisational
one. The support of Chief
Executive, Deputy Chief Executive,
Board of Trustees, and Senior
Management Team all played its
part, with a particular thanks to the
administration staff and financial
staff, for their support during the
year.
I believe that this scheme has
shown year on year that MindWise
as an organisation can deliver
professional services within the
Criminal Justice environment and
will continue to do so.
Stanley Booth M.B.E.
Appropriate Adult Scheme
Manager
WISECRAIC
5
Complementary therapies
‘Season of mist and
mellow fruitfulness’
was how the poet
John Keats described
autumn; how many
of us see it as that I
wonder rather than
as the doorway to
winter? We have had
a wonderful summer,
soon though we know
we will be pulling on our
winter coats and woolly
hats and boots as we
meet the colder months
of winter and we can
just feel those winter
blues coming on.
advice you need about the grants
and benefits that are available to
help you keep your home warm.
The Warm Homes scheme www.
warm-homes.com will provide
information about whether or not
you qualify.
So how do we beat those blues?
Well one good way to do it is
by being prepared, we know it’s
coming so let’s get ready for it!
Some tips that may help:
Eat healthily – it’s easy to
slip into comfort eating in the
winter months and to fill up with
carbohydrate heavy foods like
potatoes and pasta. Try to balance
this to make sure you still eat
plenty of fruit and vegetables.
Keep active – in the last
newsletter I mentioned the benefits
of physical activity and how it is
not only good for your body but
is also good for your mind, well it’s
still important in the winter months
to get that boost from fresh air
and daylight so when you can, get
out for a walk in the middle of the
day; even a short walk round the
block will help. If you have to stay
inside, try to get as much light
into your home by keeping your
curtains or blinds open for as much
of the day as possible.
Keep warm – ok that sounds
obvious but we all know how
expensive it is to keep our homes
warm in winter now that fuel is so
expensive. If you rent or own your
home, make sure you have all the
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WISECRAIC
Remember to wear layers to help
keep warm, both indoors and
outdoors. The layers create air
pockets in between the layers
which are insulated by your body
heat and helps keep you snug.
Go back to basics with a hot water
bottle or use one of the heat packs
you can warm in the microwave.
You don’t need to keep these just
for bedtime either, you can wrap
them up in a rug and use them to
keep you snug when you are sitting
watching TV.
We know how important it is to
start the day with breakfast, a bowl
of porridge is cheap and you can
add a handful of fresh or even
dried fruit to help you get your five
a day.
Winter is a great time for making
soup and this can be a really easy
and healthy way to eat those
vegetables. Homemade soup is
cheap and easy – vegetables, a
couple of stock cubes and some
water = tasty soup. If you don’t
already have one, invest in a basic
hand blender (about £12) and you
can blitz the veg down in seconds.
If I’m in a hurry I sometimes
cheat and buy the bags of mixed
vegetables like sweet potatoes
and butternut squash (especially
if they are on offer) and use them
to make a few bowls of soup for
healthy lunches.
This links to another thing that is
important in the winter months,
having something to focus
on and keep you occupied,
especially if you are stuck indoors
for a time. Can you take up a new
hobby – (maybe cooking?) that
will keep you interested during
the winter months; or pick up on
a skill that you had forgotten?
Winter is a great time for classes
in the community - check your
local community centre and library
about groups and activities that
are available; check if there is
anywhere you can access free
or reduced rate complementary
therapies or gym sessions. Going
to something new like this once a
week, even for a few hours will give
you something to focus on the rest
of the week.
Keep in touch with friends and
family. If you are feeling a bit down,
don’t keep it to yourself, talk to
someone you trust. Sometimes
just sharing how we feel can help
to break the cycle. Socialising is
good for your mental health, it
helps to lift your spirits and you
might even link up with a friend or
family member to help you keep
motivated with keeping active
or going to a class. And you can
always invite them round for a bowl
of that soup...!
Eileen Sweeney
Knowing disorders
Depression
Feeling depressed is part of
normal emotional life and we all
face difficult periods in our lives.
However, when low mood remains
persistent and is associated
with certain core symptoms
(see below), it may be a sign of
a significant depressive episode
that needs treatment. Just under 1
in 5 people will suffer a significant
depressive episode in their lifetime.
How do I spot the signs?
Sometimes there may be an
obvious reason for becoming
depressed – a relationship
breakdown, a bereavement or even
the birth of a child – sometimes, it
is not clear.
Depressive episode (several
symptoms are continuously
present for at least two weeks):
• Feel unhappy almost all the
time
• Lose interest in things normally
enjoyed
• Sleep pattern is disturbed / feel
tired all the time
• Stop eating / lose weight
• Feel anxious or agitated / can’t
make decisions
• Feel hopeless about the future
• Lose interest in sex
• Headaches or pains and aches
that cannot be explained
medically
• Thoughts of wanting to be dead
or suicide
In severe depression, people
can become ‘psychotic’ - they
lose touch with reality and have
ideas that seem very strange
to everyone else (see previous
article on Psychosis). In depressive
psychosis, they may have ideas
that they are guilty of bad things
happening in the world, that they
are dead or do not exist. In severe
episodes, people may hear voices
and see things that are not there these are called hallucinations.
Seeking help
The onset of depression can be
slow, so the affected person may
not be aware that they are unwell.
Often, it is quite clear to others
that someone is not behaving like
their usual self. Encouraging the
person to attend their GP is the
first step. If a depressed person
is having thoughts of suicide, it
is obviously vital to seek medical
help urgently.
If a woman develops depression in
the weeks or months after having
a baby, it is very important to
seek help urgently – this type of
illness can be very serious and if
untreated, there may be problems
for the new mother bonding with
her baby.
Treatment
Most people with depression can
be treated in the community
through their GP and primary care
services.
• Self-help: Avoid drugs and
alcohol. Talking about worries
and problems with friends and
loved ones is important; they
may be able to help. Often,
people become depressed while
caring for a sick or disabled
relative; getting respite care
and attending a support group
can be helpful.
• Talking treatments: There are
several different types of talking
treatments. Counseling is
offered by community
voluntary services, but may
also be accessed through a GP.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
(CBT) is very effective and
works by helping people
overcome their negative
thoughts. There are also now a
number of self-help books and
computer programs based on
CBT for depression.
Interpersonal therapy is
another type of one-to-one
talking treatment that shows
good effect in treating
depression.
• Medication: Antidepressants
can help if the depressive illness
is severe or goes on for a long
time. Medication can help with
disturbed sleep and anxiety
symptoms, which can allow
the affected person to make
further steps in getting better
or engage with talking therapy.
Antidepressants do not work
straight away - people often
don’t notice any improvement
in their mood for 2-3 weeks.
• Severe or psychotic
depression: In rare cases, a
depressed person may need
to come into hospital. This is
often because they are not
eating or drinking or having
serious thoughts of harming
themselves. They may need
additional treatments like
antipsychotic medication,
lithium or electroconvulsive
therapy (ECT).
Boris Pinto
Royal College of Psychiatrists
WISECRAIC
7
Research
complementary therapies:
Current Challenges Affecting
Treatment and Care of Patients
with Alcohol Relate Brain
Damage in Northern Ireland
Dr Joy Bell, Senior Psychiatry
Trainee
Dr Vanessa Craig, Senior
Psychiatry Trainee
The extent of alcohol misuse
in Northern Ireland
In Northern Ireland it is estimated
that alcohol misuse costs health
and social care services over £170
million per year. More specifically
£65m-£72m is spent per year in
acute hospital admissions and
£16-£30 million per year in A&E
attendances. The total number
of acute hospital episodes wholly
attributable to alcohol in 2007/08
was 11,899.
There is no single cause of ARBD
but it usually results from a
combination of factors, including
the toxic effects of alcohol on
brain cells as well as vitamin and
nutritional deficiencies. It can be
complicated by the presence of
traumatic and/or vascular brain
injury.
The condition is thought to be
significantly under diagnosed
(in up to 90% of cases) for
various reasons including issues
of awareness, limited screening
tools and a lack of adequate
service pathways and available
treatments. It may be present in up
to 30% of the alcohol dependent
population.
What is Alcohol Related Brain
Damage (ARBD)?
How can ARBD be treated?
ARBD is a relatively newly coined
term which describes the long
term effects of excessive alcohol
consumption on the structure and
function of the brain. Patients may
present with symptoms caused
by frontal lobe abnormalities
and/or memory loss. Due to
their complex needs this group
of patients typically present in
crisis on a regular basis to acute
medical hospitals where they can
remain as inpatients for prolonged
periods often due to psychosocial
problems. The incidence of this
condition is increasing in the UK.
Research demonstrates that
patients with ARBD have potential
for recovery if treated with
abstinence based rehabilitation.
Outcome studies demonstrate
that 75% of patients with ARBD
achieve some degree of recovery,
with 25% making full recovery.
It has been shown that placing
these patients in generic nursing
homes may be deleterious to
recovery. Specific ARBD nursing
homes and individual rehabilitation
programmes, akin to those that
are available for traumatic brain
injury, are thought to be more
conducive to recovery.
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WISECRAIC
Current service provision in
Northern Ireland
Patients with ARBD can come to
the attention of various specialties
including: alcohol treatment
services, neuropsychiatry, general
medicine and surgery, general
psychiatry and brain injury
services. There are currently no
clear pathways of care and no
defined clinical responsibility. This
can mean that patients encounter
many services without receiving
any meaningful treatment.
Engagement with services can
be made more difficult by the
presence of cognitive deficits
which may be perceived as the
patient having “no motivation to
change”. Furthermore following
detection of the condition options
for specialised rehabilitation
are limited. There are a small
number of ARBD specific care
facilities in the community, some
of which are implementing their
own rehabilitation programmes.
There are no recognised standards
for such programmes and no
neuropsychology input.
In the Bamford Review of Mental
Health and Learning Disability in
Northern Ireland it was highlighted
that there is a lack of information
on the extent of ARBD. It stated
that this population is likely to
be interspersed throughout
several programmes of care often
without a formal diagnosis. It is
suggested in the document that
a report should be commissioned
to establish the extent of ARBD
in Northern Ireland in order to
develop pathways of care which
address emotional, cognitive,
behavioural and social needs of
people with this condition.
Stigma remains a problem in the
world of mental illness. This may be
exaggerated in the case of alcohol
related brain damage in which
patients are often seen to be the
“cause of their own circumstance”.
We do not refer to ‘smoking
related’ lung cancer or ‘road
accident’ related brain damage.
Patients with ARBD often
present with impaired capacity,
particularly in relation to their
living arrangements. In Northern
Ireland community treatment
orders are not currently an option.
There is an on-going review of the
Mental Health (Northern Ireland)
Order 1986, with plans to introduce
new legislation on capacity.
Guardianship orders are used for
some of the patients with ARBD
living in residential homes.
Action in Belfast
An audit of service needs of
patients with ARBD has been
carried out within the Belfast
Health and Social Care Trust.
This trust serves a population of
approximately 350,000 people
over three acute hospital sites.
The audit targets patients in
acute hospital wards including
general medicine, hepatology and
gastroenterology.
Patients at high risk of developing
ARBD are referred to the audit and
are screened using the following
criteria which is derived from
research on ARBD detection7.
1. History of drinking 35 units of
alcohol or more per week for
five years or more
2. Documented concerns about
cognition or capacity
The ultimate aim of the audit is to
understand the likely scale of the
problem of ARBD in Belfast with
a view to presenting the need for
improvement in services.
The ARBD audit in the Belfast
Trust demonstrates a need for
improved ARBD services. It is
currently likely that a significant
number of patients with chronic
alcohol misuse are discharged
from hospital with undiagnosed
cognitive impairment. This same
group of patients have associated
prolonged and recurrent hospital
admissions, therefore, the
development of ARBD services
may provide improvement in
quality of life for these patients as
well as reducing health and social
care costs.
Shared by Gerry Leavey
3. Three or more alcohol related
admissions into hospital and/or
A&E in the past year
OR
One or more delayed
discharges from general
hospital wards in the past year.
WISECRAIC
9
Day in the Life:
complementary therapies:
MindWise Banbridge Resource centre
Banbridge service provides flexible day services and programs of
care and support for individuals affected by severe mental illness /
mental health difficulties, their families, dependants and carers. The
service operates against MindWise generic Modernization template
which is adapted to meet service specific needs e.g. cultural diversity
programs, geographical and gender specific programs.
Banbridge service is provided:
22.5 hours per week
10.00am – 2.30pm; 5 days per
week (Monday – Friday) excluding
bank holidays
The age range is over 18 years
and upwards and over 65 if the
service can meet the needs of
the individual. The service can
accommodate up to 20 people
per day and is used by more than
40 Service Users.
The activity
programme includes:
Activities within the local leisure
centre including, bowls and
boccia
Swimming & health suite
Weight management
programme
Walking group, with staff
completing walk leadership
program
Stress management
Alternative / complimentary
therapies
Nutrition
Various partnership working with
other organisations including:
“Cook – It” programme
facilitated by Action Mental
Health; New year New activities
in partnership with REACH
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WISECRAIC
Building the Community
Pharmacy Partnership
Self – management
Out and about group
Creative dance
Writing groups
Arts & crafts
Community outings
ICT support
Daily living skills
Banbridge Charity Shop
The service provides a charity shop
which also sells items of up cycling
and refurbished by Service Users in
the Service.
Staff Profiles:
Joice Mathew
Registered Manager MindWise
Lurgan, Banbridge Resource
centre, Banbridge Charity Shop
and Millmount Housing. Joice has
worked for MindWise for over
6 years and is the Manager for
the MindWise Lurgan, Banbridge
Resource centre, Banbridge
Charity Shop and Millmount
Housing. Joice with his small staff
team supports up to 20 people per
day in Banbridge and 6 tenants
in Millmount . Joice has secured
funding for and managed several
community pharmacy initiatives,
Awards for All, Art projects etc
previously. Joice listens to what
the service users want and need
and strives to ensure the activity
plan best meets their needs
and in doing so enhances their
confidence, skills and social
interactions.
Joice’s activities have raised
awareness of MindWise
amongst the wider community;
positively impacted on the wider
community’s perception of
mental illness and supported and
encouraged partnerships working
at a local level. Joice has also
connected with local politicians to
raise the profile of MindWise and
lobbying those that can improve
mental health services. Joice also
organized several open days and
cultural events to raise the profile
of the organization.
Siobhan Conway
Siobhan is a community mental
health worker based at the
resource centre in Banbridge.
She has worked with Mindwise
for the past 16 months. Prior
to this she worked as a support
worker for Mencap at Riversley
Supported Living Centre also in
Banbridge. Siobhan is involved
in the day to day running of the
resource centre, planning daily
activities and supporting the 40
or so services users who attend
the centre on a regular basis. The
staff and volunteers work to create
a safe, warm and comfortable
atmosphere at the centre so that
all those who attend see it as a
positive and uplifting part of their
lives. Siobhan enjoys working in
partnership with the other services
and agencies in Banbridge that
support the service users to live
independently and contribute well
to the Banbridge community.
Vanessa Murray
Vanessa also works as a
community mental health worker
and for two days is also based in
the Banbridge resource centre. For
the other three days she provides
a support service for 6 tenants
in supported living. Vanessa
has worked for MindWise for 15
years, prior to this she was busy
bringing up children and throwing
herself into numerous courses.
In the resource centre my role
would be similar to Siobhan’s, if I
get the time I love to participate
in anything creative, we have
recently started a project ; Funky
Junk. Which involves ‘upcyling’
old furniture, this has being very
successful, however with time
restraints we are not achieving our
full potential. It would be good to
acquire a good creative volunteer
for this project. It may sound like a
cliché but we are like a big family in
Banbridge and everyone looks out
for one another, staff and service
users alike, I couldn’t imagine
working anywhere else.
Catherine King (Rene)
Rene worked with MindWise for 13
years, started out in Portadown
resource centre, moved to Lurgan
resource centre and now works
with Millmount. Previous to this
she worked for Praxis as a home
response support worker. Rene
works 3 days a week in Millmount
supporting 6 tenants. She enjoys
working for MindWise.
Joan McConville
Joan came to MindWise on Steps
to Work programme and then on
50+ Step Ahead work placement.
Previously she taught for 20 years
for SRC in Portadown. She has
now with MindWise approximately
one year and considers her main
role to be supportive to staff and
volunteers. Joan has found her
time with MindWise so fulfilling
that she intends to return as a
volunteer immediately after her
work placement ends.
WISECRAIC
11
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BOOKSHOP
FLOATINGSUPPORT
NIAAS
CARERSSERVICE
HOUSING
SELF-MANAGEMENT
CHARITYSHOP
NEWSTYLEFURNITURE
WISECRAIC
12
WISECRAIC
CROSSWORD
1
2
Across
4. How often is WiseCraic
released?
3
7. Abbeyside is which kind
of service?
8. Who runs the self-management
programme?
9. WiseCraic is aimed at?
4
5
10.What day was the 10th
October?
6
7
Down
1. New CEO?
2. New Style Furniture
is based where?
8
3. Find the First Word D..r.....e
psychosis
5. E….. Kelly (Who is the
Volunteer coordinator?)
10
6. Chair of the All Party Group?
QUIZ
5) Where is Head office?
2) 19th October
4) Who is the New CEO?
3) Belfast Castle
3) Where was the AGM Held?
4) Edward Gorringe
2) When was the staff and Volunteer Awards Held?
5) Knockbracken Health
care park
1) World Mental Health day was when?
1) 10th October
Answers:
Answers can be found opposite.
WISECRAIC
13
Pressing Play:
complementary therapies:
By Caroline Mc Menamin
Having a Mental Health
issue doesn’t always
mean that you’ll suffer
from it all the time.
Although, it can mean
you’re more susceptible
to setbacks. Some
people have to take a
little bit more time to
adjust to situations and
events and take a little
bit more time to nurture
themselves in face of
adverse conditions.
I recently had a setback. My
anxiety levels rose, panic attacks
were prevalent and my O.C.D
began to fester. I felt like a failure.
I hadn’t had a panic attack in over
14
WISECRAIC
three years and I thought I was
‘past all that’. This meant I had to
take time out. So I had to cancel
all my clients and pull out of all
events. The pressure, stress and
anticipation of a family member’s
health, a matter of life and death,
was a trigger and surely taking
its toll on my ability to function
normally in my daily routine.
I was losing my confidence, I had
fear over becoming depressed
again and not being able to ‘get
over it’. I had feelings of complete
terror over ‘losing’ myself, my
identity and being consumed by
a disorder that I was fighting hard
against, and was winning, until
when I wasn’t looking, the enemy
came up and got me in a headlock
which I had no ability to get loose
from. I became very sensitized
to everything. The thought of
leaving the house was terrifying
and I just wanted to stay in my
bed, reality was too much for me. I
was convinced that this was it, my
career was over and my life was
going to be like this from now on.
The last time I had a setback it had
lasted over 7 months, and now
here I was, back at the start again.
My life had stopped.
Two weeks later I was back to
feeling my normal self again.
“Life is a stage on which we
experience the comedy and
tragedy of our fate, it’s up to
ourselves to be the hero.”
Never in my life had I had a
setback that just lasted two weeks.
My confidence was restored, I
was ambitious again, creative,
energetic and completely in love
with life again.
So what helped me press play on
my life again?
Firstly I acknowledged that I was
not in a good place. I told my
family and clients, I was honest.
I didn’t have the energy to pretend
that things were not what they
were. Being honest and telling
people that I had to take time out
was such a pressure taken off me.
I was received with compassion,
empathy and the utmost support.
This taught me that it’s important
to be true to yourself and to take
the time you need to rejuvenate,
even if it means admitting a certain
weakness. I felt my shoulders relax.
I secondly decided that I would
nurture myself. I was so busy since
the start of the year that I felt it
was time for me to sit and not think
about other people’s issues and
actually focus on myself, even
though I felt I was neglecting my
clients. I knew that I couldn’t help
them if I couldn’t help myself. So I
knew I had to do this for everyone.
My mornings were filled with panic,
anxiety and sickness from nerves.
My mind was a fog, I couldn’t think
rationally and logically.
I decided that I would meditate.
I had meditated before, but I didn’t
feel any different. Although, now
I needed something to stop the
adrenaline pumping through my
body, I needed to feel peace. My
laptop was in front of me and it
was the only thing I could think
of. So I went on ‘You Tube’ and
searched for ‘Guided meditation
music for anxiety’. I found some
and I hesitantly lay in one spot, my
body shivering and my mouth dry,
feeling like 2% of the person I had
been the week before.
The meditation music started. I felt
my erratic heart slowing, shivering
stopping and my body warming
up. It was soothing me, I felt
considerably more relaxed and my
mind felt clearer.
For the next week I meditated
every morning before I could let
my mind take off on an expedition
of panic and turmoil. I retrain my
thoughts and my body’s reaction
to them whilst in a meditative
state. I was beginning to disarm
the negative thoughts with
positive and realistic thoughts
and expectations. I read more
on anxiety, studied O.C.D more so
that when I did have bad feelings
and thoughts I neutralised them
by understanding that they were
just a symptom of anxiety and
O.C.D, they were not real. Doing
this stopped them before my body
could react to them with panic and
terror. Within days of intensive
monitoring of my thoughts,
feelings and moods and learning
how to change my thought
patterns, I was becoming myself
again. I couldn’t believe how a
little self-nurturing was helping. I
was pressing play on my life again
because I chose to. The difference
this time was that despite the fact
that I was in complete mental
agony I didn’t sit in self-pity. I, now,
acknowledge that I’m susceptible
to setbacks, but I have the power
to bring myself forward again.
I came across a quote which I
identified with “It is the deepest
pain which empowers you to grow
to your highest self’’. From this
I decided that ‘this is meant to
happen so I can appreciate life
more’. Perhaps a drop is needed
so you can appreciate how high
you’ve been and show how far
you can go, strive towards and go
beyond.
Life is a stage on which we
experience the comedy and
tragedy of our fate, it’s up to
ourselves to be the hero in
our lives and not the victim, to
empower ourselves and to do all
the things that gives our audience
something to remember us by.
Caroline McMenamin
WISECRAIC
15
Michael’s Story:
Michael lives in supported housing provided by MindWise.
He is 66 years of age and has experienced Mental Health
problems from a very young age. He is diagnosed with
schizoaffective disorder and has had a very successful
writing career, he has had 21 published books on Irish
history and is currently working on his
22nd book.
Michael describes living in England
and experiencing symptoms but
he kept them to himself. He then
returned to Northern Ireland and
was admitted to hospital. When he
was initially diagnosed he thought
he would be cured straight away
and didn’t think this would be a
long term condition. About 20
years ago he was in and out of
hospital. In 2000 Michael moved
to MindWise’s 24 hour supported
housing service and a year later
moved into the independent
accommodation.
Michael describes how he doesn’t
tend to suffer so much from the
schizoaffective symptoms now at
this age but does describe more
symptoms of anxiety and stress
particularly when using public
transport or taxis but went on to
say even though he experiences
these difficulties he won’t let it stop
him getting out and about.
I asked him if he had experienced
any negative aspect of growing
older and having Mental Health
problems and he talked about how
well he had been supported by
his Community Psychiatric Nurse
and MindWise, that he hadn’t
experienced any ageism. He said
he hadn’t experienced social
isolation especially with the friends
16
WISECRAIC
he had made at MindWise and that
staff in the service encouraged him
to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Often people who are older and
have Mental Health problems
will become socially isolated;
lose their independence; and
don’t receive the level of support
or care that they need from
health professionals as there is a
perception that a decline in Mental
Health is an inevitable part of
growing older and are not seen as
contributing or being a valued part
of society.
Michael provides an example of an
independent successful individual
who has not let his Mental Health
or age prevent him achieving his
goals and enjoying life.
MindWise operates a step down
model for its housing services
so that when somebody needs
intensive support they get it but
when they improve and are able
to live independently they should
be supported to do so and this
was evident in Michael’s move
from one house to another to live
more independently. MindWise’s
ethos is very much that it is a
person’s home. In some cases
the Health Trust will try to move
an individual who is getting older,
from their supported housing to
accommodation that is specifically
for older people. MindWise
advocates that as far as possible
the service should adapt to
meet the needs of the individual
rather than the individual having
to change or move because the
service can’t meet their needs.
“Often people
who are older
and have
Mental Health
problems
will become
socially
isolated;
lose their
independence”
Julie Hill (Director of Workforce
Development) Sept 2013 with
thanks to Michael for sharing his
experiences.
Criminal Justice:
Anyone who has had a look at the MindWise
Business Plan for 2012 – 2017 will have seen
our commitment to continue to grow and
expand business in the criminal and youth
justice area. As this is a relatively new area of
work for us, I would like to tell you more about it.
MindWise has successfully
delivered the NI Appropriate Adult
Scheme (NIAAS) since 2008.
This service provides support
to young people and so-called
mentally vulnerable adults who
have been arrested by the police
where no parent, guardian or other
appropriate adult is available.
Then in 2010, BBC Children in
Need started to support my post
of Youth Manager to oversee the
implementation of the targets
included in the MindWise Children
and Young People’s Strategy. As
part of this role, I identified a major
gap in current provision of support
to meet the needs of young people
who offend.
currently is no Mental Health and
well-being support for the 95% of
young people released from police
custody after arrest. Therefore,
despite experiencing above
average levels of need and being
involved in offending, no specific
support was being made available
to this group. Instead of taking the
opportunity for early intervention,
only if or when a young person
ended up in a Hydebank Young
Offenders Institute or after their
release from prison custody was
individual support made available.
What was already very clear to
the Appropriate Adult Scheme
Workers was that young people
released from police custody after
being bailed, receiving a caution
or a no-further-action decision
experienced many problems
impacting on their Mental Health
and well-being. Furthermore, they
realised that especially young
people detained by the police
found it difficult to understand
and stick to bail conditions or
understand the implications of not
attending a bail meeting or court
hearing. All this was confirmed by
an analysis of existing research
into the needs of young people in
the criminal justice system from
both NI and around the rest of the
UK which I carried out.
In line with the target included in
the MindWise Children & Young
People Strategy of ‘developing
models of support, in collaboration
with Criminal Justice system, to
meet the needs of young people
leaving custody’, I then developed
a new service delivery model. With
support from the NIAAS Manager
and other members of the Senior
Management Team, a successful
application was made to the Big
Lottery for a 4-year pilot project;
called the Linked-In Project.
Workers based in Belfast, Antrim
Town and Derry- Londonderry
who receive referrals from NIAAS
Workers, PSNI custody staff,
community police officers and
other professionals involved in
working with young people aged 13
to 21 who are at risk of offending.
So far, feedback from both service
users and juvenile / criminal justice
agencies has been very positive.
However, most importantly what
became evident was that there
The work to meet the Mental
Health needs of both young
people and adults who come into
contact with the PSNI and the
courts, as either a defendant or
a victim or witness, continues
with Children in Need supporting
my post part-time for the work
in relation to young people. The
three main issues currently being
worked are the need for:
• An appropriate adult-type
service for young people age 13
to 18 and mentally vulnerable
adults who are interviewed
by the PSNI as victims or
witnesses;
• An improvement to the way
in which the PSNI monitors,
records and uses mental health
issues and risk factors (like
for example alcohol and drug
misuse) in the custody suite;
• Improving the ways in which
community police officers
can improve screening and
signposting for Mental Health
problems and associated risk
factors and stressors;
• The monitoring of the
effectiveness of support for
people experiencing severe
Mental Health conditions
who come into contact with
the PSNI and forensic Mental
Health services.
If you would like to find out more
about my work, please feel free
to give me a ring or send me an
e-mail.
Mirjam Bader
Young People / Criminal Justice
Manager
[email protected]
WISECRAIC
17
Creative
Section
by Ross Thompson
My
Shadow
My dark companion,
Shifting and changing shape in the light.
Moving as I move. One with me.
Flickering against the wall in the fire light.
Lengthening in the sun as I walk along.
lf I lost my shadow I would lose my very soul; like a lover’s soul.
A dark side perhaps to my soul, as reflected in the shadow.
Anonymous
18
WISECRAIC
by Ross Thompson
We welcome all submissions for our creative section.
If you have anything you wish to submit please contact
head office on 028 90402323 or email directly to
[email protected]
Please do so by the 12th December for consideration
for next issue.
by Ross Thompson
WISECRAIC
19
Book Review:
We would welcome submissions of Book Reviews
from all readers. Please contact dorothy.lawrence@
mindwisenv.org or 02890402323 for more information.
The following reviews have been supplied by the Health in Mind Team.
Author:
Robert Anthony Welch
Title:
Kicking the Black Mamba (life, alcohol and death)
‘We say of things we fear
may work out badly, though
we may not have enough
evidence to be certain
of failure, that we have
‘misgivings’ – a strange
and wonderful word.’
The author tells the story of the life
and death through depression and
alcohol addiction
of his much loved son. The story
was made all the more vivid and
heart-breaking to me as it all took
place in Coleraine, where I live, and
Author:
Kate de Goldi
You can’t help but love Frankie
Parsons who is 12 but carries
the weight of the world on his
shoulders.
While most of the people around
him seem to have no worries,
Frankie worries about lots of things
and especially about looking after
his mum. She’s the only person
WISECRAIC
Robert Welch succeeds in
making the reader see his son
Egan through his eyes, not as
an alcoholic but as a beautiful,
intelligent boy; a gentle, caring
and generous man whose life is
blighted by addiction and who tries
so hard to overcome his demons.
The family goes through many
torments as they all try to help.
Welch is a poet and he uses the
words of poets to help him express
his feelings and his grief and to
try to make sense of this terrible
experience.
It’s not a big book but it expresses
big emotions and will stay in my
mind as a story of the strength of
family love.
Title:
The 10pm Question
“He was a funny guy,
and a smart one- and
the smartest thing about
him, in Frankie’s view, was
that he never, ever, ever
worried.”
20
I found I knew some of the people
involved.
who seems able to calm his fears
and he often has a chat with her
at 10pm, before he goes to sleep
at night; but Frankie’s mum has
difficulties of her own and hasn’t
been out of the house for many
years. This is something Frankie
tries to ignore and keep secret.
Then a new friend breezes into
Frankie’s life; she is bold and fun
and inquisitive… and Frankie’s
control begins to slip.
This is a lovely story of friendship
and also deals with the challenges
of phobias and anxieties.
Julie Russell
Health in Mind Team, Libraries NI
Awards
MindWise held our annual staff and volunteer awards on the 19th
September at Belfast Castle. It was a wonderful day of celebration
to honour those that really are the foundation of MindWise. Below is
a list of our winners and some beautiful snap shots of the day.
Volunteer Winners:
Staff Winners:
Internal Volunteer Award
Thelma McCullough
Exceptional fundraising/
lobbying/campaigning
Gwynn Witherow
External Volunteer Award
William Brennan
Miriam Walsh
Charity Shop Volunteer Award
Ruth McKenzie
Patsy England
Volunteer of the Year Award
Ruth McKenzie
Open Your Mind Student
Award for Mental Health
Campaigning
Laura Mocanu
Open Your Mind College/
University Awards for
Mental Health Campaigning
University of Ulster Students Union
Volunteering over
and above job role
Suzanne Allen
Exceptional support
to service users/volunteers/
members/carers
(underpinned by Recovery)
Samuel Redfern
Exceptional work
during difficult or in
challenging situations
Elaine Kelly
Exceptional
partnership working
Lisa Devine
Tom Beare Award
Maureen Foley
Health in Mind
Volunteer Award
David Smith
WISECRAIC
21
VOLUNTEERS SECTION
MindWise could not exist without the valuable work
from all of our Volunteers across the organisation.
Volunteer Tatiana Therrien who
was an events volunteer for the
Butterfly Ball earlier this year
shares her story of why she
volunteers with MindWise.
“It all started on front of a
computer screen, where many
voluntary work opportunities
were popping up out of the blue.
I wanted something related
to cultural activities, parties
and languages since tourism
management (the program that I
am currently studying in) requires
work or voluntary work experience
in organising big events. During
that time, I was unsure if I wanted
to follow the course to become
an event planner. However,
at the moment that I saw the
advertisement of MindWise, I just
whispered to myself ‘’this is my
chance to gain skills and to know if
I am in the right direction’’.
Helping Catherine and
Gwynneth to organise the
Butterfly Ball was an unforgettable
experience to me. Catherine
actually inspired me as she was
taking care of the most important
details for the ball such as goody
bags, prizes, tables, musicians...
and the list never ended! At that
moment, I realized that I wanted to
be like her, the woman who would
organise the whole ball from A to Z!
Not only that I found the answer
that I was searching for but I got to
volunteer for a very good cause.
This experience enabled me to
understand that every little help
that you give matters. No matter
what you do for MindWise, you can
surely be proud of yourself. Also, I
got to meet the other volunteers
who had other tasks to take in
and they were all sweet and kind.
I can assure you
that being part of
MindWise is like being
part of a family
22
WISECRAIC
I can assure you that being part
of MindWise is like being part of a
family that cares for every single
human being who has mental
issues.
Since I moved back home, I got
many student job offers and not
because of my work experience in
catering and retail but because of
my voluntary work at MindWise.
I conclude that doing something
good for the society is a very
important duty to do as a citizen.
I would like to thank all the staff
members at MindWise for giving
me the opportunity to learn more
about myself and to find ways to
help the rest of my surroundings.”
If like Tatiana you would like
to volunteer for MindWise we
are always looking for more
volunteers currently we are
recruiting for more helpers for
our BallyClare Bookshop.
For more information on how to
get involved as a volunteer,
please contact Elaine, Volunteer
Co-ordinator on 028 9031 5060
or by email at
[email protected].
information page:
WiseWords
Have a worry window in your day take ten minutes to worry about everything...then close the window.
Try to have a mind like a rubber
ball; when it hits a wall, it bounces
back.
Don’t worry about becoming the
best; it’s good enough just to try to
be better.
Maybe you could think about your
worries as a coat - something to
take off and leave at the door.
It’s not about yesterday. It’s not
about tomorrow. It’s about today.
Laugh in the face of adversity! OK,
you still might fail, but you’ll be laughing as you lose!
Nothing is important...so it’s
essential to do just that from time
to time!
WISECRAIC
23
Code
Join online www.mindwisenv.org/membership
or join by post complete this form
Membership application
Mr
Mrs
Ms
Other (please specify)
Name
Company (if applicable)
Address
Postcode
Email
I am
Phone
Someone with a severe mental illness or mental health difficulty
A carer
Other (please specify)
Give what you can
£15 (waged)
£5 (unwaged)
£0
£100 (group membership)
£150 (individual lifetime member)
I enclose a cheque made payable to MindWise £
I wish to pay by:
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Maestro
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Card No
Expiry Date
/
(Maestro Only) Issue No
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Signature
Date
Start Date
/
Please detach this section of the leaflet (along scissor lines shown) and post it to:
Membership, MindWise, Head Office, Wyndhurst, Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road, Belfast BT8 8BH