"Mental health will be an issue on the doorsteps", says Mental Health Reform

Howdy all, We've got an interesting release from Mental Health Reform here that makes for an interesting read!

"Mental health will be an issue on the doorsteps", says Mental Health Reform

Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has welcomed today’s announcement (03/02/2016) by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the General Election will be held on Friday 26th February. The coalition is asking voters to use the next three weeks to remind all General Election candidates to make mental health a priority. 

Shari McDaid, Director of Mental Health Reform, said: “We’ve seen general agreement and some manifesto promises from political parties on mental health, but what we really need now is effective action. Mental health difficulties touch people of all ages and backgrounds, and Ireland’s rate of suicide is still worryingly high. Candidates need to realise that mental health is an important issue for hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland.”

“Although there has been progress in recent years, people are still having long waits in A&E, and many particularly vulnerable people such as those with an addiction or disability are not getting the care they need. Services are stretched and understaffed. It’s time to challenge candidates to say what they will do to improve Ireland’s mental health”, Dr McDaid continued.

“Voters need a clear signal from all political parties that they will make mental health a priority, if elected. The #Ourstateofmind campaign is asking all candidates and parties to commit to specific actions that will make a real difference, including: 

•           a nationwide school programme to build good mental health; 

•           access to 24/7 crisis supports; 

•           easy access to counselling; 

•           a right to advocacy support, to help people with mental health difficulties access                           services; 

•           advance healthcare directives, to give people the right to make choices about their own               mental health treatment. 

If the next Government doesn’t include these issues in their Programme for Government, they’ll be missing a unique opportunity to develop a mental health system that works to prevent mental health difficulties and support recovery”, concluded Dr McDaid.

To get involved and learn more about the Our state of mind campaign, see www.mentalhealthreform.ie, or contact Mental Health Reform on info@mentalhealthreform.ie or (01) 8749468.

Remind every candidate to make mental health a priority in the next General Election. Take action now: https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind 

#Ourstateofmind

Follow us on Twitter: @MHReform

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalhealthreform/

Smashing Times Theatre Street Performances

Howdy all,

Those lovely folks at Smashing Times Theatre...

Will be hosting Street Performances on

Wednesday February 10th at 1:30pm at the

 Swan Centre Rathmines

And on

Thursday 11th February at 1pm at the 

Ranelagh Triangle

Please feel free to come along!

http://www.smashingtimes.ie/

Smashing Times Theatre

Gateway Newsletter and Schedule - February 2016

Howdy all,

Here is this month's newsletter and schedule.

Yet more stellar work from the Newsletter Team!

Enjoy!

Gateway Newsletter February 2016

February 2016

A member submitted piece for your enjoyment!

Hello All,

Here is a piece written by a Gateway Member for you to enjoy!

Truth

When I was a boy my Irish teacher told me a story about how he used to fetch water from the local well for an elderly neighbour when he was a boy. As a reward for his kindness, she made him a cup of hot sweet tea. 

Now in this ancient cottage with its open hearth and oil lamps there was a deficit of drinking vessels i.e.. one delph mug,cracked and chipped, and a couple of jam jars. On account of Seamus being "a very good boy" Bridie insisted that Seamus should have only the best, and offered him her mug. Not wanting to offend his hostess Seamus graciously accepted the offer. Bridie herself was a also a kind and generous person.  

Unfortunately poor Bridie, in her twilight years, was suffering ill health as was evidenced by numerous cold sores around her toothless grin. Seamus' mind scrambled for a resolution that would solve this diplomatic conundrum. In a eureka moment Seamus lifted the mug with his left hand thereby reducing the risk of acquiring an infection. Seamus sat on the milking stool on one side of the hearth while Bridie sat on the other side on the only four legged seat in the cottage. Bridie's happiness at being able to repay Seamus' kindness was elevated to elation when she discovered another trait.

Apart from this kind heart that they shared, as she pointed with her gnarled arthritic index finger of her left hand at the mug and said the words that were to be the straw that was to break the camel's back as Seamus, with great effort, had been suppressing the urge to purge. "I see Seamusine like meself you're a cithog (irish word for left handed or awkward )

My Buddist friends say "politicans have the hardest job in the world". I am sure like myself you are finding this statement incredible and not evidence based (as they say these days mainly due to the absence of blind faith. Ah! God be with the days!). Until they explained to me that if politicans told the truth they would never get elected, so it becomes a necessary evil in order to get elected and go on to serve  the public. 

This privilege and honour of service I regard as the primary motivating factor of people who enter politics, and not as some cynics would have you believe a desire to feather their own nest and that of their friends (I will accept that there is a good deal of unskilled thinking involved as is evident in some of their policies but that's for another day - watch this space)

-Eucabious Mcgrail

Voter Awareness Training with Mental Health Reform

Hi All,

Here's a message from Lara Kelly from Mental Health Reform regarding Voter Awareness Training at Gateway...

Hello All!

Tuesday 9th February 2-4pm, Parker Hill

Voter awareness session with Mental Health Reform

Are you interested in helping to make mental health a priority in the next General Election?

Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, will meet Gateway members to introduce the Our state of mind General Election campaign to keep mental health on the political agenda. 

Come along to hear specific recommendations for the next Government and to get some campaign tools to help you speak to your local candidates. 

Please see the attatched images for more information.

See you soon!

Lara

-- 

Lara Kelly,

Communications and Campaigns Officer.

Mental Health Reform.

Gateway Project Worker CE position online

Gateway is advertising for a new Project Worker CE position which might be of interest.  Please feel free to circulate and see  www.jobsireland.ie for further details. Deadline for applications via Intreo  is 5pm on 4^th February 2016. Attached is the job spec with job reference: ES-1007696 and information on Community Employment (CE) schemes. 

If interested in applying, it is very important that applicants first check their eligibility with their local INTREO office (local social welfare office) beforehand as not everyone is eligible for Community Employment (CE)– list of offices here: http://www.welfare.ie/en/Pages/Intreo---Contact-Information.aspx.  We advise that applicants also check with social welfare to find out how a change to a CE payment would affect entitlements and secondary benefits like living alone allowance etc.

How do I apply?

First Steps:

1. Read the information attached to this email to understand what Gateway is looking for in a new Project Worker.

2. Check www.jobsireland.ie for the Project Worker for Gateway Mental Health Association advert (CE Scheme is Bluebell Women’s Group, Supervisor is Siobhan Parnell).

3. Make a note of the JOB REFERENCE CODE: ES-1007696

4. Contact INTREO and arrange a meeting with the Employment Services Officer and ask them to put you forward for referral to the CE Scheme Sponsor. (a list of these offices are here: www.welfare.ie)

       

    Only candidates on the referral list will be requested to submit a current CV and cover letter for shortlisting for interviews.

Follow On Steps:

    Shortlisting will be done on the basis of the letter of application and CV in accordance with the job spec.

    Interviews will take place in mid February.
    If successful, the new Project Worker will start on the scheme once Garda Vetting has been processed – the successful person can choose to start earlier by volunteering if they wish as Garda Vetting takes approximately 6-8 weeks.

Please approach the local employment service for help needed with CVs and application letters - they can be very helpful and supportive (http://www.localemploymentservices.ie/ )

Best wishes and good luck to everybody interested.  

Gateway 

Department of Social Protection - Head Offices List

Services: Longford Social Welfare Services
Government Buildings, Ballinalee Road, Longford.
Opening Hours: 9.30am - 4.00pm
Tel: (043) 3340000 / (01) 704 3000
>Invalidity Pension
> Disablement Benefit
> Carer's Allowance
> Carer's Benefit
> Bereavement Grant
> Family Income Supplement - FIS
> Rent Allowance De-Control of Rents
> Disability Allowance

Aras Mhic Dhiarmada
Store Street, Dublin 1.
Tel: (01) 6797777
> Illness Benefit Enquires
Tel: (01) 7043000
> Office of the Minister
> Office of the Secretary General
> Budget and Finance
> Occupational Injuries Benefit
> Press Office
> EU/International Policy
> Policy and Planning Unit
> Facilities Management Unit
> Family Affairs Unit
> Personnel
> Medical Care

Buncrana
Social Welfare Services
Dept. of Social Protection
McCarter's Road, Ardarvan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.
Lo-Call: 1890690690 (Republic of Ireland only)
If calling from outside Ireland, Please call (01) 4715898
> Maternity Benefit
> Adoptive Benefit
> Health and Safety Benefit
> PRSI Records
> EU/International Records
> Homemakers

Carrick-on-Shannon
Social and Family Support Services (SFSS)
Department of Social Protection, Shannon Lodge, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim.
> Client Identity Services (01) 7043281
> Decisions Advisory Office (071) 9672500
Freedom of Information
> Employment Support Services (071) 9672500
> Maintenance Recovery Unit (071) 9672500
> Back to Work Allowance (071) 9672594
> Back to Education Allowance (071) 9672531

Dundalk
St Alphonsus Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth.
Tel: (042) 9392600
> Accounts Branch

Gandon House
Amiens Street, Dublin 1
Tel: (01) 7043000
> Office for Social Inclusion

Goldsmith House
Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
Tel: (01) 7043000
> Office of the Director General
> Buisness Information Security Unit
> Management Services Unit
> Risk Management Support Unit

LetterKenny
Social Welfare Services
St. Oliver Plunkett Road, LetterKenny, Co. Donegal
> Child Benefit - Lo-Call: 1890400400
> Treatment Benefit: Dental/Optical/Hearing Aids Lo-Call: 1890400400

Oisin House
212-213 Pearse Street, Dublin 2
> Scope (insurability of Employment) (01) 6732585
> PRSI Refunds (01) 6732586

Sligo
Social Welfare Services
College Road,
Sligo
Telephone Lo-Call: 1890 500000 or (071) 9157100 (from Northern Ireland or overseas)

> State Pensions
> Blind Pension
> One-Parent Family Payment
> Window's or Windower's Pensions
> Widowed Parent Grant
> Guardians Payments
> Supplementary Welfare Allowance
> Free Travel
> Household Benefits
> Project Office
> Internal Audit
> Bereavement Grant
> Information Services Lo-Call: 1890 662244
OPFP or your Local Social Welfare Office ~ Contact your Local Comunity Welfare Officer
Where the deceased person was in receipt of a payment from SWS, Sligo or was a qualified adult or a qualified child.

Waterford
Social Welfare Services
Goverment Offices, Cork Road, Waterford
Tel: Waterford (051) 356000/(01) 7043000
> Self Employment Section
> Special Collection
> Voluntary Contributions Section
> International Records

Skills for Change Course

Howdy Everyone,

We've been sent some information on an upcoming 'Skills for Change' course from Susan Kehoe from the Ballyfermot Primary Care and Mental Health Centre.

Please see the attached flyer for contact information if you are interested in this course.

Hi all,

I’ve attached information on a training course that is upcoming. It is open to people in the D12 area. It is a course for individuals who are using/have used the mental health services and /or their supporters. I sent on a copy of the research to the group previously ‘A seat at the table’ and this training course has arisen from one of the recommendations made from the research. The course aims to provide the participants with the skills, knowledge and confidence they need to partake in decision making for within the mental health services and beyond. 

We’re having an information meeting re: the course on Thursday 21st in Tallaght library.

Kind Regards,

Susan

Susan Kehoe

Senior Occupational Therapist

Mental Health Rehabilitation Service

Ballyfermot Primary Care and Mental Health Centre

Skills for Change Course