Coffee and Connect Morning with Council and Horizons

June 22, 2018

The Mayor, Councillor Uel Mackin, hosted a ‘Coffee and Connect’ session with local charity Horizons last week.  Horizons supports people who have been bereaved through suicide and it provides practical and confidential support.  The Coffee and Connect morning was held as part of men’s Health Week.

Councillor Mackin praised the work of Horizons and said: “Community coffee mornings like this and the work of Horizons can offer support where it is needed.  By helping people work through pain, grief, distress and confusion.”

The Coffee and Connect initiative feeds into the Department of Health Take 5 campaign, which encourages individuals to follow five daily steps to help maintain and improve their wellbeing.  These are: connect, be active, take notice, keep learning and give.

In 2016, 297 people died from suicide in Northern Ireland with 221 of those being men.

During Men’s Health Week the Council ran a number of workshops to provide information to staff and elected members on staying healthy and encouraging them to take the time to talk to others.  These sessions were all in keeping with the theme of Men’s Health Week ‘One small step for man, one giant leap for men’s health’.

For practical help, support, tips and advice on improving your mental fitness visit www.mindingyourhead.info