Public bodies join together to promote mental health
February 4, 2022
Lisburn & Castlereagh City Council and the South Eastern and Belfast Trusts have joined forces to highlight the importance of looking after your mental health and where to get support and advice.
This four week social media campaign will direct people to the correct online and personal support and reinforce the message “It’s OK not to be OK” and “It is really good to talk”.
Corporate Services Chairman at LCCC, Councillor John Laverty BEM, stressed: “The council and the Trusts have developed really close working relationships through our Health Working Group which allows us to highlight and tackle serious health issues together. As a community, we must do everything within our power to improve both the physical and mental health and wellbeing of those who need support. With this campaign we are challenging stigma and raising awareness so those dealing with mental health issues can live their lives and get the support they need.
“Around one in five people in Northern Ireland have mental health concerns. A mental health problem can feel just as bad, or worse, as any other physical illness and it is important we take steps to managing our emotional wellbeing. We hope this campaign will help encourage people to get the help they need and show them where to find it.”
There are many projects and initiatives available to offer you support including the ‘Take 5 Steps to Wellbeing’ campaign; be active, connect, keep learning, take notice and give. Small changes can be easily introduced into our everyday lives to ultimately improve our mental wellbeing.
Fiona Dagg from the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust added: “There are many ways that you can access help and support. Please know asking for help is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of strength. We would really encourage people to join in with activities that promote positive connections. The Recovery College and Wellness Recovery Network in the SE Trust is a great start and will offer you a range options. You don’t need to have a mental health diagnosis to join the Recovery College or Wellness Recovery Network. They are open to anyone 18+ who want to focus on emotional wellbeing & building resilience.”
Fiona Meenan, Senior Manager for Health Improvement at Belfast Health & Social Care Trust commented: “Connecting with others is vitally important for our mental health. Belfast Trust is delighted to support this campaign which encourages us to talk to others about mental health; a really important step in continuing to remove the stigma on this subject. The campaign also emphasises the important message that we should connect with services when we have concerns about our mental health. There are many services available offering support and information, several of which are featured in this campaign. Just as with our physical health, the sooner we reach out for support, the sooner we can get on the road to recovery.”
Follow the campaign on the Facebook channels of the council and the two healthcare trusts: @LisburnCastlereagh, @ SouthEasternHealthSocialCareTrust and @BelfastTrust.
The Recovery College can be accessed online at https://setrust.hscni.net/service/recovery-college/