£10 Million Lottery-Backed Scheme to Tackle Alcohol Misuse in Northen Ireland
Anne Clarke (Centre), Programme Manager for the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health (Niamh), and Dungannon man Alan Leckey (right), who has been supported by the Niamh, are pictured with Big Lottery Fund NI Chair, Frank Hewitt (Left), at the launch of the Big Lottery Fund’s £10 million Impact of Alcohol programme. The programme aims to reduce the harm caused to people, families and communities in Northern Ireland directly affected by alcohol misuse.
Click here to download the press release.
Health Minister visits Aspen Beacon Centre and praises the work done there
Health Minister Michael McGimpsey has praised the Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health (Niamh) for the services that they provide for people with mental health problems.
During a visit to the Aspen Beacon Day Support Centre in Belfast, the Minister said: "Mental Health remains one of my top priorities and my aim is to see people with mental health needs living fulfilling lives in their communities.
"That is why it is so encouraging to see that the ethos of this excellent centre is very much about promoting recovery.”
The Minister continued: "We depend on the voluntary sector for the vital role that they play in providing services that support our health and social care system.”
Praising the work carried out by Niamh, the Minister said: "I have been greatly impressed by the staff here at the Aspen Centre, who support many people with mental health problems to maximise their potential and live as independently as possible in their communities."
Read More About Health Minister visits Aspen Beacon Centre and praises the work of mental health voluntary organisation»The Niamh Response to the DHSSPS Draft Budget Proposal
We at Niamh acknowledge that all government departments are facing the challenge of making resource savings in order to fund business critical services, however we firmly believe that the current economic climate brings with it additional fears, pressures and risks for those who are already vulnerable because of their mental health problems.
In response to the draft budget proposals Niamh believes that the DHSSPS need to:
1. Prioritise mental health and wellbeing as business critical services.
2. DHSSPS should protect the Health and Social Care Budget, and in so doing, protect the mental health voluntary sector, because it is critical to the DHSSPS mission to improve the health and social wellbeing of this society.
3. Fund the full implementation of the Bamford Action Plan in partnership with other Government Departments.
4. Protect Mental Health Promotion funding.
To read the full response click
here.
To read a summary of the report click
here.Niamh Board Welcomes Appointment of New Group Chief Executive
The Niamh Board welcomes the appointment of Mr Peter McBride as Group Chief Executive from 1st November 2010.
Peter was formerly Managing Director of Carecall and replaces Prof. Alan Ferguson who retired as CEO on 31st October.
Niamh Pays Tribute to Chief Executive, Prof. Alan Ferguson OBE
On the evening of Friday, 22nd October 2010, Niamh hosted a retirement dinner at the Ulster Reform Club for its Chief Executive, Prof. Alan Ferguson OBE. The Board of Trustees paid tribute to the enormous contribution made by Prof. Ferguson during his 34 years with the organisation and his dedication to the development of services for those with mental health needs and in the field of mental health promotion and wellbeing. The evening was attended by representatives from the Niamh Board, both past and present, members of the Group Senior Management Team, Prof. Ferguson’s family and other invited guests.
Changes to the Niamh Board
At the Niamh Annual General Meeting held on 11th October 2010 the Board of Trustees accepted the resignation of Ms Mary J O’Mahony. The Deputy Chair, Dr Desmond Poole, thanked Ms O’Mahony for her enormous and invaluable contribution to the Niamh Board over the last 7 years.
The Board also elected Dr Clare Mangan and Dr Margaret Cupples as Trustees.
World Mental Health Day Press Release
Give your Mental Health an MOT
Niamh (The Northern Ireland Association for Mental Health), is urging people to give their mental health an MOT in the run up to World Mental Health Day on 10 Oct 2010.
In NI there is evidence to suggest that we have up to 30% higher levels of mental illness than the rest of the UK. The Northern Ireland Health and Social Wellbeing Survey (2005/06) also found that in NI women were more likely to show signs of a possible mental health problem than men, and women were also more likely than men to have experienced a great deal of worry or stress.
Peter McBride, Niamh Chief Executive Designate appeared on BBC Radio Ulster show Saturday magazine to discuss World Mental Health Day and the Niamh 'Mental Health MOT'.
To listen click
here, Peter appears 16 minutes into the show.