Annual review 2007/08

In your area

Northern Ireland

Making a difference

This year has been an exciting and challenging time in Northern Ireland with the restoration of a devolved Assembly, the reform of Health and Social Services, and a major government review in mental health. Rethink has played a significant role in contributing to the review of mental health and it is now better profiled following the success of last year’s anti-stigma campaign.

Making it happen

• We have been working in partnership with Autism Initiatives to develop a 21st Century housing model, Peripatetic Support Services, for people experiencing Asperger’s Syndrome and mental health difficulties.
  
  
• We recognise that community bridge building plays a key role in the recovery of a sense of self and reality. With this in mind our Community Support Services in Ballycastle aim to support people whilst remaining connected to the wider community.
  
  
• We launched Open Your Mind, a five-year partnership project between NUS-USI and Rethink NI, working together to promote awareness of mental health issues amongst students aged 16-25 across Northern Ireland.
  
  
• Staff, service users and volunteers have been working with the Learning and Development Manager as part of what is called the ‘Internal Network of Trainers’.  Everyone has completed a Train the Trainer programme and Recovery training has been successfully piloted with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust.
  
  
• Active 8 is a new volunteer programme for Rethink.  It is an empowerment initiative operating throughout Northern Ireland to help people experiencing mental illness and their carers.

Making an impact

• 24 people experiencing Asperger’s Syndrome and mental health difficulties will be supported to live independently in the community through our Peripatetic Support Services.
  
  
• The Community Bridge Building focus in Ballycastle will support people experiencing mental illness to access activities, social networks and explore employment opportunities.
  
  
• Open Your Minds has developed good links with organisations across Northern Ireland including membership of the Brook Advisory Clinic Management Committee. A steering group of young volunteers has been set up and trained to raise positive awareness of mental health amongst their peers.
  
  
• By providing Recovery training Rethink will be able to influence how services are delivered by statutory and other organisations and promote the Recovery approach as the core of best practice.
  
  
• With the support of volunteers Active 8 will offer opportunites to participate in a programme including Self Management, Carers Recovery, and Life Skills.

Moving forward

• We’ll work in partnership with a wider range of organisations in the statutory, private and voluntary sector to meet the complex needs of people with Asperger’s Syndrome and associated mental health difficulties.
  
  
• Ballycastle Community Support Services will develop a Community Bridge Building Model.
  
  
• Open Your Minds will run an advertising campaign and a student-led radio show to raise awareness on a larger scale.
  
  
• We’ll be working to expand the provision of all our Recovery training to other organisations.
  
  
• Active 8 will train volunteers and actively recruit individuals to take part in the programme. It is our aim to have 50 volunteers going through the programme every year and ensure there is a good split between service users and carers, the greater public and those with an interest in mental health.

Moving you forward
If you would like to know more about our services in Northern Ireland please contact our Regional Office by telephoning (028) 90 40 23 23 or email info.nireland@rethink.org.