Mental Health Awareness Week Read More Donate

Mental Health Awareness Week - May 13th - 19th

13-19th of May is Mental Health Awareness Week. The theme this year is Body Image and how we feel about our bodies.

Over the next week on social media, we'll be sharing:

T ips on combatting your body image worries
Advice on body image when taking medication
Our video on looking after your mental health on social media

as well as resources from our four nations family at Mental Health UK, who'll be looking at work and mental health this week.

Looking after your mental health on social media

5 Tips for Better Body Image

Let's face it; loving our body all the time is unrealistic. But we can all take steps to being more positive about our own bodies. Here's our 5 tips for being more BodyKind.

"I felt like my body had been taken over by an alien" - Cara talks body image and medication

Cara first experienced mental illness when she was 20. When she was prescribed medication, she experienced side effects, including weight gain.

Here's Cara's tips for coping with how medication can change your body image.

"I was prescribed antipsychotic and mood stabilising medication when I became unwell. Although I now credit it with saving my life, I wish I had been more aware that they could make me gain weight. When I asked about side effects, weight gain was kind of mentioned, but shrugged off as mild.

I'm not a doctor and this is just my experience. When I started taking medication, I gained weight quite rapidly.In the initial months, I found I had a much more increased appetite, especially when it came to sugar. I would wake up with a ferocious hunger for something sweet. My medication also made me very sleepy, so I wasn't as active as I could have been. People kept telling me to diet and exercise to lose weight, but I was still in the early stages of my recovery.

I found it incredibly distressing; I felt like my body had been taken over by an alien. I had already experienced an eating disorder so gaining weight was very upsetting for me.

My appearance changed and it really affected my self confidence. But the medication was working; my illness had become very debilitating and I was starting to recover. But I felt like getting well had come at the expense of my body and it was hard to cope with. It's alright for some to say, "just lose the weight!" but it's not as simple as that, and you still have to live with the body you're in.

Here's what helped me to build up my body image:

1. I stopped putting too much pressure on myself. I had experienced something life changing and I needed to adjust and let myself recover - my weight could wait.

2. I sought support from other people who'd been in the same situation. I found the internet really useful for this, but also joined a support group. Just speaking to people who understood really helped me to put things into perspective and be gentler on myself when I felt bad about how I looked.

3. I was never going to be a runner, and there was no reason to expect myself to become one just to lose medication weight. What I did do, however, was go back to something I had loved before I became unwell, which was cycling. It got me out of the house, helped get me fitter and was also great for my mental health. Just moving my body made me feel great, and seeing the progress I was making. I was getting faster, stronger, could go longer distances and it also helped me to save money.

4. I had a frank discussion with my doctor. Doctors can and should be checking on your physical health when you're prescribed psychiatric medication, though in my experience, that can be quite patchy. I would suggest, if you aren't able to advocate for youself, that you get an advocate on board to make sure your physical health is being looked after as well as your mental health. Moreso than my appearance, I was worried about my health and the risk of type 2 diabetes. I had regular blood tests to check I hadn't developed prediabetes or diabetes. There are also lots of options to investigate for healthy eating.

I know how to eat healthily, but when I had been unwell, I hadn't really been able to cook and plan meals. Going to a healthy eating group helped me to get back into the habit of preparing meals and thinking about what I was eating. You can check with your CPN, doctor, or GP about what's available in your area. If you don't feel up to groups, there's lots of you can do online.

I've also had counselling so I feel like I have more tools to help me stay well. I still struggle with body image, but for me I glad that I am still in recovery from my mental illness, and I feel proud of that".

Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to join the #BodyKind conversation.

Celebrating 10 Years of MindWise Read More Donate

We're 10

Happy birthday to us! 10 years ago, we de-merged from Rethink to become MindWise, an independent charity.

A lot's changed in the past 10 years. More people are talking about mental health than ever; and more people need our support than ever. In the past 10 years, we've grown to almost twice the size that we were. Each year, we transform more than 9000 lives through our 30 services, delivered by 100 amazing staff who are supported by 80 fantastic volunteers.

MindWise CEO Anne Doherty doing the cake cutting honours in Head Office, with some non-alcoholic bubbly kindly provided by our corporate partners, the SHS Group

We're very proud to be 10. We're proud that 70% of our staff have lived experience. We're proud that many of our volunteers and staff began as service users with us. We're proud that 95% of people in our services say being part of MindWise is important to their recovery.

In the past 10 years, we've created new and innovative services within the criminal justice system, including Northern Ireland Appropriate Adult Service and Linked-In, as well as delivering the only Coaching for Mental Health and Wellbeing diploma *in the world* through WorkWisenv. We're there for new mums and families through our Mums and Family Wellness Projects, as well as carers through our Family Support Service. We've expanded our support for older people, as well as our advocacy services, and moved into new areas through services such as Inverary House.

And we're proud to be working alongside our Rethink family once again through Mental Health UK, composed of our sister charities Rethink Mental Illness, Hafal and Support in Mind Scotland .

THANK YOU! to staff, clients and volunteers. Scroll down to read more from our staff who've been here for 10 years. Here's to the next 10 years!

Lekan Abasi is an Appropriate Adult with NIASS and joined MindWise in 2009. He's also Clinical Co-ordinator at Counselling All Nations Services (CANS). Here he shares his thoughts on the past 10 years at MindWise.

What were you doing before you joined MindWise?

I was a trained Counsellor, always looking out on what I can do to support vulnerable people, especially, the powerless and voiceless.

Why did you want to work at MindWise?

I had just completed 6 years as Volunteer Custody Visitor and the Appropriate Adult role is a paid job and I thought I can use my experience to work with the organisation.

What, in your opinion, has changed in mental health and your sector in the past 10 years?

MindWise growth and expansion over the course of 10 year is a testament to the hard work of the Management Staff and the dedication of its workforce. Reflections and feedback from the service users is an indication of what the organisation stood for.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

Making sure juveniles or vulnerable adult arrested and detained by the police are treated with respect and their rights are maintained throughout the process whilst in detention.

What is your proudest moment from the past 10 years?

When I was presented with a long serving staff award after 5 years in service.

What are your hopes for the next 10 years?

Funding for the scheme to be mainstreamed so it can continue to support people detained in police custody.

Our Adult Mental Health Services Manager Jackie McCaughey joined MindWise ten years ago. Here are her reflections on the last 10 years.

Jackie in 2009 and Jackie now

What were you doing before you joined MindWise?

Before I joined MindWise, I was working in residential care for older people experiencing dementia.

Why did you want to work at MindWise?

The opportunity to make a difference to people’s lives and support them in their recovery as unfortunately with dementia the condition means a deterioration in people’s abilities to manage day to day, where with MindWise I could contribute to people’s lives improving. In the residential unit we also supported six men who had schizophrenia and I was involved in supporting one of the men to move to his own flat after many years in hospital and the home which sparked my interest in supporting people with severe and enduring mental health rather than dementia

What, in your opinion, has changed in mental health and your sector in the past 10 years?

We have seen an increase in the number of people experiencing mental health difficulties and subsequently a growth in the number of services needed. There has been progress in awareness raising with more people willing to talk about mental health. We still have more work to do on the awareness raising and although things have got better we are not there yet.

Of course, there is never enough money spent on mental health and it is an easy option when cuts are being made to budgets as people tend to not make as much noise about it as they would do if it was cancer, heart or children’s services that were being cut.

What’s your favourite thing about your job?

The variety – my job takes me right across NI when out visiting the services and when representing MindWise at various working groups or giving talks about the organisation and every day is different. The clients, staff and volunteers also make the job interesting as again you never know what is going to happen when you walk through the door of a service. It is great to get to talk to the clients and hear first hand how MindWise staff and volunteers are supporting them.

What is your proudest moment from the past 10 years?

There are many including seeing clients move on to independent living and being able to manage without needing the support of our staff and services. Personally, two events that stand out was being named IHCP Care Manager of the Year in 2012 and the DEL Vocational Learner of the Year for NI in 2014 were. These two awards are a reflection on the work of the organisation as I could not have achieved these without the support of the staff in my services and the organisation as a whole. One other event that was memorable was the launch of the Older People’s Community Bridge Building programme by the then Health Minister, Edwin Poots, in Stormont.

What are your hopes for the next 10 years?

Continued increase in awareness so that more people get the support they need at an early stage and of course more funding to ensure services are available to support everyone wo is in need. As an organisation I would like to see MindWise continue to expand and provide more early intervention services to ensure that people are able to receive the support they need at the right time.

How Healthy is Your Business? Read More Donate

We are delighted to announce the relaunch of the Employer of Choice Programme.

This exciting organisational development programme aims to support organisations to develop robust, innovative wellbeing strategies which will make a real difference to your people and how you work.

Download our Employer of Choice leaflet which outlines the benefits to your business.

To book your free pre-programme consultation email workwise@mindwisenv.org

When does the programme begin?

There are two pilot programmes, with limited spaces available at a discounted rate. You can now book your place for the September 2019 programme, which commences on 26th September 2019.

What does the programme involve?

STAGES	OBJECTIVES	DELIVERY METHOD	WHEN
Stage 1	Introduction to Employer of Choice Building the Business Case – The importance of a Wellbeing Strategy for your organisation Planning your approach to development of your strategy for your organisation	Group workshop Day 1	26^th September 2019
Stage 2	Research and self-assessment of what currently promotes health and wellbeing within your organisation	Individual tasks to be conducted by each organisation between Day 1 and Day 2	To be agreed by each organisation
Stage 3	Set out your vision for your organisation Develop your action plan for your organisation	Group workshop Day 2	17^th October 2019
Stage 4	Site visit to your organisation	Coaching and mentoring support	Tailored to the needs of each individual organisation
Stage 5	Presentation of your organisation’s findings and action plan	Peer review	12^th December 2019
Stage 6	Site visit to your organisation	Coaching and mentoring support	Tailored to the needs of each individual organisation
Stage 7	Final presentation of your organisation’s strategy and action plan	A panel will ‘sign-off’ your strategy and action plan for accreditation	13^th February 2020
Stage 8	Celebration & Awards	Celebration ceremony	TBC
Stage 9	Re-accreditation	24 months	March 2022

Download the programme outline here.

Are you ready to become an Employer of Choice?

You can now book your place for our programme commencing on 26th September 2019. You can book your place online by clicking here.

If you'd like to book by email or post, please download the registration form here.

Fundraise for MindWiseRead More Donate

Volunteer for MindWiseRead More Donate

MindWise is a leading mental health charity which supports those affected by severe mental illness and other mental health difficulties and promotes earlier intervention. To help make this a success we are looking for individuals to spare a few hours a week to volunteer. We currently have volunteer opportunities in the following roles:

Experienced Fundraising and Event Volunteers – to help with a range of fundraising events (e.g. bag packs, street collections, marathons etc)
Volunteer Facilitators – Carer and Family Support Service – based in Antrim, Ballymena or Coleraine
Research and Information Volunteer – Carer and Family Support Service
Walking Group Leader – Thursday morning, Belfast Resource Centre
Chess Volunteer – Belfast Resource Centre
Music / Mindfulness Volunteer – Belfast Resource Centre
Woodwork Volunteer – Magherafelt
Volunteer to teach Guitar - Magherafelt
Gardening Volunteer - Carrickfergus
Activities/Walking Group Volunteers –Newry, Antrim, Banbridge, Lurgan
Arts and Crafts Volunteers – Newry, Lurgan

If you are interested in applying for any of these roles please contact the volunteer co-ordinator on 028 9031 5060 or email niamh.scullion@mindwisenv.org for an application pack and role description.

What's it like volunteering for MindWise?

Hear from our volunteers themselves on what being a MindWise volunteer is like.

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MindWise