Clodagh's Music

Hi Folks

Clodagh was in yesterday 15th Feb and had a very successful hour sharing her knowledge of music and music instruments.  She has created a group of like minded people who wish to have some fun learning about instruments, music writing and generally all aspects of enjoying music. Please see the attached file for more information.

Cheers folks and enjoy
Dee Harte

Clodagh - DeE

Our meditation tutor is away for two weeks...

Hi Members!

As you will have seen on the schedule Carol is away the next couple of weeks, which meant no meditation class, but Richard M
has stepped in to save the day :) and will be holding a relaxation session next Monday in the back room from 4pm.

If anyone else would like to volunteer for the following Monday just give us a shout!

Also don't forget Kevin will be holding Members' Hour earlier that afternoon - all about the music of musicals - so it's shaping up to be a fun day!

Voter Awareness Training at Gateway

Howdy all,

Yesterday, we were visited by Lara Kelly from Mental Health Reform for some very welcome Voter Awareness Training - discussing what are the issues around mental health that matter to us and how we would go about speaking to election candidates and canvassers about these issues. There was a good attendance and was enjoyed and valued by all.

Lara herself has tweeted some images of the notes members made during the session.

Please click here to view the twitter feed: https://twitter.com/MHReform

Gateway Member Election Bid

Howdy, 

One of our members wishes to get on the Electoral Ballot on February 26, in the Dublin South Central constituency, to promote the importance of mental health, in the imminent election. 

As he needs 30 people, to fill in a FORM AF1 by 10am on Thursday morning, to fulfill the bureaucracies maybe some of you, or your friends could help him make this deadline. 

Kind Regards from Dermot Egan. 

dermotegan2010@gmail.com

Statutory Declaration English-1

The OTHER Election...

Dear All,

Today Gateway members engaged in a secret ballot to elect member representatives for the new management committee.

I’d like to say a big thank you to all the members for engaging in the process, attending information sessions and for putting themselves forward – we had 6 members nominated to vote on this afternoon.

The results ended in a tied position at number two.  Following discussions with current Advisory Committee member reps and members in Gateway after the result, it was agreed that given the circumstances and interest that Gateway would proceed with 3 member reps on the Management Committee.  Oliver D will report this to the management sub group at their meeting this Friday. 

Congratulations to Maura F, Mick B and Oliver D on becoming Gateway’s new Management Committee representatives for the future.  Each person will bring their own strengths and perspectives to the management of Gateway.  While we are waiting for the new Committee to establish itself fully, we will provide our new reps with training and opportunities to practice and learn at their own pace.

Thanks again to everyone involved for making it a fair, open and inclusive process!

Best wishes

Fionn

Public Lecture Series 2016 - Understanding Mental Health

Hello All,

Please see the attached flyer for some information on upcoming public lectures happening in DCU.

Looks to be some interesting topics on there!

All the best,

John M.

Understanding Mental Health DCU Public Lecture Series 2016

Please support Mental Health Reform Thunderclap on social media!

More goodies from Mental Health Reform...

Dear MHR Members and Board Members,

Your help is needed to keep mental health on the agenda over the coming weeks, now that the General Election has been called for 26th February.

We need a minimum of 100 people/organisations to sign up to an Our state of mind Thunderclap that will send a united message to the new Government on 1st March, just as they are negotiating and finalising the Programme for Government. If each of MHR's Board Members and 55 member organisations and just one or two staff members from your organisation support the Thunderclap, we'll send out a strong message that mental health needs to be a priority.

What is a Thunderclap?
A Thunderclap is an automated message that you can sign up to from today, which will be blasted out on Twitter and Facebook at the same time, by everyone who supports it - at 9.30 am on Tuesday 1st March 2016.

What's the message?
If you agree to the Thunderclap, the following message will be shared automatically on your Twitter and/or Facebook account:
“I’m asking the new Govt to prioritise #mentalhealth. RT to show your support #ourstateofmind www.mentalhealthreform.ie http://thndr.me/s9yzIy”

How can I support the Thunderclap?
We're asking you to use your organisational and personal social media accounts, and to encourage staff to do likewise. Here's how:

1) Click on the Thunderclap link: http://thndr.me/V6w5UA

2) Click 'support on Facebook', 'support on Twitter' and/or 'support on Tumblr', depending on which social media accounts you have

3) Once you have agreed to share the message, you'll have the option to let others know about the Thunderclap. Please do this, to spread the word.

As ever, you can find out more about the Our state of mind campaign here: mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind. Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you need any further information to help you support the campaign, like extra leaflets, suggested tweets, etc.

Thank you for your support!

Lara


--
Lara Kelly,
Communications and Campaigns Officer.

Mental Health Reform,
Coleraine House,
Coleraine Street,
Dublin 7



Remind every candidate to make mental health a priority in the next General Election. Take action now: https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind 
#Ourstateofmind

Follow us on Twitter: @MHReform
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalhealthreform/

"Mental health will be an issue on the doorsteps", says Mental Health Reform

Howdy all, We've got an interesting release from Mental Health Reform here that makes for an interesting read!

"Mental health will be an issue on the doorsteps", says Mental Health Reform

Mental Health Reform, the national coalition on mental health, has welcomed today’s announcement (03/02/2016) by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny that the General Election will be held on Friday 26th February. The coalition is asking voters to use the next three weeks to remind all General Election candidates to make mental health a priority. 

Shari McDaid, Director of Mental Health Reform, said: “We’ve seen general agreement and some manifesto promises from political parties on mental health, but what we really need now is effective action. Mental health difficulties touch people of all ages and backgrounds, and Ireland’s rate of suicide is still worryingly high. Candidates need to realise that mental health is an important issue for hundreds of thousands of people in Ireland.”

“Although there has been progress in recent years, people are still having long waits in A&E, and many particularly vulnerable people such as those with an addiction or disability are not getting the care they need. Services are stretched and understaffed. It’s time to challenge candidates to say what they will do to improve Ireland’s mental health”, Dr McDaid continued.

“Voters need a clear signal from all political parties that they will make mental health a priority, if elected. The #Ourstateofmind campaign is asking all candidates and parties to commit to specific actions that will make a real difference, including: 

•           a nationwide school programme to build good mental health; 

•           access to 24/7 crisis supports; 

•           easy access to counselling; 

•           a right to advocacy support, to help people with mental health difficulties access                           services; 

•           advance healthcare directives, to give people the right to make choices about their own               mental health treatment. 

If the next Government doesn’t include these issues in their Programme for Government, they’ll be missing a unique opportunity to develop a mental health system that works to prevent mental health difficulties and support recovery”, concluded Dr McDaid.

To get involved and learn more about the Our state of mind campaign, see www.mentalhealthreform.ie, or contact Mental Health Reform on info@mentalhealthreform.ie or (01) 8749468.

Remind every candidate to make mental health a priority in the next General Election. Take action now: https://www.mentalhealthreform.ie/our-state-of-mind 

#Ourstateofmind

Follow us on Twitter: @MHReform

Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mentalhealthreform/

Smashing Times Theatre Street Performances

Howdy all,

Those lovely folks at Smashing Times Theatre...

Will be hosting Street Performances on

Wednesday February 10th at 1:30pm at the

 Swan Centre Rathmines

And on

Thursday 11th February at 1pm at the 

Ranelagh Triangle

Please feel free to come along!

http://www.smashingtimes.ie/

Smashing Times Theatre

Gateway Newsletter and Schedule - February 2016

Howdy all,

Here is this month's newsletter and schedule.

Yet more stellar work from the Newsletter Team!

Enjoy!

Gateway Newsletter February 2016

February 2016

A member submitted piece for your enjoyment!

Hello All,

Here is a piece written by a Gateway Member for you to enjoy!

Truth

When I was a boy my Irish teacher told me a story about how he used to fetch water from the local well for an elderly neighbour when he was a boy. As a reward for his kindness, she made him a cup of hot sweet tea. 

Now in this ancient cottage with its open hearth and oil lamps there was a deficit of drinking vessels i.e.. one delph mug,cracked and chipped, and a couple of jam jars. On account of Seamus being "a very good boy" Bridie insisted that Seamus should have only the best, and offered him her mug. Not wanting to offend his hostess Seamus graciously accepted the offer. Bridie herself was a also a kind and generous person.  

Unfortunately poor Bridie, in her twilight years, was suffering ill health as was evidenced by numerous cold sores around her toothless grin. Seamus' mind scrambled for a resolution that would solve this diplomatic conundrum. In a eureka moment Seamus lifted the mug with his left hand thereby reducing the risk of acquiring an infection. Seamus sat on the milking stool on one side of the hearth while Bridie sat on the other side on the only four legged seat in the cottage. Bridie's happiness at being able to repay Seamus' kindness was elevated to elation when she discovered another trait.

Apart from this kind heart that they shared, as she pointed with her gnarled arthritic index finger of her left hand at the mug and said the words that were to be the straw that was to break the camel's back as Seamus, with great effort, had been suppressing the urge to purge. "I see Seamusine like meself you're a cithog (irish word for left handed or awkward )

My Buddist friends say "politicans have the hardest job in the world". I am sure like myself you are finding this statement incredible and not evidence based (as they say these days mainly due to the absence of blind faith. Ah! God be with the days!). Until they explained to me that if politicans told the truth they would never get elected, so it becomes a necessary evil in order to get elected and go on to serve  the public. 

This privilege and honour of service I regard as the primary motivating factor of people who enter politics, and not as some cynics would have you believe a desire to feather their own nest and that of their friends (I will accept that there is a good deal of unskilled thinking involved as is evident in some of their policies but that's for another day - watch this space)

-Eucabious Mcgrail