Gateway in November (part 1) - lots to look forward to...

 

Some good news to share!

 

We hope our readers are all safe and well despite the challenges times we are living through. We wanted to share a bit of good news with all of our members, friends and supporters...  

Gateway's premises is open to members!

 

Following a government announcement last week, the disability services, adult education and mental health services were all been named essential activities to continue to operate throughout level 5 restrictions. Gateway can also continue to provide ways for people to connect with one another in person through the project both indoors and outdoors.  This means we can continue to meet up in small groups in keeping with best practice to maximise health and safety and reduce risk for people coming along for vital social support in the community - woohoo! 

For more detail on how we are doing this and what to expect from Gateway as a member coming to the project, please email us on info@gatewaymha.com and we can send you Gateway's Coronavirus Policy and Risk Assessment and arrange to give you a call for a chat about the changes in place.  

More good news...! With winter and worsening weather on the way, we have just completed the works to create our garden terrace outside and very much looking forward to decorating the space together in small groups over the next while.  If anyone would be interested in a bit of gardening or to join a mural painting project, please let us know.  Big thanks and shout out to Mental Health Ireland on funding this important development which means we have some much needed extra (and gorgeous) safe space for people to come together and connect.

Gateway’s weekly group meet ups will continue in addition to online activity like zooms and video projects on the blog! If you have more ideas and suggestions for other activities and programmes in Gateway and for people staying at home right now, please email us on info@gatewaymha.com or text the project mobile and we will call you back for a chat.  We can't promise to be able to do everything but we can talk things through with other members and see where we go from there.  The monthly members meeting is on the second Tuesday of every month now and will be taking place in person in the back room (just 5 people can attend in person) with more joining on Zoom and by dial in (over the phone) that would like to.

Gateway’s art group, ukulele groups, music group, creative writing/poetry group, meditation, walking and fishing groups and social and peer support meet ups will all take place (minus drinks/food for now) in the project or outdoors depending on the group– just check the schedule to see what is going on, when and where.  

Our safety precautions mean that small groups will be limited to just four people and a member of the team per meet up (at the moment) and people need to book in advance by phone/text/email please... we are sorry about having to introduce these changes and know it makes the Gateway experience a bit different but we are doing our very best to make them work for us and the project's values and to help keep people as safe as possible.  

To keep everyone safe and have a good time together, what do we ask of people coming to Gateway during these times?

1. We ask anyone wanting to join an activity to first ring or text to book a place. We will have a quick chat with you to make sure everyone is safe and well and informed about the changes before coming along in person. Please understand this is a group effort and it means all of us working together to do our part to get it right.
2. When people arrive at Gateway, we ask to check your temperature – a current member of the team will do this wearing a face mask and using a non-contact thermometer – the result will be recorded with your name in our contact tracing book.  If your temperature is 38 degrees or above you will be asked to leave and follow public health advice.
3. We also do a quick check in verbally in person or on the phone beforehand to make sure Gateway is safe for everyone – we ask anyone who has potential symptoms (or has had them in the past two weeks) to leave, go straight home and contact their GP for advice. The main symptoms of coronavirus include a high temperature (38 and above), those of a flu or cold (respiratory illness), having a cough, breathing difficulties or shortness of breath and/or changes to your sense of smell or taste. If anyone has tested positive for coronavirus, or is a suspected case or has been in close contact with a confirmed case (or has travelled), we will ask that person to avoid Gateway for now until it is safe to do so and follow public health advice. 
4. When people arrive, we need everyone to use hand sanitiser and wear a face mask which will be provided and agree to keep a two meter (6 foot) distance from other people while coming along to activities.
5. For the time being we will not be providing drinks and ask people not to eat or drink when attending.  We also ask people not to smoke outside of Gateway and recommend people do this before or after coming along.  These are big changes we know and hope they are not for long but for now, we hope that people understand it is to help keep us all safe because while eating, drinking or smoking a person cannot wear a face mask which helps to stop the spread of illnesses like coronavirus.

 

We ask for everyone’s support and patience with the changes in place to help keep everyone as safe and well as possible – doing these things will help to protect all of us and the local community which will mean we can continue to meet up together as a community project.  If anyone would like to know more about Gateway’s health and safety procedures and approach during these times, please let us know and one of the team can arrange to phone you for a chat.  

 

Wishing everyone a happy n healthy Halloween - check out some of the online events if interested here: Dublin Online Halloween 2020/

 

Best wishes, solidarity and health to all.

 

Fionn & the Gateway team

Remember it is important to try to switch off and take breaks from the news during these times as best we can and to make sure to reach out to others and get support from friends, colleagues and peers whichever way you can.  If you need support at any time of the day or night, the Samaritans are a free 24 hour service just call 116 123.  

For the latest up to date information and links to resources, supports and guidance via the HSE website here: https://www2.hse.ie/coronavirus/

Annual Founder's Day Conference - Fri 27 November 2020

 

Explore the future of Irish mental healthcare at Founder's Day 2020     You are invited to join our annual Founder's Day conference on Friday, 27 November, which focuses on the future of mental health in Ireland. This year's event will look at the key features of an excellent mental health service, particularly considering the new government and mental health policy announced earlier in 2020, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.     Who will be speaking? Founder's Day, held to mark the birthday of our founder Jonathan Swift, brings together national and international academics, clinicians, service users and carers. Former United Nations (UN) Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Dainius Puras, will join us as a keynote speaker. Other confirmed speakers include: Mary Butler TD, Minister for Mental Health and Older People John Farrelly, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Mental Health Commission Fiona Coyle, CEO of Mental Health Reform William Flannery, President of the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland Mary Favier, Immediate Past President of the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP) Joseph Duffy, CEO of Jigsaw Mark Smyth, Senior Clinical Psychologist with Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and President of the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) Martha Griffin, Chair of the Peer Support in Mental Health Programme in Dublin City University and a peer educator with the Recovery College. Further speakers and contributors will be confirmed in the coming weeks. The conference will highlight a comprehensive range of perspectives, with each speaker presenting a short 10-minute talk that concentrates on what they feel are the key areas for consideration in mental health services. How can I take part? This half-day conference takes place from 9.15am - 1.30pm on the day. Due to COVID-19 public health restrictions, it will take place online. Registration is free, but essential, as a link to join the online event will be sent to everyone who registers ahead of its scheduled time. Marking a major event in the Irish Continuing Professional Development (CPD) calendar, you can also avail of CPD points by attending the conference. Details of CPD points will be confirmed shortly, but will be available from the ICGP, the PSI and the Irish Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy. If you have any questions about the event, please email communications@stpatsmail.com.

Art with Niamh

 

Monthly Schedule - October 19 - 26 2020

 

Schedule October 19 – 30 October 2020

 

We are asking for everybody’s co-operation to try out some new activities and ways of coming together as a group while following public health advice and guidance.  If you’re interested in attending any of the face to face activities or need help to get onto Zoom chats, please call or text us on 085 7521220. Groups for outdoor activities are limited to 6 people including a Gateway project worker keeping socially distanced for everyone’s health and safety, face masks are available and need to be used if safe distance can’t be maintained. All outdoor activities are weather dependent, please wrap up warm if coming along. Please give us a call to book into any activities or to get more information and stay in touch!

 

Mon 19 Oct	12.00-1.00 1.15-2.15 2.30-3.30	Zoom Chat Coffee Meetup Walk with Members
Tues 20 Oct	12.00-1.00 2.30-3.30	Fun Zoom Coffee Meetup
Wed 21 Oct	10.00-11.00 11.30-1.00	Nature walk with James Fishing with James
Thurs 22 Oct	12.00-1.00 2.00-3.30 2.30-3.30 3.30-4.30	Zoom Chat Art with Niamh Music under the Awnings Walk with Members
Fri 23 Oct	12.00-1.00 2.00-3.00 3.00-4.00	Writing Group with Patrick Ukelele Group with Ealaín Coffee Meetup

Mon 26 Oct	12.00-1.00 1.15-2.15 2.30-3.30	Zoom Chat Coffee Meetup Walk with Members
Tues 27 Oct	12.00-1.00 2.30-3.30	Fun Zoom Coffee Meetup
Wed 28 Oct	10.00-11.00 11.30-1.00	Nature walk with James Fishing with James
Thurs 29 Oct	12.00-1.00  2.00-3.30  2.30-3.30  3.30-4.30	Zoom Chat Art  with Niamh (chairs provided) Music under the Awnings Walk with Members
Fri 30 Oct	12.00-1.00 2.00-3.00 3.00-4.00	Writing Group with Patrick Ukelele Group with Ealaín Coffee Meetup

Lunchtime Webinars - October 2020

 

HSE Mental Health Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow

Would like to invite you to following lunchtime webinars for Mental Health Awareness Month

 

Monday, 12^th October 2020 1pm-2 pm

 

‘Balancing the Demands of Working and Minding Children as a Parent During Covid 19’

 

Speaker: Professor John Sharry – John is a Social Worker and Psychotherapist with almost 30 years experience working with individuals, families and organisations.  He has written 13 best selling books on parenting and positive psychology.

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/working-and-parenting-during-covid-19-balancing-the-demands-tickets-122981879111?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=post_publish&utm_content=shortLinkNewEmail

 

Wednesday, 14^th October 2020 1 pm-2pm

 

‘How To Be Happy’

 

Speaker: Professor Brendan Kelly – Brendan is a Professor of Psychiatry in Trinity College Dublin and Consultant Psychiatrist at Tallaght University Hospital.  He has authored many books including ‘Coping with Coronavirus: How to Stay Calm and Protect your Mental Health’.

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/how-to-be-happy-tickets-122967650553?aff=erelpanelorg

 

Friday, 16^th October 2020 1pm-2pm

 

‘What We Mean by Recovery in Mental Health’

 

Speakers: Liz Brosnan (Mental Health Engagement Lead – Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow) and Valerie Maguire (Peer Recovery Educator – Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow) .  They will be talking about the recovery and resilience message in mental health and the use of CHIME as a framework covering all the elements that are important in people’s journey out of the depths of mental distress. 

 

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/what-we-mean-by-recovery-in-mental-health-tickets-122986093717?utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=post_publish&utm_content=shortLinkNewEmail