Mental health – and suicide – are, sadly, big issues in Fermanagh and our online poll shows that most people believe more help could be provided, writes Ryan Smith…
It is no surprise that the issue of mental health is one that engages people in CountyFermanagh. In the past number of years there has been a high number of reported deaths by suicide here, while Lifeline has recorded a marked increase in calls to their services here in the past 12 months.
In a poll carried out online by the Fermanagh Herald on our website, a massive 83% of people said that there is not enough being done to tackle mental health issues and suicide here. Just 5% answered ‘Yes’ to the question, while 11% of respondents answered ‘Don’t know’.
What can be derived from this poll are a number of points. The first is that mental health is a prominent issue here. Such a huge vote voicing concern about how mental health is being treated shows that there is widespread recognition by people in the county that mental health and suicide are isues that urgently need addressing.
It could be argued, however, that the majority answering ‘no’ could fall into two categories: those who are simply unaware of what is being done to address mental health issues, and those who may be better informed yet still remain concerned that more needs to be done.
Health professionals may take the view that the public at large are not engaged with mental health issues in the way that they might be with other aspects of healthcare, partly because of the continuing way society here still views mental health.
The view may be that there is still a high degree of ignorance across the community when it comes to mental health and how it is treated.
That said, our poll shows that the Western Health Trust clearly has a job of work to do: whatever the arguments about the validity of people’s views on mental healthcare, the perception out there is that not enough is being done about an aspect of healthcare which, sadly, for some of us has become a matter of life and death.
More resources needed to deal with huge range of mental health issues
Bridie Sweeney, centre co-ordinator at the Aisling Centre
The centre coordinator at the Aisling Centre in Enniskillen, which offers support services in mental health, has said that more support is needed for services already in place.
Bridie Sweeney, Aisling Centre coordinator, said: “Despite the range of services available in the county no one would deny that resources are stretched to capacity and more support is needed.
“But perhaps what we require is not more services competing for limited resources, but more support for the services that exist locally so that they are better able to respond promptly to need.”
The Aisling Centre has been offering support to the people of Fermanagh and the surrounding area for almost 25 years. Its core service is the provision of a professional and confidential counselling and psychotherapy service and it offers between 80 and 100 sessions of counselling/psychotherapy per week.
Bridie explained: “People come to the centre presenting with a whole range of issues eg; relationships, bereavement, sexual abuse, physical/emotional abuse, trauma, bullying, violence in the home, issues relating to the troubles, panic attacks, anxiety, low mood, suicidal ideation, low self-esteem, alienation etc. We offer hope and healing. Access to the service can be by self or GP referral.”
In addition, a range of groups offer their services from the Centre, Forget me Not (Bereaved by suicide support group), AA, Escapists (Carers Support Group), Aware, ADHD Support Group, Bereaved Parents Support Group, Zest (Healing the Hurt) and Advice NI.
She said that throughout the county there are also a range of services which promote positive mental health and emotional well-being including Action Mental Health, The Beacon Centres, The Men’s Shed Project, The Oak and The Ark Healthy Living Centres, The Hangout and Narcotics Anonymous.
Bridie went on: “At the Aisling Centre we are very dependent on fundraising and the support we receive from the local community without which we could not offer our current level of service.
“Good mental health and emotional well-being is every bit as important as physical health. Yet, the stigma that still exists around mental health can prevent people from seeking help.”
She concluded: “No-one is immune to poor mental health. We all have difficult times in our lives and we need to learn to understand our feelings. If low moods and feelings of sadness, hurt and hopeless persist then it is important we seek help and support.”
If you would like to find out more about the services of the Aisling Centre you can contact the Centre on 028 66 325811 or come along to their coffee morning on Friday October 10 10.30am – 12noon.
(Source – Fermanagh Herald – Ryan Smith – 09/10/2014)