New Empowerment Series for people's wellbeing and mental health

The Longford Westmeath Recovery Education Service is hosting a free weekly programme starting on Tuesday August 18 at 2.30 pm.

The empowerment series offers an opportunity for people to meet local services and support organisations. Find out what they do, and how to access their help or benefit from their service.

The first session kicks off on August 18 with Jason Dowling, Jason will discuss how SHINE supports people with mental health challenges, types of supports they offer, and free courses they provide.

On August 25, Mental Health Ireland's Fionla Colgan will facilitate a session on wellbeing and recovery. Find out how you can benefit from the “5 Ways to Wellbeing programme”, mental health information and build on local connections.

The Digital Hub’s Patricia Reddin on September 1 will provide participants with information about the free certified training funded by Longford Westmeath Educational Training Board. The hub offers support to learners and a wide range of courses.

On September 8, the Women’s Community Projects, Mullingar, Adult Education Coordinator Maureen Murtagh will provide insight into opportunities on a wide range of certified training, hobby courses, learner supports and activities in their services.

Other weekly sessions planned: MABS [Money, Advice, Budgeting and Service], GROW Ireland, Recovery Self-Help Training Method, LWL [Longford’s Women’s Link], Employability Midlands services, Housing Section Westmeath County Council, Pieta House Midlands and more.

These are just an example of the organisations and supports across the Longford Westmeath area, each with a unique service or support for different aspects of people’s life that can help mental wellbeing and recovery.

The Health and Wellbeing of our service users, their families and wider community in the current global public health pandemic has impacted all and is of primary importance.

The adult mental health service is working hard to support and develop our service to meet the needs.

Our new Recovery Education offers a range of courses, information and educational materials on Recovery and Well-Being in Mental Health in Midlands as part of the Adult Mental Health services in Longford Westmeath.

The education service will offer a range of inspirational and inclusive educational programmes on recovery and well-being. Through the provision of educational resources created and delivered by service users, family members, carers and mental health professionals. The service will inspire hope, create opportunities and foster the belief that recovery and well-being are possible.

The recovery education was developed by the Mental Health Engagement and Recovery steering committee, advancing recovery Ireland group and supported by Genio a not-for-profit organisation. The Service Reform Fund helped to develop and facilitate recovery education activities in the midlands with our partners Mental Health Ireland.

Alice McDonnell, Peer Educator for Longford and Westmeath, manages the delivery of the modules and co-production of new educational material as a priority to reflect local needs. All of these courses will be free of charge and open to everyone.

What can you expect?

Longford Westmeath Recovery Education has a range of courses, information and educational materials on Recovery and Wellbeing in Mental Health.

What makes Longford Westmeath Recovery Education different and how does it work?

The topics of the courses are created by people with lived experience, family members and staff working within the services. This is called co-production. This means that everyone has a say in what goes in to the courses.

The courses are then co-delivered by people with lived experience, family members and staff working within the services. This is a different way to how other courses are usually created and delivered.

How else can you get involved?

Longford Westmeath Recovery Education Service regularly organises co-production sessions to create new courses. From time to time we call upon volunteers who have lived experience of mental health difficulties and recovery, or family members and carers, and also those working in mental health services.

How can you sign up for a course?

If you are interested in sharing your experience to help create new courses (co-production) we’d love to hear from you.

You can sign up to take part in creating a course by completion the application form. Or, if you prefer, please feel free to contact us on the numbers or by email below.

Please contact Alice McDonnell, Peer Educator Longford Westmeath Recovery Education.

T: 087 3545 079 E: alice.mcdonnell@hse.ie

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There’s a place for everyone in Recovery Education Longford Westmeath.