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Northern Ireland mental health charity Aware Defeat Depression has created a much needed Resource Centre at their new office in Phillip House, York Street, which aims to provide support and information for anyone suffering from depression, and their families and carers.
Aware was delighted when Minister for Health, Social Security and Public Safety, Mr Michael McGimpsey, MLA, officially opened the centre on Wednesday June 11, in a special ceremony attended by key figures within the mental health sector in Northern Ireland, including MLAs, volunteers and people who have benefitted from attending the twenty-four support groups run by the charity.
Chief Executive, Sharon Sinclair said
Aware is grateful to the Department of Health for the support we have received from them since our charity started up its first self-help group, some twelve years ago. The keen interest expressed by Health Minister Michael McGimpsey in mental health issues and his commitment to implementing the Bamford Review; which he demonstrated through his budget negotiations earlier this year; is very encouraging.
"We look forward to working closely with the department to keep mental health recognised as a key priority in Northern Ireland, and in particular depression, as it is the most common form of mental ill health that one in four of us is likely to suffer from, at some stage in our lives.”
She added “The willingness of the department to attend today’s opening ceremony for our Information and Resource Centre will help breakdown the stigma that still surrounds depression and signals to the public that together we can help people overcome this devastating and potentially life threatening illness. We hope that people will use the Centre to get the information they need about depression and help to recover.”
Leo Curran, a long serving volunteer, who facilitates a support group for Aware Defeat Depression, spoke at the ceremony to explain why the new Resource Centre is needed to help people with depression lead fulfilling lives. He drew on his personal experience to explain the crucial role that self-help and peer support play in bringing about recovery and avoiding the slide into hopelessness which we know leads some people to see suicide as a solution to their illness.
Newly appointed Lord Mayor of Belfast, councillor Tom Hartley also attended the official opening as he is keen to understand more about depression and what is available to help people with the illness, to recover. Aware was particularly pleased to be able to welcome him to their new Resource Centre so soon after his appointment, as this sends a clear message of support to the thousands of people with depression in Northern Ireland and demonstrates to the wider public that there is no shame in seeking help for a problem of mental ill health.
We are the only local mental health charity working exclusively in the field of depressive illness to raise awareness of depression as a serious and devastating illness and address the needs of people with, or at risk of, depression.
We also support families and caregivers and bring pressure to bear on politicians where we can, to improve the services available for people with depression. Established in 1996, the organisation has offices in Belfast and L’derry.
For further information on any of Aware’s activities, please contact Alison Smyth on 028 9032 1734 or Alison@aware-ni.org or go to www.aware-ni.org.uk
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