Mental Health Day - Mindfulness Session

As part of the Mental Health Week we are having a day full of activities which support mindfulness and good mental well-being. We held a variety of activities trainees could choose. We had a mindfulness session with Mary it was a great experience we all enjoyed participating.

Mental Health Day - Men's Grooming

As part of the Mental Health Week we are having a day full of activities which support mindfulness and good mental well-being. We held a variety of activities trainees could choose. We offered some grooming in the hairdressing room.

Mental Health Day - Quiet Reading and Colouring

As part of the Mental Health Week we are having a day full of activities which support mindfulness and good mental well-being. We held a variety of activities trainees could choose. We had a room just dedicated for reading and mindfulness coloring.

Useful Sites and Resources for Mental Health

Mental Health Supports & Services

Connecting with others is key! Sometimes we may need a professionally trained listening ear. Remember reaching out is a sign of strength….

GROW is Ireland’s largest community-based mental health organisation and is aimed at promoting positive mental health and recovery. GROW holds 120 peer support group meetings in communities across Ireland each week. GROW meetings are open to those aged over 18 and are free to attend. The GROW Program encourages people to find and develop their personal strengths and work towards improving their mental health and wellbeing in a supportive and confidential environment. Phone Andrea on 0868516939 for further information.

Mind Matters’ Support Group is for women who are feeling anxious or depressed and would like to meet with other women who understand – Meetings are on the 2^nd Wednesday of every Month @7.30pm in North Leitrim Women’s Centre. Phone 071 9856220 for information.

Counselling Service – The North Leitrim Women’s Centre offer an affordable, accessible Counselling Service for women in North Leitrim. For more information or an appointment please contact the Women’s Centre on 071 9856220

Leitrim Calling was set up in 2007 as a friendly telephone call service availableto older and vulnerable persons living in our communities. We also very much welcome referrals from persons of any age feeling the burden of mental health challenges either in the short term or longer. Leitrim Calling is in a privileged position as a service in that it can offer people the great gift of time- to listen to a person’s story. To contact us in confidence please call: 087 9585029. ‘We are here because we care’

Stop Suicide – provides a safe, confidential place where you can safely talk about loss, stress, confusion, conflicts or other pain in your life. Our style of counselling is to listen, support and perhaps help you with insight to either change what is possible to change or to live more contentedly and creatively with that which is not. We will act to intervene with appropriate support, commitment and compassion. FREE PHONE 0867772009/1850 211 877 Lines are open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm. Website www.

stopsuicide.ie

GRASP (Greater Responsibility and Awareness in Suicide Prevention] Life Foundation. The GRASP Foundation hold free outreach counselling services in Sligo, Donegal and Leitrim, bereavement support for those bereaved by suicide, and education and awareness programmes. Contact 0874188053 /0876086276 /0863905999. Website www.grasplifefoundation.ie or email marymcternan8@gmail.com.

Pieta House Suicide Bereavement Liaison Service welcome anyone affected by suicide to make contact with this service for support, or to learn about what services might be available to them. The Suicide Bereavement Liaison Officer can meet with a bereaved family (at their request) as a group or individually. Perhaps you may have specific questions about some of the difficult practical issues following a death by suicide. You may want guidance or assistance in accessing a therapeutic service, or even just to talk with someone locally, about what has happened. Email anne.lynch@ pieta.ie or call 0852538638.

Aware is a voluntary organisation founded to assist those directly affected by depression. Aware run support groups to help people gain a better understanding of their depression (and elation) and its impact on relationships, work or social life. The caring and supportive nature of the groups allows attendees to develop the confidence to identify mood changes at an earlier stage, and so minimise the disruption on daily life. A support group is held in Markievicz House, Barrack Street, Sligo on Wednesdays at 8pm. Website www.aware.ie

Mental Health Services – some people experiencing mental health problems will be referred to the mental health services for treatment. You should always visit your GP in the first instance, who can then refer to the local mental health services if necessary. Contact number 071 9621215

Samaritans Ireland provides confidential and non-judgemental emotional support for people who are experiencing feelings of distress. Please contact Samaritans (24 hours) on 116 123 for help.

Source: http://www.alive2thrive.ie/

Mental Health Week - Badge Making

As part of the activities for Mental Health Week trainees in the centre decided to make some badges promoting positive messages  and good mental health. Trainees will be wearing the badges tomorrow which will also feature activities for all trainees to participate. Badge idea were collectively agreed upon and we had some great suggestions.

We would like to thank Catherine for all her help with making the badges.

  

Mental Health Week - Theme

For Mental Health Week - "The Five Ways To Well-being" are simple, accessible and achievable for everyone.

CONNECT

• Talk to someone instead of sending an email
• Speak to someone new
• Ask how someone's weekend was and really listen when they tell you
• Phone or meet someone you care about for a proper catch up

BE ACTIVE

• Regular physical activity
• Walking 
• Cycling
• Running

TAKE NOTICE

• Go for a walk and make a conscious effort to notice the landmarks and landscape
• Have a "clear the clutter" day
• Go somewhere pleasant for lunch, away from your normal setting, and really savor the environment and the tastes and textures of your food
• Take notice of how people around you are feeling or acting.

KEEP LEARNING

• Do a course, do a crossword or Sudoku
• Research something you've always wondered about 

GIVE

• Volunteer to a local organisation
• Donate to a local charity supporting mental health
• Participate in local events and help raise awareness on mental health

visit www.alive2thrive.ie or www.mentalhealthireland.ie for more information

Our Sunflower Progress for Mental Health Week

On Tuesday 15th May trainees and staff planted a sunflower each for mental health week.  The sunflowers are growing rapidly and will soon blossom.

Mental Health Week - Fundraising walk for Pieta House

To mark the final day of Mental Health Week on Friday Sligo CTC Trainees and Staff had a healthy breakfast and took part in a fundraising walk. All money raised will be donated to Pieta House.  Well done to all who took part and donated!

Mental Health Week - Gardening

Trainees planting sun flowers for Mental Health Week

It was a beautiful day yesterday and we were out  planting herbs, strawberries, sunflowers and watering plants. 

Mental Health Week - Walk

Trainees out for a walk for Mental Health Week

Mental Health Week - Tai Chi

Trainees got the opportunity to try out Tai Chi with Shane yesterday

Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing. It is great for keeping your mind focused. Tai Chi was originally thought by martial artists and was eventually passed down and thought outside of martial arts, the Chinese people believed movement of the body in a slow and controlled way is good for the body.  Trainees enjoyed trying out Tai Chi yesterday and thanks to Shane our instructor. 

Mindfulness Session

Photo taken by Andrew along the Garavogue River.  Mary is doing some mindfulness sessions this week as part of mental health week.

Healthy Breakfast Muffins

Ingredients                                                                

125g Plain flour

75g wholemeal flour

200g rolled oats

75g brown sugar 

3 tsp baking powder 

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp salt

2 bananas, mashed

2 large eggs, separated 

3 tbsp. sunflower oil

250 ml milk

125g blueberries 

Other ideas:

Add 50g currents to the mixture for a fruity muffin.

Substitute 50g of the rolled oats for 50g desiccated coconut.

Add 50g chocolate chips of your choice 

for a naughty but nice breakfast muffin.

50g other dried fruit such as cranberries.

50g hazelnuts or other nuts chopped up small. 

Method

1. In a large mixing bowl, combine the plain flour, wholemeal flour, oats (or oats and coconut if using) brown sugar, baking powder, cinnamon and salt.

2. Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the mashed bananas, egg yolks, milk and sunflower oil. Mix together gently with a wooden spoon until a wet batter forms but do not overmix.

3. In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites until soft peaks form.

4. Gently fold the egg whites into the muffin batter along with the blueberries and any other additions you wish to include until everything’s mixed through evenly.

5. Divide the muffin mixture between 12 individual muffin cases and places in a preheated oven at 200C/fan 180C/Gas mark 6 for 25 minutes until its well risen and gladden brown on top.

6.     The muffins will for up to 4-5 days in a sealed tin or plastic container but perferbly eaten on the day or the day after baking for a fresher muffin. the muffins can also be frozen in a zipped plastic bag, thaw for 1 hour or until defrosted then pop in the oven for 10 minutes to reheat.

Mental Health Week - Herbal Tea's

Thanks to Sylvia for providing information on herbal teas this week. Staff and trainees are getting an opportunity of tasting some of these beautiful teas and learning about their benefits!

What is herbal tea?

Herbal tea is an infusion of leaves, seeds, roots or bark, extracted in hot water. In drinking a well-steeped herbal tea, we get all the plant’s benefits in an easily digestible form. Herbal tea has lots of wonderful health benefits. From soothing a troubled tummy to easing insomnia and calming a troubled mind, anxiety herbs have all sorts of healing powers. Drinking herbal tea can also be a great source of vitamins and minerals.

Some of the teas we tried out were Peppermint, Lemon Ginger, Chamomile, Rooibos ( Red bush tea), Rosehip, Dandelion and Lemon Balm (Melissa) tea

Simple, Soft and Chewy Granola Bars Recipe

Catering trainees are trying out new recipes that are focused on promoting healthy eating and is a part of the centres effort to promote mental health week and the importance of eating well to keep a good mental and physical health.

INGREDIENTS 

2 1/2 cups (230 grams)  rolled porridge  oats

1/2 cup (80 grams) whole almonds, coarsely chopped

1/3 cup (113 grams) honey

1/4 cup (56 grams) unsalted butter, cut into pieces

1/4 cup (50 grams) packet light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (60 grams) dried cranberries/apricots, coarsely chopped

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons (65 grams) mini chocolate chips

METHOD

• TOAST OATS AND NUTS

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Line bottom and sides of a 8-inch or 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. Then lightly oil or spray with cooking spray.
Add oats and almonds to a small baking sheet then bake 5 minutes, stir and bake another 3 to 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl.

• MAKE BARS

Combine butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla extract and the salt in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook, stirring occasionally until butter melts and the sugar completely dissolves.
Pour butter mixture in to bowl with toasted oats and almonds. Mix well. Let cool about 5 minutes then add cranberries and a 1/4 cup of the mini chocolate chips. Stir to combine. (The chocolate chips will most likely melt a little. This is fine, they turn into glue and help to hold the bars together).
Transfer oat mixture to lined pan then use a rubber spatula or damp finger tips to firmly press the mixture into the pan. (Press hard here, this way the bars will stay together once cooled and cut — We press for about one minute to be extra safe).
Scatter remaining 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips over pressed granola mixture then use a rubber spatula to gently press them into the top. Cover then refrigerate at least 2 hours. Remove block of granola mixture from pan then peel away aluminum foil. Cut into 12 bars.
Store bars in an airtight container for up to one week. For the softest bars, keep at room temperature. For slightly harder bars, store in the fridge.

Planting a Sunflower Seed for Mental Health Week

Staff and Trainees are busy planting sunflower seeds today for our garden in support of mental health week in the centre!

Little things can make a big difference