Disability and Mental Health

Covid Restrictions may be lifted but we are still seeing the effects of the pandemic and its restrictions on people in our communities and even more so on those who struggle with their mental health. For some who lead normal lives before the pandemic many found the isolation and reduced interaction difficult mentally. For those who were already struggling the pandemic and its subsequent restrictions have had a profoundly negative affect on their daily lives. All of this coupled with rural isolation and loneliness has resulted in many people regressing and struggling with their every day living and mental health.

Towards Occupation

Members of the Towards Occupation Programme with co-ordinator Majella Canty and Tutor Una Murray participating in sewing classes funded by Cork ETB

Julie Lehane with Rachel Bud participating in TO horticulture workshops in IRD Duhallow ’ s Sensory gardens

Participants of the TO Programme showing the beautiful blankets donated to the children using the Bumbulance Charity with tutor Trudy Taylor and Jim Burke of Bumbulance. IRD Duhallow CEO presenting a bouquet of flowers to Trudy Taylor who has this year retired from leading the TO Sewing class. Trudy was a regular tutor on the TO programme since it started.

Members of the Walk for You Initiative taking a well-earned rest in the Island Woods Newmarket

Aoife Douglas, Counsellor who co-ordinates the IRD Duhallow Emotional Support & Counselling Service in a safe and private space in the James O’Keeffe Complex.

The Towards Personal Occupation programme is designed to provide those who are unemployed or distanced from education as a result of mental ill health /distress to develop the skills and confidence to achieve personal progression such as gaining employment, education, training or voluntary work and to achieve other positive outcomes for the participants e.g. improved socialisation, reduced welfare dependency. This programme is based on needs continually identified through IRD Duhallow ’ s ongoing community development and employment activation work. From consultation with the people who have participated in the Towards Occupation Programme it emerged that a number of people with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties often have the feeling that they don ’t belong in their community. Some of the participants remain long term unemployed and the Towards Occupation provides a broad spectrum of supports bearing in mind that individuals may not be ready for employment supports in the short-term but need access to other types of “ softer ” supports such as Community Education in the interim.

DEASP have funded this project since 2005 and we have now exhausted AFSP funding from them. The support the group has only returned to in person sessions in June 2022 and got straight to work on improving their sewing skills with the support of Tutor Una on a 6 week sewing programme funded by Cork ETB. From past experience horticulture has always been a firm favourite with participants and Rachel Budd IRD Duhallow Horticulturist was on board to provide guidance and in a case of many hands make light work, beds were cleared, planted, and watered. The therapeutic gardens are alive with colour and showing all the signs of this groups hard work. Coupled with all this physical activity, the Towards Occupation Group have also been working hard on their health and wellbeing with Rural Community Health Worker Majella. Film reviews, chair yoga, mindfulness exercises are some of the activities the group have been engaging in. One of the highlights of the summer for this group was a trip to the Donkey Sanctuary at Liscarroll planned and arranged by the group themselves with support from staff. We are hopeful that a more permanent source of funding will be acquired to help us to roll out the programme and expand it to meet the needs in the region, We will be seeking assistance from the HSE as well as an enhanced SICAP programme.

Walk for You

The IRD Duhallow Walking Group is a newly established group who meet every Monday & Wednesday. Facilitated by Majella Canty our Community Rural Mental Health Worker, our first walk took place at the James O’ Keeffe Complex around the beautiful setting of Newmarket Pitch & Putt and since then we have explored different routes in the Newmarket area including some of the trails at the Island Woods. A trip to Ballybunion was also organised where those in attendance got to enjoy the sea air and beautiful seaside walks. All participants are feeling the health benefits of this twice weekly walk and the group has really helped everyone reconnect with their fellow community members post covid. This group is for both men and women of all fitness levels are welcome to take up this opportunity to meet people, enjoy the fresh air and increase their step count.

Duhallow Emotional Support & Counselling Service

Through our work in communities and with individuals and families we recognised that the need for counselling for those who could not afford to pay for it was a constant recurring issue. Now 8 years in existence the Duhallow Emotional Support & Counselling Service was established as a confidential, non-judgemental voluntary service offering emotional support & counselling. The service is provided by five voluntary Counsellors / Psychotherapists (made up of student and pre-accredited therapists) who offer one-to-one emotional support & counselling / psychotherapy to anyone over the age of 18 affected by mental ill health. During Covid the service was adapted to be delivered in a newer format and this option is still there if needed for people while the faceto-face sessions have also returned.