Public Health Agency: Mental Health & Suicide Prevention Community Development Support Model

Overview

Northern Area Community Network will facilitate this process for the Ballymena, Ballymoney, Moyle and Larne areas.

Aims of the Model

Encourage communities to be pro-active in promoting positive mental health and emotional well-being, and tackle the contributing factors of self-harm and suicide. Capacity building, empowering resilience and providing support that promotes positive mental health and emotional well-being.

Fund initiatives that address and reduce underlying risk factors for example: Isolation and loneliness; Financial Stress, Relationship / communication issues, Stress, Bereavement support, Inability to access services, Unemployment, Financial Stress

What’s available?

Resources to help communities run programmes between now and the end of January 2025 with financial assistance of up to £1000. They will support proposals that address mental health and emotional wellbeing and tackle the contributing factors of self-harm and suicide. They particularly welcome smaller organisations that don’t have access to other funding or the organisational structure to deliver larger programmes. There is limited funding available.

They would like to support your group to reach out locally and are asking for you to identify what is needed. They are here to assist with planning and will consider funding local initiatives that improve morale and help people feel more resilient, supported and respected . The project budget has to be shared widely across all communities and we ask you to plan prudently. Your key role will be to identify need/s, suggest project ideas, get people to take part and to get their feedback afterwards.

Who can apply?

There is a limit to what they can fund. An Expression of Interest cannot exceed £1000.

They want to work with organisations within the Northern Area (with the exception of the Limavady legacy Council area which is in the Western area) to improve the emotional and mental well-being of communities. Community organisations are well placed to inform us of local needs and how they wish to be involved in improving health. They particularly welcome Expressions of Interest from smaller organisations that don't have access to other funding or the organisational structure to deliver larger programmes.

If you are successful they will encourage you to take part in additional training to improve the governance standards within your organisation. You may be asked to provide additional information on your organisation, for example your constitution, children protection policy etc. Your main role will be to identify ideas and express an interest, work with us to deliver your idea, get your community to participate, keep records of those that get involved and get their feedback for an end of project report.

Examples of what they will fund:

• Awareness and Coping techniques for promoting positive mental health.
• Self-care techniques / self-help life skills initiatives to reduce anxiety
• Evaluated and evidence-based training programmes
• Programmes that can share information or skills in line with the pathway to recovery e.g., information or skills-based workshops
• Initiatives linked to the ‘Take 5’ Steps to Wellbeing. Connect, Be active, Keep learning, Give to others and Take Notice.

Initiatives that address risk factors

• Social distancing and isolation
• Relationship / communication issues
• Bereavement support
• Unemployment
• Financial hardship
• Inability to access services
• Stress
• Gender Identity
• Sexual Orientation