Unit 1, 2 Parker Hill, Rathmines Road, D 6. E-mail : thegatewaynewsletter@gmail.com

g a t e w a y APRIL

N e w s l e t t e r

2014

Welcome to al l

And once again a big thank you to al l who have

contributed to thi s wonderful newslet ter that belongs

to al l of us . So i f you have a comment to make, or an

axe to grind about anything, or just to share a

thought, p lease contact one o f the Newslet ter team and

don’t be shy. Al so don’t be fooled on April fool ’ s day.

MENTAL HEALTH REFORM

GRASSROOTS FORUM

On the 5th of March I went to the

meeting of the Mental Health

Reform Grassroots forum. Mental

Health Reform (MHR) brings

together many organisations,

including Gateway, with the aim of

improving mental health services in

Ireland.

The Grassroots Forum is made up of

people from the member

organisations. Oliver D and I

represent Gateway at the moment.

At the meeting we looked at the

application form people have to fill

out for disability allowance – it’s 27

pages long! Cathy – who was

chairing the meeting – wanted to get

our opinions on it so that they could

work on figuring out how it could be

made better.

We also looked at the organisation

of upcoming public consultation

meetings – where MHR asks the

public what they want – as well as

deciding what MHR’s position on

counselling and psychotherapy

should be.

Of particular relevance with local

elections coming up is a list

prepared by MHR of four key

actions that local elected

representatives can take to promote

good mental health. It was suggested

that any house-calling candidates

could be asked to commit to these in

exchange for a vote.

The four key local actions are:

1. Demand improved community-

based mental health services locally

for children and adults, and the

implementation of the current

mental health policy A Vision for

Change.

2. Commit to funding for local

community mental health groups

that support recovery from mental

health difficulties. (Like Gateway!)

3. Ensure that there is an effective

local authority-led Housing and

Disability Steering Group, to liaise

between community mental health

teams and the local housing office,

in order to prevent homelessness.

4. Pass a Council resolution stating

that in its work, the Council will

seek to promote mental health and

well-being among the whole

population.

The MHR Grassroots forum usually

meets four times a year, and its’ a

very welcoming and open meeting.

If you are interested in representing

Gateway in the future, come and let

me know. If you have any issues

you’d like to see brought up at the

next meeting, just tell me about

them, that is why I go there!

Till next time, -Ali

Pool at Gateway

Pool competition was on the 27th February 2014. It

was fun. Michael D. and Oliver R. were in the final. It

was a thrilling final and Michael was not smiling. You

could feel the tension between the two but Oliver

came out on top. The champion for the month of

February is Oliver Reynolds. The next pool

competition is on the 27th of March. All are welcome

to play.

BRAVE SOULS STAND UP FOR LIONS

On Saturday the 15th of March a group of Gateway

members went on a mission to save the lions. They

were part of a global protest to end canned hunting.

According to cannedlion.org, there are fewer than 4,000

lions left in the wild in South Africa, but more than

8,000 in captivity, being bred for the bullet or the

arrow. This is notoriously called ‘the canned lion

industry’. Well done to all who got out there!

THE REASON WE CELEBRATE EASTER

Peter denied Jesus. Jesus was mocked and beaten.

Jesus faced the Sanhedrin. Jesus handed over to

Pontius Pilate. Jesus faced Herod. Jesus took the place

of Barabbas. Jesus died on the cross. Jesus was buried

in the new tomb of Joseph. Then after all these events

it was heard that he had risen. Everybody was excited

- that’s the reason we celebrate Easter in remembrance

of him. -John L.

GATEWAY TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMMES

FOR PEOPLE WITH SELF EXPERIENCE OF MENTAL

HEALTH ISSUES 2014

First Aid Training:

Basic First Aid

Dates and times to be confirmed.

Dependent on interest of membership.

Personal Development Programs:

Act The Maggot

· Develop a new hobby or interest

· Learn new drama skills in a fun and relaxed creative environment

· Helps develop confidence and self esteem

· Boosts communication and interpersonal skills

· Great fun and de-stressor!

Starts: 23rd April 2014

7 weeks in duration

Wednesdays 2-4pm Course Fee: €10

WRAP Café

Follow on monthly WRAP class for people who have already completed Level 1 WRAP training.

Starts: 31st March 2014

Last Mon every month: 2.30-4.30pm

Assertiveness & Confidence Building / Personal Development FETAC 4 Training

Course fee, dates & times to be confirmed.

Mindfulness for Daily Living Training

Course fee, dates & times to be confirmed.

Wellness Recovery Action Plan ® (WRAP)

Level 1 WRAP training. WRAP is a programme designed by people with self-experience of mental health issues to help develop individualised plans and tools for lasting wellbeing, health and recovery.

Time commitment: 8 weeks / 4 hr sessions.

Course fee, dates & times tbc.

Well-being Programme

· Nutrition and Diet

· Food and Cookery

· Personal Effectiveness

· Exercise and Stress Management Elements

· Managing Personal Finances

· Personal Care & Presentation

· Communications Elements

Course fees, dates and times to be confirmed.

For more information on these programmes please contact Mary

Barnes at: 01 4965558 Email: maryb@rpcp.ie

Places are limited—apply early!

Please bear in mind that all courses in Gateway Project are subject to

funding and ongoing demand. We will do our best to bring as many of these programmes as possible into

the Project over 2014.

Reminder: Oliver D is still meeting members in Toast cafe every Wed

1pm All are welcome to come!

Art s and

Crafts

There is an arts and crafts

class held each Thursday in

Gateway between 2.30pm

and 4.30pm. The class tutor

is Tim and I have been

enjoying participating in

recent sessions. The class

will focus on a particular

theme for 2-3 weeks and we

build up a bit more skill and

expertise on how to create

more fulfilling artworks.

The most recent sessions

focused on portraits and I

greatly enjoyed relearning

how to correctly proportion

the face and then draw

various figures using pencil

and pastels. There were

some fine portraits drawn

and the process was

stimulating and satisfying.

The next theme will be

photography, so if you

would like to explore your

artistic side, come along on

Thursday and give it a try.

-Richard.

Want to do something different this Spring?

Something to get your creative juices flowing?

Come on, Act the Maggot!

Fun creative drama exercises, with a focus on taking small, comfortable steps towards positive change, developing confidence, socialising and lots more craic!

This is a 7 week journey with a difference…

It’s fun and easy going. Starts: Wednesday, 23rd April Wednesdays 2.00 to 4.00pm.

Just bring yourself – your valued participation is important.. The more the merrier!

Cost: €10 in total For more information and to book your place, just sign up in drop-in, talk to Mary Barnes in person or by phone 01 4965558 or email maryb@rpcp.ie. *Please note all courses at the Gateway Project are subject to continued funding and ongoing demand.

NEW BLOGGER IN TOWN

Our very own Ann Marie has started flexing her writing

muscles and I think you’ll be very impressed!

Hi all Gateway members,

Just to let you know I have a new blog, hurrah, I finally

found the courage! You can find me on,

www.thedesperatedesolatedepression.blogspot.ie Hope

you like it! It’s fun and will keep me out of trouble.

-Ann Marie

Here is a short extract from her very first post, called

‘Bleak Days’.

When I was depressed the grime on my sink would be there

every day I unwillingly dragged my weary bones out of bed. I

stared at the toothpaste stained mirror and all I could see

through the hazziness and fussiness in my brain was a mop of

unruly and unkempt hair.

As I shakingly filled the kettle the gears in my brain just weren't

working, full stop.

I didn't want to meet people. Getting washed and dressed and

getting out the front door was a day's work. If it was raining it

was Hell. It wasn't that I liked wallowing in solitude and misery,

for sheer misery it was, but there was no escape. Each second

came slow and compounded the feeling of misery and

emptiness. The days were long and unending. A packet of

noodles or packet of crisps was my only salvation. I couldn't

connect with the radio, I wasn't in the zone. At night I lay

helpless in bed and contemplated nothing.

Depression was eating me like a cancer, devouring my soul.

11 Wynnefield Road Dublin 6. Ph. 01-4965558 www.projectgateway.blogspot.com

Views expressed in this newsletter are only views of the contributors and not views of the

Gateway Project.

A few of my favourite things..

Li n da Colour: Green

Season: Autumn

Sound: Sea

Clothes: Casual

Music: Classical

Film: The kiss of the spider woman

Book: The wake of imagination

Hero: Martin Luther King

My Mind in Ranelagh is

offering discounted

counselling services.

Vouchers are available to

Gateway members at €10 per

session for 5 sessions. Contact

Mary Barnes on 01-4965558.

One per person.

Creative Writing during Easter Creative writing will occur on Tuesday 15thApril instead of

Friday that week to accommodate the Good Friday holiday on 18th April. There will be no class on Friday 25th April due to the mid-term break for

Easter. Term resumes as normal on 2nd May. Happy writing

Have you already completed a WRAP course in the past?

Want a chance to learn and develop you wellness tools and WRAP with other wrappers even more over the coming

year?

For people who would like to continue

developing their Wellness Recovery

Action Plans (WRAP), Gateway will

be running a facilitated monthly

WRAP Café on the last Monday of

every month during 2014.

WHAT IS THE WRAP CAFÉ?

This is a formal learning space

dedicated to WRAP and recovery

work. It is facilitated by Ali Rochford,

a trained WRAP facilitator and

Gateway Project worker. Please note

this is not a support group but a

facilitated learning group. It will

provide opportunities for formal

learning and peer discussion but will

not replace any ongoing WRAP

support meetings running alongside /

outside Gateway which provide vital

peer support and well-being in the

community.

WHO IS THE WRAP CAFÉ FOR?

The WRAP Café will be open to

everyone who has completed a Level 1

WRAP course previously. Anyone

who has not completed a WRAP

programme yet but is interested in

learning about WRAP will be invited

to attend if places are available on the

day. Ali will announce this on the day.

Please understand this group is semi-

closed because we will be reviewing

WRAP course content and so would be

difficult to engage with if you haven’t

completed Level 1 WRAP training

before.

WHEN & WHERE IS THE WRAP

CAFÉ?

Last Monday of the month in 2014

Time: 2:30 to 4:30pm

Location: Back room in Parker Hill

Registration: Please speak to Mary

Barnes on 01-4965558 or email

maryb@rpcp.ie

MENTAL HEALTH REFORM wants

to hear from anyone with an interest

in mental health about their

experience of getting mental health

support.

We will share our perspective on

what a good quality mental health

service should offer, and give an

assessment of the Government's

implementation of mental health

policy.

Email rsvp@mentalhealthreform.ie

or call us on 01-874 9468 to book a

place at any of our four public

meetings taking place in Cork (9th

Apr), Dublin (17th Apr), Donegal

(7th May) and Athlone (14th May).

Places are free of charge and all

venues are wheelchair accessible.

Dublin - 17 Apr 2.00-4.30 Carmichael

Centre, North Brunswick St, D7