Kiverco invest 5k in Mid Ulster Mental Health Services

Mid Ulster Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy is relocating to a brand-new state-of-the-art building located in Coalisland, Co Tyrone. The centre due to open at its new location in August offers free counselling services to anyone who resides or works within the Mid Ulster area. The MACP charity offers guidance on a number of issues that can affect mental health including stress, bereavement, suicide, abuse, redundancy, and work pressures.  The charity also works closely with youth groups and schools to highlight issues such as online bullying, substance abuse, and self-image/eating disorders. To assist with furnishing and resourcing the facilities with the equipment needed to support clients, the charity commenced a large fundraising effort with a target of £15k. Anne McKiver, owner of Kiverco explained why she decided to support MACP. “This is an extraordinary charity that offers free support to anyone struggling with mental health in our community. As part of our health and wellbeing programme within Kiverco, we have partnered with MACP to offer mental health support to our employees and their families. The charity has already saved the lives of many people in our community and Kiverco were delighted to lend a hand with financial support to ensure that they can continue to support many more families in the future. 2020 and the Coronavirus pandemic has had an effect on so many families in Northern Ireland and mental health support is more important than ever. Kiverco’s donation is only one of many within the local area, but we are delighted to play our part in this community initiative.”The new mental health hub will house a new office, disability toilets, a staff kitchen, one large training room, 2 waiting areas, 3 counselling rooms, and full disabled access with a lift, to ensure facilities are accessible to all within the community. According to the Northern Ireland Youth Wellbeing Survey, 12.6% of children and young people in Northern Ireland suffer from their mental health, which is 25% higher than the rest of the UK.  The report also highlighted that 1 in 10 youths between the age of 11 -19 had engaged in self-harm and 1 in 8 had thought or attempted suicide. As a result of the dire state of mental health within Northern Ireland, facilities such as MACP are essential to healing poor mental health within society.

EDITORIAL CONTACT:

Niamh-Anne McNally                             

niamhanne.mcnally@kiverco.com

Further information on the Youth Wellbeing Prevalence Survey 2020 - HSCB (hscni.net)

MACP Public Consultation Thursday, August 22nd 2019 St Joseph’s College Coalisland

On Thursday, August the 22nd, the Mid-Ulster Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (MACP), held a public consultation and workshop in St Joseph's College Coalisland. It was encouraging to have so many individuals, community groups, councillors and organisations from the Mid-Ulster area represented.  Organisations in attendance were: Fostering Network, PCI College, Coalisland Fianna GAA club, Woman's Aid, St Joseph's College Coalisland, Friends 2 talk, Mid-Ulster Council and Church of Ireland Coalisland.

Councillors who attended from the Mid-Ulster District Council were: Francie Molloy MP for Mid-Ulster, Councillor Dan Kerr Independent Republican, Councillor Niamh Doris Sinn Fein, Councillor Robert Colvin UUP, and Councillor Linda Dillon Sinn Fein. Also, in attendance was Mr Phillip Clarke Mid-Ulster District Council. The event was compered by Miss Amanda Canavan, who then introduced and explained a little about our guests and speakers throughout the evening. Amanda is a counsellor and committee member for MACP. First up to speak, was the Reverend Andrew Rawding from the Church of Ireland Coalisland.  Andrew spoke passionately around many mental health-related issues, but specifically in relation to those excluded mainly from society who are experiencing many mental health issues. A very strong advocate of MACP for a long time, Andrew also trains MACP counsellors around suicidal ideation. 

Amanda then introduced the chair of MACP Mr Joseph Coney, who educated the attendees on the organisation itself. Joe set out the vision for MACP in the months and years to come, and what that would mean for those suffering from mental health difficulties and the community in Coalisland and Mid-Ulster as a whole. What was abundantly clear from the talk, was the importance of counsellor and client safety, and the structure and support that needs to be in place to empower those who access the counselling service. Another interesting development explained by Joe was how MACP has set up a newly formed focus group, with the intention of former MACP clients assisting the project on what’s needed and what may be helpful.

After two years of preparation, MACP has also launched a children & young people’s counselling services aimed at 11-18-year olds. This part of the evening's events was explained by Mr Shane Morrow, a psychotherapist and clinical counselling supervisor who has worked with children & young people for over 15 years. Shane also holds the position of clinical lead for the children's and young people’s service within MACP. 

After a well-earned break, Amanda invited the participants to break into smaller groups. Each group had a facilitator who also was qualified therapists and committee members, Mrs Hilary Phillips, Miss Colleen Skeffington, Miss Sarah Connor and Mr Seán Mac Giolla Fhiondáin. Their job was to ask two straightforward questions to encourage participant input and ideas to assist MACP on the way forward, and how MACP can work in partnership with existing organisations who reside in the Mid-Ulster area. Amanda’s final task of the night was to bring everyone together again where each facilitator would give feedback on the task at hand. Ideas and comments were absolutely vital and extremely important with regards to the work MACP will work towards, in the coming months and years ahead. 

So, all and all, the evening was a huge success, with many new partnerships formed as organisational input is vital. This will assist MACP to work with clients accessing the service, as we move forward together. A very special thanks to the principal of St Joseph's College, Mr Dessie Mc Neill for allowing MACP to use the premises. To everyone who attended, made contributions, and supported the work that MACP are engaged in. The volunteer counsellors, trainees and are qualified, for their amazing contributions and hard work. Linda Skeffington from Linda’s Larder, who took care of our hospitality needs, Dan and Chris for their administrative contributions; and to the committee of MACP. 

If you or any of your family, friends or colleagues are in need of support, please contact MACP to make an appointment. Our service is free of charge and confidential. You can attend for just a few sessions, or for as long as you need the help, it’s up to you! 

Date: Thursday 24^th November 2016

Time: 10.00am – 1.00pm approx.

                Light lunch refreshments will be provided after this event

We are delighted to announce that Dr Raman Kapur, Clinical Psychologist and Managing Director of the Threshold programme Belfast has agreed to deliver a 3-hour seminar to all JMC/MACP Students and Professional Counsellors on Thursday, October the 24th 2016 from 10 am-1 pm, in the Training Unit.

This is a fantastic opportunity to learn a little about how to integrate psychoanalytical concepts, particularly Object Relations Theory (ORT) into your counselling practice.

Dr Raman Kapur is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist specialising in psychotherapy and is also the Chief Executive Officer of the mental health charity Threshold, based in Belfast. He is an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society and also holds an Honorary Senior Lectureship with the School of Psychology, the Queen's University of Belfast, where he was formerly course Director of the MSc in psychoanalytic psychotherapy. In 2012 he was awarded an MBE by the Queen for his work in providing services to people with mental illness in Northern Ireland.

Date: Saturday 10th December 2016

Time: 9.30 - 4:30pm

Venue: Glenavon House Hotel Cookstown

The MACP committee are delighted to inform all of our JMC Counselling & Training students and all of our MACP Counsellors and students, that we have arranged for Barbara Mitchels PhD, FBACP (Snr Accred), BACP Registered, will be coming to the Glenavon House Hotel on Saturday 10th December 2016. Barbara has written many books on confidentiality and the law, children and trauma, as well as being heavily involved in the new BACP Ethical Framework. Barbara will facilitate a workshop on  neuroscience of trauma, as well as working with vulnerable clients/children and the law. The third topic Barbara will talk about, is the changes made to the new BACP Ethical Framework and its impact. 

We have decided to combine the JMC and the MACP Christmas dinner that day around 1 pm. This will be a three-course meal. There will also be tea/coffee and scones mid-morning and in the afternoon. 

Tim Bond B.A., CQSW., Cert Ed, PhD., Fellow BACP
Tim is an Emeritus Professor of the University of Bristol and Adjunct* Professor to the University of Malta. His extensive research and publications about professional ethics include Standards and Ethics for Counsellors in Action (Sage Publications). He is currently a consultant on professional ethics and standards to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy and a member of the Ethics Committee for the British Psychological Society.

Barbara Mitchels PhD, LL.B, Dip Couns, Fellow BACP, Solicitor.
 Barbara holds dual qualifications in law and in psychotherapy. She has over twenty years’ experience in counselling, and has other post qualification training and experience in specific modalities and in the treatment of psychological trauma and holds an Advanced Certificate in Counselling Supervision. Dr Mitchels is also a solicitor, now retired from practice, with experience in criminal and family law, human rights and child protection work.