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Huge interest in peer support centre

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Liam Minogue, WRAP facilitator and project co-ordinator at Emotions Peer Support Centre on Clon Road.A NEW mental health centre in Ennis is attracting huge interest from people, who need assistance with psychological problems and other issues.
Volunteers at the Emotions Peer Support Centre at Clonroad, Ennis were hoping to attract about 30 people to their recent open day. However, it exceeded all expectations with 72 visitors dropping in to see what the centre has to offer.
The Community Network Reconnect and Recovery group has opened the new centre to facilitate a wide range of peer support activities and workshops. It is expected the group will need to raise in the region of €25,000 to cover the annual running costs. Open Monday to Friday, from 10am to 4.30pm, there are plans to open on Saturdays.
Peer support is a system of giving and receiving help founded on the key principles of respect, shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful. It offers a culture of help and ability, as opposed to a culture of illness and disability.
Peer support allows people to think creatively and non-judgementally about the way they experience and make meaning of their lives. The primary goal is to responsibly challenge the assumptions about mental health and wellness and at the same time support individuals to enable and empower them to make changes and decisions to enhance their lives.
Volunteer, Daniel Meehan said everyone in the centre is proud of the level of interest expressed, which he described as immense reward for the efforts of every volunteer involved.
“I felt so honoured to be trusted in my role in this very worthwhile initiative and seeing how much our initial success was to my fellow volunteers and in particular to our project co-ordinator, Liam Minogue, made me feel part of something very special.
“Our role at the centre is not to act as counsellors or make-shift doctors; we don’t dictate our own views or beliefs on anyone. We simply rely on our experiences to actively listen, support and advocate for our visitors, whom we see not as patients but our peers.
“One of the ways in which the centre aims to offer our visitors support is by empowering them to put together a WRAP programme. This programme supports the individual in taking control over their lives, recovery and mental well-being.
“We are in the process of initiating tai chi and laughter yoga classes. We intend to reach more people in the community, who are experiencing mental health difficulties or who are at risk through social isolation, family circumstances disability or unemployment,” he said.
Mr Meehan’s involvement with the centre originated from his illness and many spells in hospital. “For some reason, a lot of the other patients seemed to feel comfortable approaching me with their problems and I found I was developing great empathy and rapport for my peers.
“This trend was observed by a number of nurses and my current doctor but instead of chastising me, my doctor was enthusiastic but slightly wary. She suggested getting involved in peer counselling and I was immediately interested,” he said.
A few months later, he got Liam Minogue’s  phone number and this facilitated a start on the road to recovery. Now that he is well, he feels confident in his own abilities and wakes up in the morning smiling in the anticipation of another day at the centre.
A group centred on activities for peers, such as music appreciation starts on Monday at 11.30am.
The WRAP Peer Support Group, a group for volunteers is held on Monday evenings at 6pm.
SHINE phrenz peer support group, a talk/support group covering mental health issues, starts on Tuesday evenings from next week and a laughter yoga group run by Kevin and Angela takes place on Tuesday, July 3 from 6pm to 7pm.
Group process workshops will be held on Wednesday, July 4 and July 11 from 11am to 4pm.
The workshop Taking Control will be held on September 14 and 15 from 10am to 1pm. This workshop will help people to take control over their lives.
WRAP Facilitator Training will be held from August 22 to 24 and August 27 to 28. This is a five-day course for people who wish to become WRAP facilitators.
Liberate Your Emotions Day will be held on Saturday, August 24. The title of this huge fundraising event is taken from the message of Liberation of Daniel O’Connell. Their fundraiser will be based at the foot of the O’Connell monument.
Volunteers will endeavour to have the streets of Ennis town centre linked by reaching out a hand on the shoulder of the person beside them, in a symbol of support and the concept of  peers and the equality of our bond. There will be many other activities on the day and it promises to be an immensely positive undertaking.

 

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