Deep Impact - Keeping your Head above Water - Seminar 2011
Members of the Committee at the Autumn 2011 Seminar
Riveting
speakers were the order of the day for Monaghan Mental Health Associations
first seminar of the winter in the Westenra Hotel last Thursday.
(October 13th, 2011)
The audience listened to presentations from Orla Nugent from the Money, Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), Dr Paul Gaffney and Mr Michael Mc Ginn who gave interesting, practical and informative presentations on the issues facing parents, young people and children due to the recession and suggestions on coping strategies in the face of financial difficulties and other pressures. After introductions from MMHA chairperson Margaret Fleming, Orla Nugent kicked off by explaining the role of MABS and how it can advise and support people who are worried about their financial situation. MABS is a national, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt. Orla said that people who are experiencing financial difficulties or having problems paying off debts or who need advice on money management can go to MABS in complete confidence. Based in Castleblayney, MABS have weekly clinics in Monaghan where people can avail of their services. Orla explained in detail the process through which people can access help and support in dealing with financial institutions and creditors. MABS can be reached through the helpline at 1890 283 438 or helpline@mabs.ie
The MABS Helpline is staffed by Helpline Advisers who can assist you deal with your debt problems by listening to people in a caring and non-judgmental way, helping people assess the extent and true nature of their debts, helping people explore their options, providing people with the information needed to deal with their debts, providing relevant self-help materials and giving them ongoing support over the phone to tackle debt problems. The service is non-judgemental, confidential and independent.
The only cost is a 1890 call. Once someone makes the first call, the adviser can call them back if necessary. Advisers are available 9 a.m - 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and outside these times, people can leave messages and an adviser will get back as soon as possible
Dr Paul Gaffney’s presentation followed. Entitled "Keeping your head above water: How can psychology help us in 2011?" the presentation focused on a positive message around coping in difficult circumstances. Dr Gaffney said that much we may have assumed in the past has changed in many areas including society, politics, economics, health and education. In such uncertain times, preparation and support for each other is even more important, especially with regard to character & values, he said adding that education and skills are especially crucial now as it is where our young people will spend most of their time, and as preparation for the future. He questioned whether incentives really work and argued that deep down people want to do well and do good. He cited Google’s 20% time and “FedEx days” where people give of their time for community and voluntary work. “Everything was better back when everything was worse” was one quote he used to suggest that less choice is not always bad and in fact it has been suggested that more choice in recent years has actually made us less free and more dissatisfied. He said that understanding people in older years would be increasingly important. “Lewis Wolpert suggests that happiness peaks at 74 (if you have enough money and good health), mental abilities peak at 40 years old and we begin losing muscle from 22 years old,” he said.
Understanding older years is important as longer living will be more common place, with lifespans of 150 years possible soon.
Humans are the only beings on the planet thought able to predict the future, albeit without great accuracy. “Knowing that people overestimate the impact of almost every life event makes me a bit braver and a bit more relaxed because I know that whatever I’m worrying about now probably won’t matter as much as I think it will”
Getting back to nature, was, he said, of great benefit and he explained hoe Rath Na Nog’s Wilderness Therapy team has enabled 28 young people to stay in their care placement in 2011. “When you’re in the wild you feel calmer” he quoted from one of the young participants.His next point was stressing the importance of values, hardiness and strengths, the importance of being able to deal with what life throws at us and walking the middle path. He added that research on “mindfulness” shows strong benefits for people taking some time to be still and/or reflect daily. “Teaching these skills to people has been shown to help, especially balancing change with acceptance, and highlighting the the need for compassion for self and others,” he said. He said that prevention is still the best approach to mental health problems and cited the “Back of the Net Project” which has shown a 45% decrease in depression symptoms in a community sample, this project is now running at Castleblayney Academy FC. Concluding he recalled the “big five” - traits most likely to lead to well-being....
(October 13th, 2011)
The audience listened to presentations from Orla Nugent from the Money, Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), Dr Paul Gaffney and Mr Michael Mc Ginn who gave interesting, practical and informative presentations on the issues facing parents, young people and children due to the recession and suggestions on coping strategies in the face of financial difficulties and other pressures. After introductions from MMHA chairperson Margaret Fleming, Orla Nugent kicked off by explaining the role of MABS and how it can advise and support people who are worried about their financial situation. MABS is a national, free, confidential and independent service for people in debt or in danger of getting into debt. Orla said that people who are experiencing financial difficulties or having problems paying off debts or who need advice on money management can go to MABS in complete confidence. Based in Castleblayney, MABS have weekly clinics in Monaghan where people can avail of their services. Orla explained in detail the process through which people can access help and support in dealing with financial institutions and creditors. MABS can be reached through the helpline at 1890 283 438 or helpline@mabs.ie
The MABS Helpline is staffed by Helpline Advisers who can assist you deal with your debt problems by listening to people in a caring and non-judgmental way, helping people assess the extent and true nature of their debts, helping people explore their options, providing people with the information needed to deal with their debts, providing relevant self-help materials and giving them ongoing support over the phone to tackle debt problems. The service is non-judgemental, confidential and independent.
The only cost is a 1890 call. Once someone makes the first call, the adviser can call them back if necessary. Advisers are available 9 a.m - 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and outside these times, people can leave messages and an adviser will get back as soon as possible
Dr Paul Gaffney’s presentation followed. Entitled "Keeping your head above water: How can psychology help us in 2011?" the presentation focused on a positive message around coping in difficult circumstances. Dr Gaffney said that much we may have assumed in the past has changed in many areas including society, politics, economics, health and education. In such uncertain times, preparation and support for each other is even more important, especially with regard to character & values, he said adding that education and skills are especially crucial now as it is where our young people will spend most of their time, and as preparation for the future. He questioned whether incentives really work and argued that deep down people want to do well and do good. He cited Google’s 20% time and “FedEx days” where people give of their time for community and voluntary work. “Everything was better back when everything was worse” was one quote he used to suggest that less choice is not always bad and in fact it has been suggested that more choice in recent years has actually made us less free and more dissatisfied. He said that understanding people in older years would be increasingly important. “Lewis Wolpert suggests that happiness peaks at 74 (if you have enough money and good health), mental abilities peak at 40 years old and we begin losing muscle from 22 years old,” he said.
Understanding older years is important as longer living will be more common place, with lifespans of 150 years possible soon.
Humans are the only beings on the planet thought able to predict the future, albeit without great accuracy. “Knowing that people overestimate the impact of almost every life event makes me a bit braver and a bit more relaxed because I know that whatever I’m worrying about now probably won’t matter as much as I think it will”
Getting back to nature, was, he said, of great benefit and he explained hoe Rath Na Nog’s Wilderness Therapy team has enabled 28 young people to stay in their care placement in 2011. “When you’re in the wild you feel calmer” he quoted from one of the young participants.His next point was stressing the importance of values, hardiness and strengths, the importance of being able to deal with what life throws at us and walking the middle path. He added that research on “mindfulness” shows strong benefits for people taking some time to be still and/or reflect daily. “Teaching these skills to people has been shown to help, especially balancing change with acceptance, and highlighting the the need for compassion for self and others,” he said. He said that prevention is still the best approach to mental health problems and cited the “Back of the Net Project” which has shown a 45% decrease in depression symptoms in a community sample, this project is now running at Castleblayney Academy FC. Concluding he recalled the “big five” - traits most likely to lead to well-being....
- Extroversion...Reaching out
- Agreeableness...being pleasant and co-operative
- Emotional Stability….not always “letting it out”
- Openness...to new people and ideas, to being vulnerable and
- Conscientiousness….what others think matters
Pre-event Press Release
PRESS RELEASE - OCTOBER 2011
Deep Impact! - Monaghan Mental Health Seminar for Mental Health Week 2011
Keeping your head above water in difficult times is the theme
The Westenra Hotel is the venue for a seminar being organized by Monaghan Mental Health Association (MMHA) on the impact of the Recession on Families. Entitled “Deep Impact!” the seminar will see a range of quality speakers promising interesting, practical and informative presentations on the issues facing parents, young people and children due to the recession and suggestions on coping strategies in the face of financial difficulties and other pressures.
Speakers include Dr Paul Gaffney whowill speak on "Keeping your head above water: How can psychology help us in 2011?"
Dr. Paul Gaffney is a Senior Clinical Psychologist with the HSE National High Support and Special Care Service, based at Rath Na Nog, Castleblayney, Co. Monaghan. He is a tutor in the School of Psychology, Trinity College Dublin and a Consultant Tutor with the Association for Psychological Therapies in Ireland and the UK.
Mr Michael Mc Ginn is a senior and very experienced mental health nurse an the former Development Officer for Mental Health Ireland in the North Eastern Area. He will speak on “Coping in difficult times”
MABs is the Money Advice and Budgeting service. It is a free and confidential service for people with debt and money management problems. With regular clinics in Monaghan town the service is there for anyone who needs it and is a first port of call for many people who are worried about their finances.
Monaghan Mental Health Association are inviting everyone to this free event so please come along to listen and have a cup of tea/coffee at the Westenra Arms Hotel
8pm Thursday 13th October 2011.