Northern Investing for Health Partnership

New Mossley Community Group recently hosted an information session in their community house to promote positive mental health to residents living in the New Mossley area. 

The ‘Mood Matters’ session was facilitated by Aware Defeat Depression and supported by the Northern Neighbourhoods Health Action Zone (NNHAZ).

 ‘Mood Matters’ is a programme that has been developed for young people but has been adapted for use with adults. The aim of the programme is to promote knowledge and understanding of the significance of mental health and depression and how to encourage help-seeking behaviour and detect early warning signs.

The interactive session encouraged participants to explore pertinent issues and included video clips, power point presentation to encourage learning and prompt discussion.

Areas highlighted included:

• The incidence of depression
• Signs, symptoms and causes
• Treatment and support
• Promoting self help

New Mossley Community Group are keen to use this session as a catalyst to further develop programmes in the area to promote positive mental health.

Michelle McCabe from Aware Defeat Depression facilitated the session said,

‘We welcome this opportunity to raise this issue within the community setting. Depression is a common, devastating but very treatable illness. Yet, due to the stigma that still surrounds it, many people do not talk about it. As a user-led organisation, we find that talking from personal experience helps to reduce the barriers for those who have been suffering in silence and encourages them to seek help.’

Jayne McConaghie, NNHAZ Support Officer said;

‘NNHAZ have been working closely with New Mossley Community Group and through the action planning process that is used the issue of depression and mental health was raised.  Part of our role is to help communities make links to relevant services and facilities to help address issues raised in the community. The awareness session facilitated by Aware Defeat Depression has provided the community with an opportunity to consider the needs of the area with regard to mental health and will inform future plans to promote self help and access local support services.’

 Agnes North, New Mossley resident who attended the session commented:

‘This is an issue that people find difficult to talk about. Having this session within our own community provided the opportunity for us to ask questions and talk about issues which we would not normally have had the confidence to do. This session has been an enormous boost to our morale and motivation to help put in place some further programmes in our community to promote healthy bodies and minds.’

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