AMH New Horizons Foyle launch virtual lockdown programme

The service has launched a comprehensive training calendar, delivering remote control activity packs to clients and offering them workshop activities.

They have also provided clients with online entertainment and educational as well as arts and crafts materials.

For those feeling the effects of isolation from their fellow clients and in need of emotional support, staff are offering a listening ear service in the form of daily telephone calls.

Service Manager Pauline Flanagan explained: “Having routine and structure are important for everyone, but it is especially essential for those with mental ill health.

“With that in mind we have a full programme to offer clients to help fill their days and keep up their spirits.”

Pauline said that clients are finding the programme is having a positive impact.

“We have had a soft launch with clients who have tried and tested the workshops via Zoom and early indications are that this approach is having a positive impact on their mental health.”

Staff at New Horizons are also providing daily phone support, through a listening ear service, offering signposting, advocating and emotional support.

“They are also able to provide essential Covid-19 information and safeguarding provision.

“In addition to the interactive training calendar, staff are delivering a ‘stay at home activity pack’ which complements the training schedule and allows clients who have no access to WiFi to be equipped with everything they need,” Pauline said.

“It includes materials to enable clients to engage in myriad projects: wool for the future knitted Christmas tree project, seeds for our sunflower project, instructions for photography, a sketch pad, pencil art, instructions for sockology, recipes for cookery competitions, note paper and pens for poetry and storytelling.”

Each piece of work will be assembled when New Horizons clients are allowed to meet again and will be put on display.

Pauline added: “Isolation impacts negatively and can exasperate mental ill-health; this pack gives clients ‘remote control’, a real sense of connectivity, plus the materials to ignite the spark of creativity without going to the shops.”

The pack contains ten sections which replicate the buttons of a remote control, including: On, including a virtual calendar; OK, featuring a workbook on the Five Ways to Well-Being; Volume, information on how to connect with AMH staff; Play, a self-directed activities wordsearch, Sudoku, crosswords, etc.; plus Fast Forward, including instructions and materials for projects to make together while clients are apart.

It also features Pause, with information and actions to help in the battle against addictions; Rewind, with photos of Foyle muse ‘The way we were’; Mute has isolation activities for when one’s buttons are being pressed; Off, offering a gratitude journal and tips for sleeping; and finally Record, with information and links for support services in the Western Trust area.

New Horizons activities are operated through the Working It Out project, which is part-funded through the Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014-2020, the Department for the Economy and the five NI Health & Social Care Trusts.

There are two AMH New Horizons services in the Western Trust area, including AMH New Horizons Foyle and AMH New Horizons Fermanagh, both of which are providing responsive, innovative, provision at this difficult time.

AMH Services are continuing to receive and accept referrals at this difficult time from the Western Trust Community Mental Health Teams and other referral agents teams in both regions.

Intake procedures have been amended and adapted to ensure they are compliant at this time. For a referral to AMH Foyle contact Community Mental Health Teams, Jobs and Benefits offices or your local GP multi-agency team.