Recovery College brightens up World Mental Health Day
Creativity, colour and connection was awash at Newtownards’ Londonderry Park as the South Eastern Trust Recovery College and Wellness Recovery Network marked World Mental Health Day.
Those in attendance were using their creative spark to paint and personalise their own tote bag as conversation flowed over cups of tea and coffee.
The colourful initiative highlighted how simple, hands-on activities can bring people together, encourage self-expression and create opportunities for connection and conversation around mental health.
World Mental Health Day is an opportunity to encourage open conversations, challenge stigma and remind people that looking after our mental health matters.
From Comber, Dominic Doyle shared how much the courses and support available at Ards Hospital’s Recovery College have given him the knowledge, practical tools, hope and belief that recovery is possible.
Dominic said: “I try to stay involved with the Recovery College as much as I can as it has been a massive, massive part of my journey over the past seven years. It has brought me from my lowest point, to, and I can easily say at almost 35-years-of-age that my life has not been better.”
“When the Recovery College run days like this I don’t like to miss out.”
On the simplistic act of crafting, Dominic added: “It’s all about finding something that you are able to express yourself with.
“Whether it’s a colouring book or making tote bags, anything you can express yourself with and get out something that is inside, outside to give you that bit of happiness is what days like this are about.
“For me, whenever I first started to come to the College, it was about getting out and speaking to people. Leaving the house was a big step and you then start to make friends, you start to get more comfortable in environments where people have shared lived experiences.”
South Eastern Trust, Recovery College Manager, Heather McCullough added, “The World Mental Health Day theme is ‘Lived Experience’ which is at the heart of everything we do at the College.
“We wanted to host this Coffee Morning to give a chance for existing students and potential new students to come along and find out about what we do.
“Through the act of crafting, it brings people together and all who have come today are talking, they are having conversations about mental health which is important and sharing their recovery journeys.
“With creativity there is evidence to say that it is really good for mental health, it puts people at ease and it relaxes them and we have that atmosphere here today at Londonderry Park.”
