Local events for Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Week

Next week (November 14-18th) is the second Mid West Regional Drugs & Alcohol Forum (MWRDAF) Drugs & Alcohol Awareness Week and it will see events taking place in Nenagh, Borrisokane and Newport.

The North Tipperary Community Cluster, established in 2013 with the support of the MWRDAF, is hosting an informal talk and session on ‘Alcohol, Drugs, Mental Health & Wellbeing’ on Tuesday November 15th at Nenagh Pastoral Centre at 7pm. It will be attended by Donie Ryan and Dr Marie Oppeboen, North Tipperary Mental Health Services.

 

The Cluster is made up of individuals who have an interest in alcohol & drug issues, which affect individuals, families and the community in North Tipperary. “Members of our group are keenly interested in the link between alcohol & drug misuse and mental health,” said Margo O'Donnell, a member of the group. “Those attending found the opportunity to listen and ask questions of professionals in the addiction and mental health sphere very helpful to their own understanding and awareness. It really is a unique opportunity to have a psychiatrist and an addiction counsellor explain how they support people with co-existing mental health and addiction issues.”

 

Another member of the group, Liam Morrissey, will MC the event. The Cluster have also worked on providing a wallet-sized information sheet on the various drug & alcohol and mental health supports available in North Tipperary for people to take away with them.

 

The Cluster is also offering a Self-Care six-week course to family members and individuals who have been affected by substance misuse. The short course will focus on self-care & wellbeing for you, receiving support to take time out for yourself.

 

There will be an open night on Thursday November 17th in Áras Folláin from 7pm – 8pm. All are welcome to attend and hear speakers on the topics of: Coping with feelings and change; Nutrition for wellbeing; Movement & Activity; Stress Management; Relaxation Techniques and Mindfulness. For more info, please ring Margo, 086-8625352

 

Borrisokane Community College has been involved in the Lets Learn About Drugs & Alcohol Together Programme (LLADAT) – a post primary substance use education project developed by the MWRDAF and HSE Mid West Drug & Alcohol Service. An online resource will be launched on Wednesday November 16th in the Friendship Café in the school. The website is viewed as an integral part of the future development of the LLADAT projects, offering online support to schools, teachers, parents and young people across the Mid-West. The launch will include a number of guest speakers, including Dr Sancha Power, who developed the programme, and Pat Mulcahy, GAA Health & Wellbeing Officer.

 

In Newport, Novas Respite House is hosting an Open Day on Thursday November 17th from 10.30am – 1.30pm, to help explain the work they do with family members who attend the respite house. The house, which is supported by the MWRDAF through the HSE, is available to families who have a family member in addiction.

 

Julie McKenna, Novas, explains: “The house offers the family the opportunity to get away from the chaos and stress that can be in their own home because of a family member's addiction – to have time to themselves and the other members of their family, to de-stress and remember who they are. We encourage family members to engage in some of the holistic therapies offered at the house as a way of supporting family members to de-stress, and we support family members to identify the stress and the strain they are feeling and acknowledge the pain they feel from the lost relationship of their loved one in addiction.”

 

For those wishing to visit the house, but aren’t sure of where to go, you can contact the house on (061) 624878 or workers' mobiles, phone 083-3854846 or 083-1791499.

 

See www.mwrdtf.ie for more information.