Newcastle charity helping people deal with mental health problems

Newcastle charity helping people deal with mental health problems

6 February 2019

A CHARITY is reaching out to people affected by depression and bipolar disorder in the Newcastle area.

The Newcastle AWARE support group takes place in the Newcastle Centre every Thursday night at 7.30pm. The group is free to attend and no appointment is necessary. All you have to do is turn up on the night and a trained support group facilitator will welcome you in with a cup of tea or coffee.

Crossgar man Jarlath McCreanor attended a support group and is now a volunteer facilitator with the Newcastle group.

Jarlath can be seen driving around the local area in an AWARE car which he had branded to promote the work of the depression charity.

Jarlath said: “The purpose of an AWARE Support Group is to bring together people with the illness of depression and bipolar disorder to support each other and learn more about the illness and treatments available.

Attending a group also enables people to share experiences, discuss self-help strategies and coping skills that will help in the recovery process. Carers for people with depression are also welcomed into an AWARE support group.”

Jarlath added: ”We have a stand in the Newcastle Centre over the next two weeks promoting the work of AWARE and the services they offer in the local area to help people with depression, and also to support people caring for someone with the illness of depression.

“We would encourage anyone to by the stand and lift some of the information available at your leisure.”

AWARE has 23 support groups across Northern Ireland bringing invaluable peer-support to people enabling them to support each other and help one another.

For more information on AWARE and the services they provide in the local area, visit their website www.aware-ni.org or call 028 9035 7820.