New support group opening in Omagh to encourage more to come forward and seek help for mental healthNorthern Ireland depression charity, AWARE, is opening a new Support Group specifically for young adults aged 18 – 30 in Omagh. The group which will run weekly on a Thursday from Strule Arts Centre is open to anyone aged 18 – 30 and is totally free of charge.
AWARE hope that by opening this group in the area, more young adults will come forward and seek help for mental health conditions such as depression, bipolar stress or anxiety.
Margaret McCrossan from AWARE said,
“An AWARE Support Group provides an opportunity to meet others who understand how you are feeling. A Support Group encourages people to support each other and share experiences, discuss self-help strategies and identify coping skills to help.
“AWARE currently run a weekly Support Group in Omagh Library which will continue to run alongside the Support Group for young adults. But, through conversations we have been having with young people in the area, we felt that it was important and timely to open a support group in Omagh that focuses specifically on young adults and the difficulties they face.
“This wouldn’t have been possible without the help of Ulster Bank staff and customers who collectively raised £105,000 for AWARE through their One Week in June initiative. It is with this funding that AWARE has been able to open up the Support Group for young adults in Omagh with the hope of opening similar groups throughout Northern Ireland.
“We would encourage anyone aged 18 – 30 who is living with depression, bipolar, stress or anxiety to come along to the Support Group on Thursday 18 October at 6:45pm at the Strule Arts Centre and see if it can help you. The group is free to attend and there is no need to register, you simply turn up at the meeting where a warm welcome will be waiting.”
Dessa Deans, Branch Manager, Ulster Bank Omagh said,
“It’s wonderful to see this new AWARE support service set up specifically for young people in the Omagh area. The Ulster Bank team here in Omagh thoroughly enjoyed raising cash through in branch activity and our table quiz event held at the Coach Inn. We’re thrilled that monies raised by us and all our Ulster Bank colleagues will have such a positive impact in helping young adults combat the challenges of anxiety, stress and depression.”
Ulster Bank’s Head of Personal Banking Terry Robb was actively involved in the bank’s One Week in June campaign and said,
“Everyone at our 44 branches across Northern Ireland and in our business and commercial teams really got behind our fundraising efforts for AWARE and it’s fantastic to see how all the hard work (and great fun) has paid off in helping to further enhance and strengthen AWARE’s support programme.
“During our fundraising campaign I joined a local support group as I wanted to gain an appreciation of how it operates as well as its benefits and impact on individual people. It was an insightful experience and I can see how important regular support sessions are to people both young and older in the ongoing recovery process.
“We had an excellent charity partnership with AWARE and everyone at Ulster Bank is delighted to play their part in helping AWARE establish additional services and support which will make a huge difference to people and their everyday lives.”
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