On 20th March 2015 at 11am, the Niamh Louise Foundation held a pre-launch of their new service, which is especially tailored for rural communities and those living in rural isolation.
The Foundation was delighted to have recently received funding from Ulster Garden Villages Ltd. and Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council Legacy Fund, both for the purchase and refurbishment of an exhibition vehicle and trailer for outreach work within rural communities across Northern Ireland.
The unit has been transformed into a mobile intervention and awareness unit to bridge the gap in services in mental health, suicide, and self-harm prevention and intervention within rural areas, through awareness raising and one to one intervention sessions with the aim of attending events such as farmer’s marts, schools, and sporting events.
The launch event was attended by Health Minister Jim Wells who praised the new initiative saying, “I want people to respond to their mental health in the same way as they view physical health and access to the right support at the right time can prevent suicide. This new mobile therapy and intervention unit will contribute greatly to suicide prevention in the Tyrone and Armagh areas by providing support right to the heart of local communities. The Niamh Louise Foundation is to be commended for its dedication and contribution to suicide prevention.”
The Foundation was also delighted on the day to launch a new mosaic piece of art created by their Recovery and Well-Being Group, facilitated by Beam Creative Network and funded by ESB Ireland. This piece of art will leave a lasting legacy within the Foundation, encouraging hope and recovery for those bereaved or affected by suicide.
