New cross border support scheme launched for people with mild mental health – Highland Radio

A €9.6 million cross-border initiative designed to enable people with mild or emerging mental health difficulties, to access early intervention programmes has been officially launched.

CCWP, the Community Connections and Well-being Project will operate on the border counties of the Republic and the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas in the North.

The project will bring together statutory, voluntary and community sectors together, working collaboratively to provide support care to 10,000 individuals with mild and/or emerging mental health difficulties. It will enable in the border counties of the Republic, and the Western and Southern Health and Social Care Trust areas of the North.

The interventions provided by the project will include low intensity psychological support, such as counselling, and also a range of psychosocial mentalhealth and well-being programmes, activities and supports to be delivered within communities.

There will be an emphasis on improving the mental health and well-being of people from more marginalised and disadvantaged communities, where there is a greater prevalence of mental health difficulties.

The cross-border launch event in Monaghan was attended by key stakeholders including health and social care professionals and leaders, as well as Ministers Mary Butler and Mike Nesbitt.

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Release in full –

New €9.6 million cross-border mental health and well-being
project launched

The Community Connections and Well-being Project (CCWP), a €9.6 million cross-
border initiative designed to enable people with mild and/or emerging mental health
difficulties, to access early intervention programmes and support, has been officially
launched in Monaghan.
The project is supported by PEACEPLUS, a programme managed by the Special EU
Programmes Body (SEUPB).
CCWP has received €9,589,178 in funding and will bring together statutory,
voluntary and community sectors to work collaboratively to provide support and
episodes of health and social care to 10,000 individuals with mild and/or emerging
mental health difficulties. This will be achieved by enabling access to early
intervention programmes and support in the Western and Southern Health and
Social Care Trust areas and in the HSE border counties.
The overall aim of the project is to improve the mental health and well-being of
people by focusing on responding to early signs of distress to prevent escalation,
and provide access to support closer to home through community hubs, and delivery
of interventions that will lead to better health and well-being.
Supports and interventions provided by the project will include low intensity
psychological support, such as counselling, and also a range of psychosocial mental
health and well-being programmes, activities and community supports to be
delivered within communities.

There will be an emphasis on improving the mental health and well-being of people
from more marginalised and disadvantaged communities, where there is a greater
prevalence of mental health difficulties, thus contributing to healthier communities
overall and enhancing community cohesion and wellbeing. Ultimately, the
Community Connections and Well-being Project will contribute positively to building
peace and prosperity, a key objective of the PEACEPLUS Programme.
The cross-border launch event was attended by key stakeholders including health
and social care professionals and leaders, and representatives from mental health
and well-being services and government.
Minister of State for Mental Health Mary Butler TD said: “Investing in, and
modernising, mental health services is a key priority for Government, so I’m pleased
to support the launch of the Community Connections and Well-being Project
(CCWP) as part of the PEACEPLUS programme.
This vital project will support 10,000 people experiencing mental health challenges
by providing access to community-based early intervention and support, greatly
improving the lives of participants and their families.”

Health Minister Mike Nesbitt MLA said: “I welcome the opportunity this project
brings to address longstanding social and economic challenges that continue to
impact negatively on the mental health and well-being of our border communities.

“The provision of governmental match funding from both jurisdictions to the overall
project budget will help build on the experience and strengths of the previous EU
INTERREG VA funded Innovation Recovery project, to help people with mild and/or
emerging mental health conditions access appropriate supports within their
communities.  In line with a key priority for my Department, I further commend the
project for its focus on rural, isolated and border communities, alongside larger urban

centres, as it works to achieve more equal access to healthcare for those most in
need.”

SEUPB Chief Executive Gina McIntyre said: “The Community Connections and
Well-being Project sets out to tackle the longstanding social and economic
challenges that affect the mental health and wellbeing of communities along the
Northern Ireland/Ireland border. It aims to foster peace and prosperity, leaving a
legacy in the border region by contributing to one new cross-border solution, which
will include four delivery hubs in the border counties.
“This PEACEPLUS project will help build more resilience in the health systems,
through supporting the longer-term transition from institutional to more community-
based care.”

Welcoming this significant funding award, Pat Healy, HSE National Director and
Director General of the CAWT Partnership said: “The CAWT partner
organisations are committed to partnership working and innovating cross border
services and projects, which improves the health and well-being of citizens. Our
PEACEPLUS Community Connections and Well-being Project will enable the
statutory, community and voluntary sectors, to co-operate to provide support and
services to people with mild and/or emerging mental health conditions, and who live
in border areas.”
He added: “We are grateful to the Special EU Programmes Body and both
Departments of Health for this PEACEPLUS funding, and for their support and trust
in the CAWT Partnership to deliver for citizens living in border counties.”
CAWT’s Deputy Director General, Aidan Dawson, Chief Executive of the Public
Health Agency commented: “We welcome this significant additional PEACEPLUS
investment to help improve adult mental health and well-being in the CAWT border

region. The CAWT Community Connections and Well-being Project, with its focus on
facilitating access to early intervention programmes and support, at community level,
will directly benefit border populations, and help to increase social inclusion and
reduce health inequalities.”
ENDS

Photo caption
(CCWP_1) Launching the CAWT PEACEPLUS ‘Community Connections and
Well-being’ Project (from left to right): Danielle McLaughlin, Deputy Chief Officer,
CAWT; Gina McIntyre, Chief Executive Officer, Special EU Programmes Body; Aidan
Dawson, Chief Executive, Public Health Agency / CAWT Deputy Director General;
Cathy Mc Closkey, Chief Officer, CAWT and Karen Matthews, Lead Peer Educator,
Southern Health & Social Care Trust.