St Patricks Festival

Saturday 16th of MarchSaturday 16th of MarchSaturday 16th of March

10.00 am 10.00 am 10.00 am : Natural Museum , Merrion Street. The : Natural Museum , Merrion Street. The : Natural Museum , Merrion Street. The

Wonder of Snakes. I thought Patrick drove them Wonder of Snakes. I thought Patrick drove them Wonder of Snakes. I thought Patrick drove them

out…..out…..out…..

12.00 pm 12.00 pm 12.00 pm : Merrion Square….BIG DAY OUT… : Merrion Square….BIG DAY OUT… : Merrion Square….BIG DAY OUT…

A carnival like no other..music,artA carnival like no other..music,artA carnival like no other..music,art---shows,jugglers shows,jugglers shows,jugglers

12.50 pm 12.50 pm 12.50 pm : O’ Connell Bridge The Gannon Cup : O’ Connell Bridge The Gannon Cup : O’ Connell Bridge The Gannon Cup

University Boat Race.HeyUniversity Boat Race.HeyUniversity Boat Race.Hey---Ho...What what….?Ho...What what….?Ho...What what….?

18.30 pm 18.30 pm 18.30 pm : Chester Beatty Library..Dublin Castle : Chester Beatty Library..Dublin Castle : Chester Beatty Library..Dublin Castle

TEMPO. A clash of Brazil and Irish music….Go on…TEMPO. A clash of Brazil and Irish music….Go on…TEMPO. A clash of Brazil and Irish music….Go on…

Sunday 17th of March Sunday 17th of March Sunday 17th of March

11.00 11.00 11.00 am : City Centre...The Peoples am : City Centre...The Peoples am : City Centre...The Peoples

Parade….something about the Gather-Parade….something about the Gather-Parade….something about the Gather-

ing…..Blah Blahing…..Blah Blahing…..Blah Blah

12.00 pm12.00 pm12.00 pm: DUBLIN CITY CENTRE...THE BESTEST : DUBLIN CITY CENTRE...THE BESTEST : DUBLIN CITY CENTRE...THE BESTEST

PARADE IN THE WORLD…PARADE IN THE WORLD…PARADE IN THE WORLD…

15.00 pm 15.00 pm 15.00 pm : Dublin City Centre…….. Well sure it : Dublin City Centre…….. Well sure it : Dublin City Centre…….. Well sure it

will be the Craic as we Drown the Shamrock… will be the Craic as we Drown the Shamrock… will be the Craic as we Drown the Shamrock…

Monday 18th of MarchMonday 18th of MarchMonday 18th of March

09.00 am 09.00 am 09.00 am : City Hall ...Dublin Castle...Treasure : City Hall ...Dublin Castle...Treasure : City Hall ...Dublin Castle...Treasure

Hunt….some really good prizes….so if you know your Hunt….some really good prizes….so if you know your Hunt….some really good prizes….so if you know your

Dublin…Dublin…Dublin…

11.00 am 11.00 am 11.00 am : Merrion Square and Custom House : Merrion Square and Custom House : Merrion Square and Custom House

Quay.Fun Fairs..Last chance of a swing till next Quay.Fun Fairs..Last chance of a swing till next Quay.Fun Fairs..Last chance of a swing till next

year.year.year.

U n i t 1 , 2 P a r k e r H i l l , L o w e r R a t h m i n e s

R o a d , R a t h m i n e s , D 6

NEWSLETTER

March 2013

Paddy’s DayPaddy’s DayPaddy’s Day

Paddy’s Day is here we ’ll paint the land green

Famil ies rejoic ing will create a happy scene .

Plenty of green Guinness as we drown our

shamrock

Celebrat ions and parades all round the clock .

We honour our great saint each and every year

Celebrat ing Paddy’s day without any fear .

We think of all our ancestors who became

Yanks,

As we open up our hearts and give thanks.

Thank you

When I was a member of Gateway, I really never

took an active role. I didn't think I deserved to be

a big part of things for many reasons, like that I

didn't attend drop-in enough, or that there were

many people there longer than I was, or that

what I thought didn't really matter or wasn't as

good or as important as what other people

thought.

“ I had it all backwards”

Now that I am a project worker, I see that I had

it all backwards. Gateway needed me as it needs

all its members, to make it what it is - a member-

led project. So I'm delighted to see more people

getting involved in Gateway, doing things like

setting up a peer council, leading people on a

walk, writing articles for the newsletter,

publishing the newsletter, volunteering in the

drop-in, organising competitions, deciding how to

decorate the drop-in centre, being on the advisory

committee, committing to meeting members

outside of Gateway, tidying up the drop-in,

attending meetings, organizing discounted rates

and coming to members meetings - where

matters important to members are discussed, and

plans are made for the future. And as more

members get involved, I see Gateway getting

stronger, and growing and changing in the way

the members want.

“Urge you to get involved”

I have great respect for all the members who

make it all happen, and urge all of you to get

involved in any way you can, and not to let your

worries get in your way like I did.

So here is a big thank you and kudos to Ann-

Marie, Patrick, Nicholas, Oliver D, Mary Q, Mary

M, Joe, John, Paul J, Gerry P, Tom and Ciarán,

as well as all the members who write articles for

the newsletter, come to members' meetings,

commit to meeting members outside Gateway,

and tidy up the drop-in centre. -Ali

The Decorating Squad

In January myself, Ali, Ciarán, Mary

Q and Martha all met to get the

decoration of the middle room on the

way. At first I was wondering how

we could justify our meeting. But I

was soon proven wrong as ideas on

what to do surprised me. I think I

stumbled across a new emotion - one

that is used for interior design - yet

to be named. We decided that the

room would have two main

functions. Firstly for listening to

music using head phones, and

secondly for 'Peer Counselling'. This

is where two people listen to one

another for about three minutes each

way. It is important that the person

doing the listening does so

attentively and does not give advice.

For the completion of the room we

need an armchair, curtains, a lamp,

a lava lamp and a rug. If anyone has

them and would like to donate them

please do. As with everything in

Gateway help and support in

continuing on with the decorating

group is always sought after. So any

members interested in interior

design this could be for you!

Tom M

Amnesty Gateway Meeting.

A meeting was held at Gateway on Wednesday 16th

January. Some participants on the WRAP program and

regular members of Gateway made up the 12 in

attendance. Pippa from Amnesty introduced the purpose of

the meeting: To survey the opinions of Mental Health

Service users in order to produce an online Training and

Guidelines document which can be consulted by Health

professionals to assist them in their understanding of

patients' needs and therefore improve service delivery. In

other words, the desired aim is to promote a greater

understanding between medical staff and the patients.

Perhaps, to make nurses less routine, and the psychiatrists

less remote.

Anne-Marie (also from Amnesty) took notes as we were

asked to respond to a particularly bleak case study

describing one patient in hospital care. The treatment she

was being subjected to reflected a specific heartlessness in

the system with which nearly everyone present is familiar.

This case study cut directly into the core of treatment

issues, eliciting reactions including: Had she no say? Why

was she so detained? Was it ever explained to her the

rationale for the drug regime she was undergoing? What

happened in the first place? i.e. more than 5 years back

when she first presented with symptoms? Did anyone ever

take time to actually talk to her? Why was she resisting?

How long more? Could she expect any improvement in her

mental health in the long run?

Pippa and Anne-Marie mined a rich harvest of ideas and

experience during the 2 hours. Obviously it called to mind

unpleasant realities, and it was exhausting. Hoping what

they learned can be useful in designing their online

formation for mental health care professionals, and that it

will be widely consulted and implemented, so as to

eliminate the unnecessary pain and poor outcomes for

some. -Nessa

Care & Repair:

Free repair service in Dublin 4, 6 &

12 to people 65+ years of age. Small

repair jobs call 01-4059819

Wednesday Meet-Ups

1 o’clock in Toast are still on,

check with Oliver D for details

Counselling ‘My Mind’

My Mind in Ranelagh are still

offering discounted counselling

services. Vouchers are still available

to Gateway members. The cost is €10

per session for 5 sessions. For more

information contact Mary Barnes on

01-4965558.

Did you know?

All continents names start and end with the

same letter...WOW !

I have been volunteering with Gateway since

September and have found the members and the

staff hugely supportive. My own Mental health at first

was an issue. I was nervous starting off as I was making

the transition from a member of an organisation to a

Project Worker.

I have an illness that when under stress my energy levels

drop significantly and when I'm exhausted my comfort

zone diminishes.

However my involvement in Gateway has lowered my

stress levels a lot and I can say that being more involved

in the organisation has been a huge lift to my wellbeing

and outlook for 2013. This coupled with a question that I

ask myself too often…

“Exciting new role”

”Will they like me”? That soon trickled into the

background with the answer - “Of course they will”! I

remember on my first day looking at the clock and

realising that I could not just leave like before when I felt

like it, but was bound to my new role. And what a

brilliant and exciting new role that has turned into. I was

a bit sceptical at first as the difference between a good

day and a bad day for me would be difficult in trying to

avoid - as unfortunately I am programmed to try and

cover up my bad days (something that makes the bad day

a lot worse). I eventually realised that there are a small

number of places that someone can go to when they are

having a bad day and Gateway in Rathmines is one of

them.

“How are you really?”

For me now, if I haven't had a good nights sleep the night

before, or am under the weather, I am completely at ease

to say it to both my colleagues and the members as a

culture of “How are you really”? is alive and kicking in

Parker Hill. For me sometimes I have a habit of glossing

over bad days, however for me as a Project Worker it is

vitally important that I am someone who is

'approachable'. I am looking forward to the year ahead

and getting to know all involved in Gateway better.

Thanks, Tom

Tom’s Story Joke of the month

A thief goes into a chicken factory to

rob a chicken. A security guard is

watching him. The thief grabs a

chicken and runs off with it.

The security guard shouts at him.

”What are you doing with that

chicken”? The thief replies.” Cabbage

and roast potatoes”.

Boom Boom….

Relaxation & Meditation

continues on Mondays in March

from 3.45-4.45pm!

Indian Head Massage

is on the last Monday every Month

from 1.45pm

Random Notes Radio

Show

by Richard Moloney every Second

Wednesday (6 & 20th March)

between 9pm – 10.30pm on Near

90.3fm and online at www.near.ie/

Pool Competition Sandra M had won the January competition, but let the prize slip away as Tim came from nowhere and clinched the title last Thursday in a thrilling final with Terry.

Terry broke and quickly potted 3 red balls in succession. Tim fought back heroically and played some wonderful shots. But the game hung in a balance as they both played for the black ball. Terry had an easy shot but failed to pot. Tim stepped forward and seeing that the championship was there for the taking, slowly bent over the table, and resting his chin along the cue, gently hit the black into the top left hand pocket.

The crowd went wild. His loyal followers showered him with roses and kisses and security had to be called to quell the thousands who had made the trip to see their Champ. Tim fell to his knees and silently said a prayer to his God in thanks for his good fortune.

So don't forget next months Pool competition, and you too could be walking away with the prized trophy and 100,000 Euro prize money… -Ciarán

11 Wynnfield Road

Rathmines

Dublin 6 0 1 496 5558 w w w.p ro je c t ga tew ay .b l o gs po t . com

Mental Health Reform

Grassroots meeting 30-1-2013

Myself and Ali represented 'Gateway' at a

recent Mental Health Reform Grassroots

meeting which was held on the 30th of

January. The main topic for discussion was

medication. A contributor to the discussion

mentioned that, in Finland, psychiatric

medication is only tried when other forms of

intervention have failed. I told the meeting

that I was aware of people who had been

taking psychiatric medication for 20 or 25

years.

“against psychiatric medication”

One contributor to the meeting said she had

been against psychiatric medication but was

now in favour of medication in certain

circumstances. I suggested that when an

individual is put on medication for the first

time they should be correctly monitored.

People travelled from Cork to attend the

Mental Health Reform meeting. One man

stated at the meeting that he wasn't in

favour of ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy).

Mental Health Reform Stated that they were

only in favour of ECT if the individual gave

their consent to receiving ECT.

“other forms of support”

I suggested, as part of the discussion on

medication, that if an individual is

prescribed medication, other forms of

supports should be offered to the person as

well. These other forms of support could

include Counselling, Psychotherapy,

Occupational Therapy and/or Social Work

Support. I hope my account of the Grassroots

meeting is a benefit to all 'Gateway'

members. -Oliver D.

Get to know your member ! Paul

What do you like about being a member in Gateway? I like the camaraderie.

What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut.

Where is your favourite place in the world? My parents house in sunny Spain. One thing no one knows bout you? I dodged a fare on a train from Biarritz to Paris.

Gateway

Working in Gateway as a volunteer is

pleasant and nice.

The other project workers show me the way

and give me advice.

Understanding mental health difficulties is

something I want to do.

Gateway is a good place to come if you’re

feeling sad or blue.

My time in Gateway has given me a positive

outlook and insight.

As people get together and try to stay out of

the dark and in the light.

In Gateway there are always things to do

and places to go.

Helps me understand mental health that I

didn’t know.

-Patrick C.

Please remember Dolores Smyth who died

recently. Dolores was a regular member of

Gateway in the Swan Centre. We would like to

pass on our sympathy to her family.

May she rest in peace.

The Dublin 6 Older People’s Network is piloting a

new older men’s group in the community, every

second Tuesday in Mount Drummond Older People’s

Complex - Harold’s Cross. If you know any men in

the community that could benefit from a bit of

company please pass on the information. Contact

Gerry Hogarty at Rathmines Garda Station on 666

6700 or more info.