Bealach Nua – supporting families of people with mental health difficulties

BEALACH Nua, which in English means New Way, is the suitably titled name of an innovative service for families/friends of people with mental health difficulties.

Over the past five years it has worked with almost 400 families in Mayo.

The service has been in operation since 2015 where it was originally funded by Genio and is now currently funded by the Service Reform Fund and co-managed by Mental Health Ireland and Mayo Mental Health Services, Community Healthcare West.

The idea was developed in 2014 by Veronica Burke, senior social worker, and Catherine Walsh, principal social worker, after a trialogue master class facilitated by Grainne Fadden highlighted the need for a family peer support service in Mayo Mental Health. It is aptly titled with the intention of signifying a change in how we view recovery in mental health, by doing it a new way.

This individualised recovery and person-centred support service provides family members and carers of adults with a mental health diagnosis ongoing emotional support, directing them towards community supports that may help families cope positively with the challenges they face.

The service also concentrates on social support, meaning it gives family members opportunities to meet up, build an informal network of support and share experiences with each other.

It hopes to increase awareness in the mental health services around the challenges families face when a loved one has a mental health difficulty and aims to build resources for family members so they themselves can go on and support others or get involved in organisational change if they so wish. Two family peer supporters who availed of support are now employed by the service itself.

Bealach Nua has now been extended to the greater Community Healthcare West area covering Roscommon and Galway.

For the past five years, Bealach Nua has worked with almost 400 families in Mayo. Its longest serving family peer supporter, Maria McGoldrick, among others, has been involved in successfully supporting families from the beginning.

Maria has recently moved into a new role as area lead for mental health engagement and recovery and has said of her time working with Bealach Nua: “Working as a family peer supporter with Bealach Nua over the past five years has been an absolute privilege and honour. There is no better medicine than having a cup of tea with someone who has had similar life experiences and teasing out the best path forward together, without fear of judgement or hidden agendas.

“The natural therapeutic relationship that peer support provides and that I have experienced over the last five years has greatly improved my recovery journey and I hope the recovery journeys of the families I have supported in the county.”

Family members of people with mental ill health tend to focus on their family members' needs and are slow in getting support for themselves. When family members are supported and encouraged to focus on their own self-care, their family member with mental health difficulties also benefit.

One of our family members recalled feelings of despair and loneliness, finding life very tough trying to look after everyone else and had no time to focus on herself. After spending time with a family peer, the same family member now says: “I am far better able to manage life while still being able to focus on my own needs and the needs of my family. I am enjoying life for the first time in years.”

Another family member stated: “Having used the service of Bealach Nua for some years, it has given me insight into the recovery process. Recovery has given me a positive attitude, taking responsibility for my own emotions, expectations, fears and behaviours. In using Bealach Nua my family peer support worker showed me empathy, equality, mutual respect, empowerment and partnership.

“For some years I was supporting a family member with mental illness. With no previous experience or knowledge of mental illness I found myself in a confused and emotional state.

“Feeling very much on my own, I was eventually put in touch with Bealach Nua, which changed my life. At first I didn’t realise how much I needed help. I had all these feelings from sadness to anger, grief, loss, anxiety and shame and finally I had someone I could talk to.

“My family peer support worker was a wonderful lady that made me realise it was OK to have all those feelings. It was when she shared some of her personal experiences and how she overcame them that I began to feel hope again.

“After some great support, encouragement, guidance and friendship I found myself again. I learned how important self-care was for my own mental health - when I looked after myself I was in a better position to support my family.”

As the role expands, Bealach Nua is delighted to welcome four new family peer supporters who are currently providing this support service throughout the county of Mayo. All peers bring with them an abundance of experience which it is hoped will see the service evolve and grow.

If you would like more information, please contact (086) 0450835 or (087) 9749288.