My Working Day:Anne Sheridan, mental health officer in HSE West, tells Michelle McDonaghabout the power of health promotion
My job as mental health promotion/suicide resource officer has essentially two parts, although they are, of course, linked. Mental health promotion is about mental and emotional wellbeing and its importance in overall health.
Mental health, like physical health, is a resource we need to promote and protect. In fact, feeling a sense of wellbeing can add years to our lives, as well as protecting us from illness such as cardiovascular problems and helps recovery from a range of chronic diseases.
Mental health is often misund- erstood and confused with mental illness and, therefore, this is the first hurdle I have to get over. The other is that good mental health is not just about the absence of problems. While mental health promotion can help prevent problems such as depression, anxiety and suicide, it's important that we recognise and value positive mental health as a resource and asset to our lives.
The suicide resource role involves leading and supporting initiatives to prevent suicide, developing services to respond to those at risk and to support those affected by suicide bereavement.
My starting and finishing time each day depends on what I'm actually doing. If I am in the office for a day, then it is the regular nine to five timeframe. I try to have at least one such day in the week. I regularly work in the evenings as this is the time when many community-based committees meet. At other times, I am working in various parts of Donegal or attending national meetings in Dublin or across the Border.
There is no typical day in my job. Training is an important elem- ent - to build capacity so that key people can use their influence and potential to promote positive mental health and prevent suicide, for example, teachers, primary care workers and those working in the voluntary and community sector.
The most difficult part of the job is the breadth of the work. Mental health promotion is important all the way through the life cycle and in all settings, such as families, schools, workplaces, play places and communities. However, the good news is that mental health promotion is an integral part of the Vision For Change National Mental Health Policy and the Reach Out Suicide Prevention strategy, which means its value has now been recognised in national health policy.
There is great satisfaction in knowing my work makes a differ- ence to people.
A number of programmes I am involved with have been proven to make a difference, such as the MindOut Programme, the School Journal, Mental Health Days in schools and Getting It Together, which targets young people.
In developing any programme, it is essential to work in partnership with the target population. This makes the work very exciting and real.