Belfast’s first consultation on emotional resilience and Take 5 launch

Health and Social Wellbeing Improvement
Belfast’s first consultation on emotional resilience and Take 5 launch

The Belfast Strategic Partnership (BSP) has launched a consultation process today, entitled: ‘Building Emotional Resilience Strategy 2014-17’.

The BSP’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Thematic Group will seek the views of Belfast residents, community and voluntary groups and interested bodies, to help inform decisions about building emotional resilience for Belfast citizens. ‘Emotional resilience’ refers to an individual’s ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises.

The consultation will run for six weeks – from today until Thursday 26 June and the BSP welcome all views during this period.

 Proposals in the consultation include:

  • Raise awareness and enhance individual emotional resilience and wellbeing
  • Reduce life inequalities and develop emotional wellbeing at a community level
  • Building on work already undertaken in the Belfast area that will contribute to emotional resilience

 Speaking at the event, Irene Sherry, co-chair of the BSP’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Thematic Group, said: “I’m delighted to launch the first Belfast Emotional Resilience Strategy. Following on from our ‘Have Your Say Belfast’ Survey findings 2013, we know there is a need to develop a focused and life course approach to Mental Health, so I welcome the views of all our stakeholders and hope you will get involved in discussion and debate on this matter. All your views are very important to us.”

 Dr Eddie Rooney, Public Health Agency’s Chief Executive and Co-Chair of the BSP added: Emotional wellbeing is central to a healthy society.“We are committed to raising awareness and providing support to Belfast citizens in building emotional resilience. Over the next three years we will work collectively and in collaboration with a range of stakeholders in the community, voluntary and statutory sectors to achieve our aims and objectives, already building on our extensive work across Belfast.”

To view the consultation document visit: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing

A leaflet aimed at improving our mental wellbeing was also launched today. This will help to support discussion around the consultation.

We can all take five steps to improve our mental wellbeing everyday. These are:

  • Connect
  • Be active
  • Learn
  • Give
  • Notice

For a copy of the Take 5 leaflet visit: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing

Further information

For further information contact Debbie McGrory, Communications Officer  BSP on 028 9050 2073 or email Debbie.mcgrory@bhdu.org

Consultation details:

You can respond to the consultation in a number of ways:

  • Fill in the form inside the consultation document, detach it, and post it back to BSP.
  • Download a MSWord or PDF version of the questionnaire from www.belfastcity.gov.uk/ healthandwellbeing  - complete it and email or post it back to BSP.
  • Contact BSP and they will send you out a hard copy of the questionnaire.
  • Email or write to BSP with your comments.
  • Responses or requests for further information or alternative formats should be emailed to jim.morgan@bhdu.org or in writing to: Belfast Strategic Partnership, 5th Floor, 9 Lanyon Place, Belfast, BT1 3LP or telephone (028) 9050 2073.
Notes to the editor
  1. The Belfast Strategic Partnership was established in February 2011 to address inequalities in health, which are significant across Belfast and can be mapped against deprivation indicators. It is a multi-sectoral partnership with the Belfast Health and Social Care Trust (BHSCT), Belfast City Council (BCC) and the Public Health Agency (PHA).
  2.  The BSP’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Thematic Group’s primary function is to develop and roll out a Building Emotional Resilience Strategy and action plan for the city of Belfast. The MHEWBTG, supported by the Belfast Health Development Unit, will take responsibility for the successful implementation of the strategy.  Following the consultation and based on the actions and objectives identified, a detailed action plan will been developed. 
  3.  The consultation period is between Thursday 15 May - Thursday 26 June 2014 at 12.00 (noon. The consultation launch is part of Mental Health Week (12-18 May). To view the consultation visit: www.belfastcity.gov.uk/healthandwellbeing Emotional Resilience is an individual’s ability to adapt to stressful situations or crises. Characteristics of Emotional Resilience are: Self-awareness, understanding that setbacks are part of life, self-reliance, strong problem solving skills and making social connections.