A Dungannon group will be able to support people recovering from drug and alcohol addiction thanks to a grant from the Big Lottery Fund.
Breakthru, a Project of Dungannon Development Association, has been awarded a grant of £9,647 from the Big Lottery Fund's Healthy Minds NI programme which supports activities to improve the mental health and well being of local people.

The project, based on Killymeal Road, will use the grant to run a pilot relapse prevention service for people who have been through government drug and alcohol treatment programmes and need further support.

Breaktru will also provide short term crisis intervention for people who are waiting to enter treatment programmes and have no other means of support, offering one to one counselling, a crisis intervention group, therapeutic group support and complimentary and alternative therapies.

"This community project supports people dealing with drug and alcohol dependencies and addictions and suicide and self harm issues in the Southern Health Trust," said Manger Bernadette McHugh.

"The latest figures show that there are nearly 800 people engaged in some form of drug and or alcohol treatment in this Trust area, so our service is very important.
"Working closely with government organisations, we have identified that there is a gap in services for people who are coming out of treatments programmes and need support to prevent relapise.
"There are organisations such as Alcoholics Anonymous out there who do tremendous work, however it doesn't suit everyone and some people can find it really difficult to cope. Our relapse prevention service will offer the necessary support to help them deal with their issues."
She continued: "Our counsellors will help individuals identify potential triggers in their lives, for instance someone they know who they associate with drinking, or a place they associate with drugs misuse. They will take them through coping strategies to help avoid triggers and prevent relapse."

Bernadette explained that he crisis intervention service will provide support for people who have ended up in hospital as the result of substance misuse during the period before they engage with the government's Addition Service.
"People will be referred from the hospital Liaison Service to this part of the project," she said. "The liaison service identify people who come into hospital as a result of substance misuse, it could be someone who has been in an accident, been involved in an assault or even fallen unconscious and is picked up by police or it could also be someone who has a medical condition such as a bleeding ulcer by their misuse. We offer them support."

Frank Hewitt, the Big Lottery Fund's NI Chair said: "The Healthy Minds programme supporting activities at the heart of local communities. Improving people's mental health and well-being can have a positive impact on family life, work and social life - the community as a whole.

"I am delighted to be announcing these grants which will make a major difference to the lives of many people."
The Healthy Mind programme has now closed for applications. To find out more visit: www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/northernireland.

Source: Tyrone Courier
Date: Wednesday 8th June 2011