“When people know how to talk, listen and signpost, that is how lives are saved.”
A Northern Ireland woman who has worked within the mental health and community sector for over a decade, has encouraged those struggling to reach out.
Sharon Smith joined Extern 16 years ago after leaving university. She went into a preventative project which support young people, and has continued to help people across different sectors.
Speaking to Belfast Live on World Mental Health Day on October 10, Sharon said quite often the Extern team are finding people coming to them when they are at crisis point. They want anyone feeling like they are struggling with their mental health, to reach out before this stage.
READ MORE: ‘I was once feeling hopeless in life but now I want to help others’READ MORE: Belfast sanctuary for homeless women marks first anniversary of special service
“I always knew that I wanted to work within the community, and to support people within the community. I applied for a job to support young people in a preventative project, and I absolutely loved it,” Sharon said.
“From that moment, I have worked my way up within Extern across different sections and communities. In the last 10 years I have support individuals in communities, all about mental health and wellbeing.
“Since the pandemic, we at Extern have seen a massive increase in referrals coming through the doors, and referrals of much more complex needs. People who have struggled with their issues, and with things they may not have struggled with before, and they are reaching crisis point. They are only reaching out then at crisis point. That in itself is a struggle because we would love people to come to us before crisis, to seek that support before breaking point.”
Extern enables them to overcome their challenges, empower positive change and support family unity. While most may know Extern for their work with the most vulnerable in society who present as homeless, it is much more than that.
As a community and voluntary organisation, Extern’s primary purpose is to provide services to support adults, young people, families and children who are:
- Facing family breakdown
- Dealing with substance misuse
- Impacted by suicide and poor mental health
- Living with past offences or in the criminal justice system
- Experiencing homelessness
- Children looked after
- Young people in alternative education
- Engaged in alternative education and employability supports
- Members of the Traveller Community
- Living with neurodiversity
Extern is commissioned by public sector bodies and government departments from across the island of Ireland. Based in Belfast, the Extern Crisis Intervention is for people who have current and ongoing suicidal thoughts and behaviours and who have been assessed as moderate to high risk. Reach Out by Extern operates a drop-in office from the Spectrum Centre, Shankill
Sharon told Belfast Live that they support adults and young people from all backgrounds and circumstances. Their team are non-judgemental, and there to offer support to anyone who needs it.
“We want people to think about their mental health every single day,” Sharon said.
“Have these conversations in their workplaces, sports clubs and within families too. When people know how to talk, listen and signpost, that is how lives are saved.
“There is a whole spectrum of people who come to us, it is not just those who come from the most deprived areas, it is anybody and everybody.
“People think of themselves last. When it comes to them, they maybe don’t have time. They don’t want to reach out for help because they think that is a failure. They don’t want to reach out for help because they don’t want anyone else to know. We want people to look after themselves in their communities, but also we want people to be aware of services. We are encouraging people top reach out, and to take time for early intervention.
“Looking after your mental health is not about big gestures. It doesn’t have to be retreats or long-term intervention. Those small gestures can build great habits.
“Reaching out is one of the hardest things to do, but once you do that you can feel a massive weight of your shoulders.”
For more information on Extern, or to learn about what help and support they offer, please click this link.
Anyone can contact Samaritans FREE any time from any phone on 116 123, even a mobile without credit. This number won’t show up on your phone bill. Or you can email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org to find details of your nearest branch.
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter
#team #Extern #struggling #mental #health
