More about 49 North Street

Recovery, wellness and community groups
49 North Street hosts a number of person-centred recovery, wellness and community groups facilitated by qualified group leaders.
In line with current public health guidelines, places are limited and booking in advance is essential.

Please contact kevin.oshanahan@hse.ie for further information on the following items listed in the programme: Mindfulness & Recovery Group, Mental Health Engagement, Recovery & Wellness Group, Wintertime Wellness Group, Community Health Clinic, Peer Support Group, 12 Step Recovery Meeting.

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Aperture 49 Photography Group
Aperture 49 is an inclusive photography group that meets weekly to share experience and new images captured during the week. Participants aim to keep their passion alive and awaken it by sharing their experience with others. All are welcome to join. 5.30pm every Thursday 49 North Street, Skibbereen.

Enquiries: Tomasz Madajczak t.madajczak@gmail.com
Facebook link: https://www.facebook.com/49NorthStreet
Image: Aperture Photography 220920

Past Projects

THE SEISIÚN POETS
Sound Field and The Moon Pulls the Tide are limited edition books of poems by ‘The Seisiún Poets’ of Perrott House. The group began in 2013, after artist Tess Leak was invited by Kevin O’Shanahan, Arts and Mental Health Co-ordinator for the West Cork Mental Health Services, to facilitate a creative writing group for the residents.

The Seisiún Poets met once a week in the day room to sings songs (the group has also included some talented musicians over the years) and make poems. Made collectively, these poems evolve out of conversations on subjects such as the weather, the seasons and their impact on farming the land.

“On large sheets of paper I write down the ideas, stories and words that come out of the session and later bring in a very rough staring point to a poem, a kind of collection of everyone’s ideas. We read this ‘poem in progress’ aloud, making changes until all the poets agree that it needs nothing else and requires no more editing. I have learnt so much from The Seisiún Poets over the last 5 years: about nature and its connection to farming, about West Cork ‘up close’. I have learnt sad songs, funny old songs and about how important it is for each of us to make something out of our experiences and enjoy our creativity together.”
Tess Leak

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NOVAS HOMELESS SUPPORT CLINIC
Novas is a voluntary organisation and Approved Housing Body working with families and single adults who are disadvantaged and socially excluded; primarily those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. We provide a range of services and accommodation for marginalised households throughout Ireland. We offer bespoke, client-centred services, based on empirical evidence of fifteen years’ experience of working with people who are homeless in Ireland. We believe everyone is entitled to a home.

In 2002, Novas established its first service in Ireland – a temporary supported, low-threshold accommodation service in Limerick. Since then we have grown significantly with more than 20 services in counties Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Dublin, Cork and Kerry. We support our clients through Housing, Health and Recovery. We recognise the complex issues that cause homelessness and endeavour to offer holistic, long-term solutions.

Patrick Healy with Novas offers support with accessing housing services and support and is now based out of the Ludgate Hub in Skibbereen.

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49 NORTH STREET BOOK CLUB
The 49 North Street book club connected over coffee, craic and the book of the month. Hosted by Caroline and Cathy, these ladies brought fun and laughter to each meet up while participants rediscovered their love of reading.

49 North Street, Skibbereen, Co. Cork

Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing.

Most agree that giving to others is a good idea however giving to others has a knock on effect on ourselves by improving the givers mental wellbeing. From small acts of kindness to volunteering, giving can give you a sense of purpose, community and connectedness. Sometimes we think of our wellbeing in terms of what we have; our income, car, home or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think has the biggest impact on mental wellbeing. Positive mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life. Helping and supporting others and working with others towards a shared goal is good for our mental wellbeing. A 2003 study in 373 older adults found that some aspect of wellbeing were higher in those who did volunteer projects compared with those who did not. Scientists have shown that giving to others can stimulate the reward areas in the brain helping to create positive feelings. Helping others also gives a sense of purpose and feelings of self-worth.

Evidence show that good relationships with family, friends, colleagues and the wider community are important for mental wellbeing.

Many of us would like to spend more time with the people who are most important to us but sometimes life just gets in the way of that. We must make time to connect with the people that matter to us. By nurturing these relationships we feel happier and more secure, giving a better sense of purpose. A 2002 study of 222 students in the US found that the happiest amongst the group had stronger social relationships than those who were less happy. Some tips to stay connected:

Make time each day to connect with your family, friends and colleagues. This could include ‘family time’ that is a fixed time to connect each day.
Arrange a day out with friends you may not have connected with recently. Most people connect on social media sites like Facebook but a face to face contact spending your time with your friends is so much more meaningful and beneficial than a “like” or “comment” on Facebook.
Reduce your screen time when you are in company. Put the phone away, close your laptop, turn off the TV and have a chat.
Try connecting with someone new today. Talk to the person beside you on the train or in the shop. This conversation may mean even more to the person you connect with than you realise.
Leave your desk for your lunch and sit with a colleague catching up on non-work matters.
It can be as simple as a smile at a passer-by.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen.

Learning new skills is both useful and it can also positively affect our mental wellbeing. Learning means different things to everyone. To some it will be a new qualification and to others it will be learning a new recipe in the kitchen. Evidence shows that continuing to learn throughout life can help improve and maintain our mental wellbeing. Mental Wellbeing means feeling good about yourself and the world around you and being able to get on with your life the way you choose. In 2004 a study interviewed 145 adults about learning throughout life and various aspects of their health and wellbeing. It found that people who involved themselves in more learning reported feeling higher self-esteem, a greater ability to cope with stress, and more feelings of self-confidence, hope and purpose. Setting goals and working towards them plays an important part in the way learning influences wellbeing. Many forms of learning involve contact with others which connects us to our communities and peers.

It is easy to rush through daily life without stopping to notice much. Paying attention to the present moment – to our own thoughts, feelings and to the world around you can improve your mental wellbeing.

Taking Notice is also called Mindfulness. It is easy to incorporate mindfulness into your life and can be a very powerful tool if learnt and practiced daily. Mental wellbeing means being feeling good about life and yourself and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want. Many think about wellbeing in terms of what you have; your income, car, house or job. Evidence shows that what we do and the way we think have the biggest impact on wellbeing. To Take Notice is to notice the sights, smells, sounds and tastes you experience as well as your thoughts and feelings that occur from one moment to the next. It’s easy to lose touch with the way our bodies are feeling and to end up living in our heads. An important part of Taking Notice is to reconnect with our bodies and the sensations they are experiencing. It can be something as simple as the feel of your knife and fork in your hands. Most of us have issues we find hard to let go of and mindfulness can help us deal with them more productively. Awareness of this kind also helps us notice signs of stress or anxiety earlier and helps us deal with them better.

Being active is great for your physical and mental wellbeing. Evidence proves there is a link between being active physically and good mental wellbeing.

Mental wellbeing means feeling good about yourself, about the world around you and having the ability to get on with life in the way you want.
Being active doesn’t mean you need to train for a marathon. You need to find physical activity that you enjoy and can fit into your daily/ weekly routine. This may be a daily walk to the shops instead of taking the car, a weekly gardening session, some yoga, swimming or a weekend walk.
Scientists confirm physical activity can help maintain wellbeing and good mental health in a number of ways:
Physical activity helps with mild depression. Evidence shows it can protect people against the onset of depression and anxiety.
Physical activity causes a chemical change in the brain which can help change our mood.
Physical activity brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge – all of which help improve wellbeing.