1. G a t e w a yG a t e w a yG a t e w a y
June 2013
Newsletter
Unit 1, 2 Park Hill, Rathmines Road, D 6. E-mail : thegatewaynewsletter@gmail.com
Does your diagnosis serve you?
Strange though it may sound, you do not need a
diagnosis to treat people with mental health
problems', says Dr Lucy Johnstone, consultant
psychologist. 'There is no evidence in dealing with
people in distress, that these experiences are best
understood as illnesses with biological causes.'
On the contrary, there is now overwhelming evidence
that people break down as a result of a complex mix of
social and psychological circumstances-bereavement
and loss, poverty and discrimination, trauma and
abuse.'
So, it seems that mental difficulties are not something
that you have, nor even something you get, but a
normal response to demanding life situations.
Pathology can occur at the point of reaction to these
events.
It is now widely-held that we are not entirely
determined by our inherited genes. Modern genetics
tells us that genes are switched on and off – with
organic results, according to our life experience –
taking sometimes years to obtain an 'accurate'
diagnosis, with all the chopping and changing
(medication & treatments) and uncertainty. This stalls,
and can damage, one's life.
It could be tempting to succumb, sinking completely
into a state of hopelessness, seduced by the very
search for the 'correct' diagnosis. What, then, when
you and your doctor agree that you've hit on it?
Ivor Browne, psychiatrist, renowned for the success of
his therapeutic methods, is on the record as saying that
mental diagnoses are not useful in the treatment room.
He employs two scales to assess his individual clients:
how open or closed (expressive or defensive) they are;
and their coping mechanisms (capable to helpless). You
will notice these are personality traits & life skills
characteristics.
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM) published by the American Psychiatric
Association, since 1952, provides a common language
and standard criteria for the classification of mental
disorders. The 5th edition ("DSM-5") is currently in
consultation, planning and preparation, due for
publication in June 2013.
Watch how this influential manual is beginning to
change our understanding of mental health. There
appears to be a paradigm shift necessary in medical
circles because of the DSM classification. Habit
patterns, and life events, may be at the root of
personal crises, not some incurable and encoded illness
to be merely controlled, carrying a life sentence; even
the 'textbook' cases.
You see, the number of categories and types of mental
dysfunction are diversifying before our very eyes so as
to include areas such as : oversensitivity; internet
addictions; learning disorders; body dysmorphia;
celebrity obsessions; grief; extra-vivid biographical
memory etc. (these are not precise)
Are they making them up so as to multiply the possible
number of things that can go wrong with you? Maybe
the extra definitions will lead to better understanding.
Could it be that previous diagnoses: bi-polar;
schizophrenia; depressive states, were simply too
narrow to deal with individual patients, and the
medications too-blunt instruments to really address
complex & critical individual life problems? Let the
debate ensue...
Soon, the clinician will no longer ask “What is wrong
with you?” Instead, they will rather say, “What
happened to you?”
Nessa
Hello,
and you are very welcome to the June edition of the Gateway newsletter. Yes the Bluebells are out and
the swallows have returned. Long bright evenings stretch ahead and maybe , just maybe we will have a
spell of fine weather to justify us calling it summer time.
Again thanks to all who sent in articles to the newsletter. We really appreciate them, and hopefully we
will get to include them next month.
The editors

2. Healthy Eating and Healthy Mind
with Mary M.
I am not a nutritionist but I have developed a passion for
healthy eating. 2 ½
years ago I developed food
intolerance, wheat, yeast and dairy products just to
mention a few of the things that I’m intolerant to. This
time last year I was weighing 89kg=195lb=14 stone and
now 82kg=180.4lbs=12 stone. Bust was 36 inches and
now its 32 inches, waist was 39 inches and now 34/1
2
inches, hips 48 inches and now 45 inches. I cycle from
Harrington Street to Baggot Street, Clonskeagh,
Rathmines and sometimes the City Centre. That’s 30 to
45 minutes of exercise, though it wasn’t an everyday
thing until the 3rd
week of April 2013 I make sure I have
30 to 45 minutes a day. I would like to share a few tips
and ideas that helped me to shed a few pounds, I will
reference what I learnt from books and Internet. Before
you start following my tips and ideas please talk to your
G.P. It would be wise to talk to your family and friends
about your healthy eating goal so that they can help to
motivate you and notice the difference. Ask your G.P to
weigh you, get a scale or weigh yourself at the pharmacy.
Get a measuring tape to measure your waist, hips and
bust.
Drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.
Drinking a glass or two 30 minutes before every meal
will help with digestion, absorption of nutrients
and eating less, sometimes thirst is mistaken for
hunger.
Eat a slice of ginger every night this will also help
your digestion.
Eat a handful of olives before your meal, it releases a
hormone that tells your brain that you are full
(the brain usually gets a massage that you are
eating after 20 minutes)
Articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
http://www.gdalabel.org.uk/gda/gda_values.aspx
Guideline Daily Amount Values
Typical values Women Men
Calories 2,000 kcal 2,500 kcal
Protein 45 g 55 g
Carbohydrate 230 g 300g
Sugars 90 g 120 g
Fat 70 g 95 g
Saturates 20 g 30 g
Fibre 24 g 24 g
Salt 6 g 6 g
“Express and create,
solidarity and
Support”
Recently the first issue
of “Headspace”, a new
creative magazine
promoting positive
mental health, had its
launch event at The
Twisted Pepper venue
on Middle Abbey Street,
Dublin 1.
It is the idea of three
people: Orla Price,
Naomi Elster and Lisa
Burke who are the
editors of the
publication and there
are many other
contributors to the
issue.
“Creativity”
The magazine is a
platform for people to
express their creativity
through fiction, poetry,
art and personal
experience stories.
Some of the pieces
included are “The
Sinking
Duck” (Quaaa!!),
“Insomnia”, “The Dog
that saved me from
depression” and “Five
Breaths” just to
mention a small
selection of the literary
works. They deal with
the issue of Mental
Health in a broad
selection of approaches.
There is also a fine
range of sketches,
drawings, paintings and
photographs within the
first issue. These add
another expressive
element and I greatly
enjoyed their colour,
creative spark and
vibrant energy.
”poets and musicians”
On the night of the
launch a number of
speakers, poets and
musicians performed
and finger food was
provided. I met a
number of friends there
and had a fun time.
Best of luck to
“Headspace” in the
future. If you feel that
you would like to get in
contact with the
magazine and maybe
contribute you can get
in touch at
headspacezine@gmail.
com and https://
www.facebook.com/
HeadSpaceForAll.
Richard Moloney

3. My Story on Mental and
Emotional Torture
I have been treated very badly by a
very good friend. For the past 6 years
this person used to boss me about
and control me and I never said
anything to anybody.
Then 8 months ago I met a new
friend who has changed my life. They
have helped how to get through this
by just walking away which I have
done. I deleted them from Facebook
and the reason for this is this ex
friend used to shout at me and bully
me as well.
As I suffer from Asthma and
Depression I have to be careful. This
person put me under pressure texting
me saying you will be late we were
meant to meet at a certain time. This
ex friend denied everything she ever
did they also slapped me across the
face at a train station and grabbed
my wrist on a train as well and also
denied that.
I feel so much better now that I don’t
talk to this ex friend anymore.
This very good and special friend is
still helping me and I am helping her.
This special friend had a stroke about
6 months ago it is amazing we are
such good friends now. I have my
good days and bad days and I have
moved on in my life. I hope this will
help a lot of people.
Kind Regards—Mary Q
Stigma
Stigma in Ireland in 2013 for
people with mental health
difficulties is rampant. I
think it is worse for men
than for women.
“Shame and guilt”
Stigma is seen as a mark of
shame and guilt associated
with a particular condition.
It has been identified by
See Change as having three
strands, firstly a lack of
knowledge, secondly
negative attitudes and
thirdly hostile behaviour.
For me personally I can
relate to all three. I see
stigma as a burden far
heavier than the illness
itself. It leaves a person
open to criticism and
debate as to why they are
unwell something no one
would like. This in my
experience can shape an
already vulnerable person's
attitude leading to further
isolation, stigmatization and
self stigmatization. It is
difficult to tackle as it is
often difficult to identify
but there is great work
being done by many
organisations across
Ireland.
“Cover up”
Self stigmatization is an
area that I think can be
tackled more easily. This is
where someone with a
mental health difficulty tries
to cover up their illness.
This makes it much more
difficult for the person to
help themselves, rather
than seeing it as a time to
get help as much as there is
available and going with
being not well rather than
fighting against it.
“Proud”
For me personally I think
having struggled with a
mental health difficulty for
many years is something I
am now proud of. I am
fortunate or unfortunate
enough to have another
illness so I can compare,
this was diagnosed over
night and with that
diagnosis I changed. I
changed because I thought I
was going to die and then I
realised that I was going to
die but not for a while. An
explanation as to why I was
unwell came to the surface
and the reception from all
was noticeably better and
stigma and self
stigmatization were
nowhere to be seen.
I would hope that this
Newsletter can be a
platform for tackling stigma
and self stigmatization
shining a light on mental
health and encouraging
others to talk about their
mental health difficulties
more freely.
Tom
Vote No. 1 Ali Rochford
On the 13th of June at the Red Cow Hotel, Ali will be doing the Cha-Cha
dance in a Strictly Come Dancing competition to raise money for W.A.L.K. in
Walkinstown. You can give Ali a vote by sponsoring her 2 euro. Ali will have a
sponsorship card at Gateway, so don't be shy and please help her to raise
money
Doors open on the night at 7.00pm. And don't forget these words,
“Hey Ali, let me vote for you” . So give her your No 1 vote and your 2 euro.

4. Random Notes Radio Show
by Richard Moloney every second Wednesday between 9.00pm – 10.30pm on Near 90.3fm and online at
www.near.ie/livestream
Relaxation & Meditation
continues on Mondays in June from 3.45pm-4.45pm!
Indian Head Massage is on the last Monday every Month from 1.45pm till 4.45pm
A very trendy coffee bar called Toast on Lr. Rathmines Road is where Oliver D and other members of Gateway
meet on Wednesdays at 1 o’clock. All are very welcome and thanks to Oliver for his commitment to the meet-up.
Individual Mediation
This service is open to unemployed people from the Dublin 4, 6 and 6W area. It operates on Mondays and
Tuesdays and every second Friday.
It is a one to one information, advice and guidance service to support individuals in goal setting, career planning
and decision making, and encourage progression into education, training and employment. Individuals can avail
of advice and supports in relation to CV and interview preparation, exploration of education and training options,
assistance with college and CAO applications, as well as information on Social Welfare entitlements.
If you are unemployed and live in Dublin 4, 6 or 6W and would like to avail of this service, please ring the RPCP
reception at 01-4965558 and make an appointment with Agnieszka.
11 Wynnfield Road Dublin 6. Ph. 01-4965558 www.projectgateway.blogspot.com
Views expressed in this newsletter are only views of the contributors and not
views of the Gateway Project.
The fishing group are meeting Tuesday 4/06/13 at 2.00 pm in Belgrave Square, Rathmines, D6 to get practice
with the gear and organise a trip. All welcome, but mini bus spaces are limited to 9!'
Fishing group news-flash
Members Hour
Every Monday except the last Monday of the month from 2.30—3.30 it was agreed that the back room could be
used for members hour. This is where a member can take a group to do something creative/ sporty/ informative.
It is for members to run themselves, they can ask for support from project workers if needed. They need to mark
on the white board what they want to do and members can choose to attend or not. Maeve has been doing
stretching classes and the feedback is very positive. We encourage you to come and have a go !
Oliver R takes on the Mighty Manning
And what a thrilling Pool final we had once again. This months finalists, we had two of the most keenest players
battling it out for the title of Pool Champion of the month.
Tom M and Oliver R were the two combatants and the prize couldn't be greater. Tom M had swept all before
him in a dazzling display of pure magical pool playing, and progressed through each round beating all who came
to the table, but the ever cool Oliver put a halt to the galloping young man from Bagnelstown in a closely and
very strategic game of pool. So the much coveted title of Pool Champion for the month of April goes to Oliver R.
Well done Oliver r and lets see who can dethrone you in next months competition.