1. NEWSLETTER
Unit 1, 2 Parker Hill, Lower Rathmines
Road, Rathmines, D6 March 2013
Thank you Paddy’s Day
When I was a member of Gateway, I really never P addy’s Day is he re we ’ll paint the l and gr ee n
took an active role. I didn't think I deserved to be
F amilie s r ej oic ing will cr eate a happy sc e ne .
a big part of things for many reasons, like that I
didn't attend drop-in enough, or that there were Ple nty of gr ee n Guinne ss as we dr own our
many people there longer than I was, or that shamr oc k
what I thought didn't really matter or wasn't as Ce le br ations and parade s all r ound the cl oc k.
good or as important as what other people We honour our gr eat saint eac h and e ve ry ye ar
thought. Ce le br ating Paddy’s day without any fe ar .
“ I had it all backwards” We think of all our anc e stor s who be came
Yanks,
Now that I am a project worker, I see that I had
it all backwards. Gateway needed me as it needs As we ope n up our he ar ts and give thanks.
all its members, to make it what it is - a member-
led project. So I'm delighted to see more people
getting involved in Gateway, doing things like St Patricks Festival
setting up a peer council, leading people on a Saturday 16th of March
walk, writing articles for the newsletter,
10.00 am : Natural Museum , Merrion Street. The
publishing the newsletter, volunteering in the
Wonder of Snakes. I thought Patrick drove them
drop-in, organising competitions, deciding how to out…..
decorate the drop-in centre, being on the advisory
committee, committing to meeting members 12.00 pm : Merrion Square….BIG DAY OUT…
A carnival like no other..music,art-shows,jugglers
other..music,art-
outside of Gateway, tidying up the drop-in,
attending meetings, organizing discounted rates 12.50 pm : O’ Connell Bridge The Gannon Cup
and coming to members meetings - where University Boat Race.Hey-Ho...What what….?
Race.Hey-
matters important to members are discussed, and 18.30 pm : Chester Beatty Library..Dublin Castle
plans are made for the future. And as more TEMPO. A clash of Brazil and Irish music….Go on…
members get involved, I see Gateway getting Sunday 17th of March
stronger, and growing and changing in the way
the members want. 11.00 am : City Centre...The Peoples
Parade….something about the Gather-
“Urge you to get involved” ing…..Blah Blah
I have great respect for all the members who 12.00 pm: DUBLIN CITY CENTRE...THE BESTEST
pm:
make it all happen, and urge all of you to get PARADE IN THE WORLD…
involved in any way you can, and not to let your 15.00 pm : Dublin City Centre…….. Well sure it
worries get in your way like I did. will be the Craic as we Drown the Shamrock…
So here is a big thank you and kudos to Ann- Monday 18th of March
Marie, Patrick, Nicholas, Oliver D, Mary Q, Mary
M, Joe, John, Paul J, Gerry P, Tom and Ciarán, 09.00 am : City Hall ...Dublin Castle...Treasure
Hunt….some really good prizes….so if you know your
as well as all the members who write articles for
Dublin…
the newsletter, come to members' meetings,
commit to meeting members outside Gateway, 11.00 am : Merrion Square and Custom House
Quay.Fun Fairs..Last chance of a swing till next
and tidy up the drop-in centre. -Ali
year.

2. The Decorating Amnesty Gateway Meeting.
Squad
A meeting was held at Gateway on Wednesday 16th
In January myself, Ali, Ciarán, Mary January. Some participants on the WRAP program and
Q and Martha all met to get the regular members of Gateway made up the 12 in
decoration of the middle room on the attendance. Pippa from Amnesty introduced the purpose of
way. At first I was wondering how the meeting: To survey the opinions of Mental Health
we could justify our meeting. But I Service users in order to produce an online Training and
was soon proven wrong as ideas on Guidelines document which can be consulted by Health
what to do surprised me. I think I professionals to assist them in their understanding of
stumbled across a new emotion - one patients' needs and therefore improve service delivery. In
that is used for interior design - yet other words, the desired aim is to promote a greater
to be named. We decided that the understanding between medical staff and the patients.
room would have two main Perhaps, to make nurses less routine, and the psychiatrists
functions. Firstly for listening to less remote.
music using head phones, and
secondly for 'Peer Counselling'. This Anne-Marie (also from Amnesty) took notes as we were
is where two people listen to one asked to respond to a particularly bleak case study
another for about three minutes each describing one patient in hospital care. The treatment she
way. It is important that the person was being subjected to reflected a specific heartlessness in
doing the listening does so the system with which nearly everyone present is familiar.
attentively and does not give advice. This case study cut directly into the core of treatment
For the completion of the room we issues, eliciting reactions including: Had she no say? Why
need an armchair, curtains, a lamp, was she so detained? Was it ever explained to her the
a lava lamp and a rug. If anyone has rationale for the drug regime she was undergoing? What
them and would like to donate them happened in the first place? i.e. more than 5 years back
please do. As with everything in when she first presented with symptoms? Did anyone ever
Gateway help and support in take time to actually talk to her? Why was she resisting?
continuing on with the decorating How long more? Could she expect any improvement in her
group is always sought after. So any mental health in the long run?
members interested in interior
design this could be for you! Pippa and Anne-Marie mined a rich harvest of ideas and
Tom M experience during the 2 hours. Obviously it called to mind
unpleasant realities, and it was exhausting. Hoping what
they learned can be useful in designing their online
Care & Repair: formation for mental health care professionals, and that it
Free repair service in Dublin 4, 6 & will be widely consulted and implemented, so as to
12 to people 65+ years of age. Small eliminate the unnecessary pain and poor outcomes for
repair jobs call 01-4059819 some. -Nessa
Counselling ‘My Mind’ Did you know?
My Mind in Ranelagh are still All continents names start and end with the
same letter...WOW !
offering discounted counselling
services. Vouchers are still available
to Gateway members. The cost is €10
per session for 5 sessions. For more Wednesday Meet-Ups
information contact Mary Barnes on
1 o’clock in Toast are still on,
01-4965558. check with Oliver D for details

3. I
Joke of the month
Tom’s Story
A thief goes into a chicken factory to
have been volunteering with Gateway since rob a chicken. A security guard is
September and have found the members and the watching him. The thief grabs a
chicken and runs off with it.
staff hugely supportive. My own Mental health at first
The security guard shouts at him.
was an issue. I was nervous starting off as I was making
the transition from a member of an organisation to a ”What are you doing with that
chicken”? The thief replies.” Cabbage
Project Worker. and roast potatoes”.
I have an illness that when under stress my energy levels Boom Boom….
drop significantly and when I'm exhausted my comfort
zone diminishes. Relaxation & Meditation
However my involvement in Gateway has lowered my continues on Mondays in March
stress levels a lot and I can say that being more involved from 3.45-4.45pm!
in the organisation has been a huge lift to my wellbeing Indian Head Massage
and outlook for 2013. This coupled with a question that I is on the last Monday every Month
ask myself too often… from 1.45pm
“Exciting new role” Random Notes Radio
Show
”Will they like me”? That soon trickled into the
by Richard Moloney every Second
background with the answer - “Of course they will”! I Wednesday (6 & 20th March)
remember on my first day looking at the clock and between 9pm – 10.30pm on Near
realising that I could not just leave like before when I felt 90.3fm and online at www.near.ie/
like it, but was bound to my new role. And what a
brilliant and exciting new role that has turned into. I was Pool Competition
a bit sceptical at first as the difference between a good Sandra M had won the January
competition, but let the prize slip
day and a bad day for me would be difficult in trying to away as Tim came from nowhere and
clinched the title last Thursday in a
avoid - as unfortunately I am programmed to try and thrilling final with Terry.
cover up my bad days (something that makes the bad day Terry broke and quickly potted 3 red
balls in succession. Tim fought back
a lot worse). I eventually realised that there are a small heroically and played some
number of places that someone can go to when they are wonderful shots. But the game hung
in a balance as they both played for
having a bad day and Gateway in Rathmines is one of the black ball. Terry had an easy
shot but failed to pot. Tim stepped
them. forward and seeing that the
championship was there for the
“How are you really?” taking, slowly bent over the table,
and resting his chin along the cue,
For me now, if I haven't had a good nights sleep the night gently hit the black into the top left
hand pocket.
before, or am under the weather, I am completely at ease The crowd went wild. His loyal
to say it to both my colleagues and the members as a followers showered him with roses
and kisses and security had to be
culture of “How are you really”? is alive and kicking in called to quell the thousands who
Parker Hill. For me sometimes I have a habit of glossing had made the trip to see their
Champ. Tim fell to his knees and
over bad days, however for me as a Project Worker it is silently said a prayer to his God in
thanks for his good fortune.
vitally important that I am someone who is
So don't forget next months Pool
'approachable'. I am looking forward to the year ahead competition, and you too could be
walking away with the prized trophy
and getting to know all involved in Gateway better. and 100,000 Euro prize money…
-Ciarán
Thanks, Tom

4. 11 Wynnfield Road
Rathmines
Dublin 6 01 496 5558 www.projectgateway.blogspot.com
Get to know your member !
Paul
What do you like about being a member in Gateway? I like the camaraderie.
What did you want to be when you grew up? An astronaut.
Where is your favourite place in the world? My parents house in sunny Spain.
One thing no one knows bout you? I dodged a fare on a train from Biarritz to Paris.
Mental Health Reform
Grassroots meeting 30-1-2013
Gateway
Myself and Ali represented 'Gateway' at a
Working in Gateway as a volunteer is
recent Mental Health Reform Grassroots
meeting which was held on the 30th of pleasant and nice.
January. The main topic for discussion was The other project workers show me the way
medication. A contributor to the discussion and give me advice.
mentioned that, in Finland, psychiatric
medication is only tried when other forms of Understanding mental health difficulties is
intervention have failed. I told the meeting something I want to do.
that I was aware of people who had been
Gateway is a good place to come if you’re
taking psychiatric medication for 20 or 25
years. feeling sad or blue.
My time in Gateway has given me a positive
“against psychiatric medication”
outlook and insight.
One contributor to the meeting said she had
As people get together and try to stay out of
been against psychiatric medication but was
now in favour of medication in certain the dark and in the light.
circumstances. I suggested that when an In Gateway there are always things to do
individual is put on medication for the first and places to go.
time they should be correctly monitored.
People travelled from Cork to attend the Helps me understand mental health that I
Mental Health Reform meeting. One man didn’t know.
stated at the meeting that he wasn't in
-Patrick C.
favour of ECT (Electroconvulsive therapy).
Mental Health Reform Stated that they were
only in favour of ECT if the individual gave The Dublin 6 Older People’s Network is piloting a
their consent to receiving ECT. new older men’s group in the community, every
second Tuesday in Mount Drummond Older People’s
“other forms of support” Complex - Harold’s Cross. If you know any men in
the community that could benefit from a bit of
I suggested, as part of the discussion on company please pass on the information. Contact
medication, that if an individual is Gerry Hogarty at Rathmines Garda Station on 666
prescribed medication, other forms of 6700 or more info.
supports should be offered to the person as
well. These other forms of support could
include Counselling, Psychotherapy, Please remember Dolores Smyth who died
Occupational Therapy and/or Social Work recently. Dolores was a regular member of
Support. I hope my account of the Grassroots Gateway in the Swan Centre. We would like to
meeting is a benefit to all 'Gateway' pass on our sympathy to her family.
members. -Oliver D. May she rest in peace.