Presentation outlining the development of and rationale for SÁMH (Substance Abuse Mental Health) groups in the North County Dublin region.

1. SÁMH development
North Dublin Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force
Community engagement strategy
‘partnership power’

2. Background to SÁMHs
• First SÁMH was in Skerries- when founder members of SYSS made contact with the Task Force about concerns in their community
• we needed to have a wider community partnership approach that included local people in local solutions but also other
professional stakeholders
• The name needed to reflect the purpose - 4am blue skies thinking!!
• SÁMH was born! - Substance Abuse & Mental Health – supporting communities to achieve a ‘SAOL SAMH’ (peaceful life)
• 1sT SÁMH in Skerries set up in 2016 with key partners to work on local initiatives in relation to promoting positive mental health
and reducing risk factors for substance use chaired by then Cllr JP Browne
• Based on its success in Skerries we then expanded into other areas and it has become the mechanism for engaging local
communities in the implementation of many health promotion initiatives of the Task Force

3. What is the purpose of SÁMHs
A forum for community members to collaborate on areas of common concern in their community in relation to substance use and/or Mental health
1. To provide universal whole population health promotion in relation to substance use and/or
positive mental health in the community
2. To provide targeted capacity building within the community in relation to both substance use
and/or Mental health for specific groups
3. To raise awareness within the community of the existing supports available
4. To provide a forum to problem solve and provide responses to service gaps in relation to
mental health and/or substance use supports
Aligned to Goal 1. and Goal 4. of the new national drug strategy

4. Working in line with a public health model

5. SÁMH as a community development process
• Towns have their own identities -What works in balbriggan may not work in Skerries or Donabate
• those involved are far more likely to develop, deliver, and support their own solutions as ultimately power
and control is shifted to the community.
• RDATF role is not to solve the challenge -Instead, we use a community development process to support
communities to resolve them
• stakeholders are engaged, co-create, and ultimately “own” responsibility for the final direction and
recommendations

6. Who is involved in our SAMHSs
Gardai
Public reps
GAA Clubs
Jigsaw
Family
support
specialist Crosscare Drug & alcohol
programme
CUISCommunity
activists
Cycle against suicide
Fingal Co
Council
Health promotion
coordinator
Suicide prevention officer
schools
TD
SYSS
RDATF
Coordinator
Mental health
nurseTUSLA
Youth drug
intervention
workers
Parents
association
RDATF
chair

7. DONABATE & PORTRANE
LUSK & RUSH
BALBRIGGAN
SKERRIES
MALAHIDE & PORTMARNOCK
SÁMH areas to date

8. Rural SÁMH
Swords/kinsealy SÁMH
Existing SÁMHs
New SAMHs planned

9. What we did well
 5 SAMH areas established
 A number of workshops delivered
 Community roundtables on alcohol & reports
 Great buy in in most SAMH areas
 Co production – early intervention counselling
 nearly 50 referrals so far for youth counselling
 Health Promotion Coordinator role
 SAMH 60 second survey nearly 1000 responses
 Fundraiser in Malahide/Portmarnock SAMH
 School Debates planned in Balbriggan SAMH

10. What we need to do better
• Some SAMHs are more active than others
• Attendance dropped off in some– need to review & attract new members
• Underestimated role of chair - big commitment- needs full dedication
• Could use our collective contacts better
• Agree clear objectives, Set plans and review them regularly
• public perception important- balanced membership important
• Not tokenistic – it needs genuine interest in improving your community
• Closer links with PPN – might yield resources
• raise profile of SAMH – celebrate successes
• More public profile of SAMHs

11. A Planning Toolkit for Community Leaders (Herchmer, 2009)

12. If you want to join or need more info on SÁMHS contact Brid or Richie at 01-223 3493
Or brid@ndublinrdtf.ie or Richie@ndublinrdtf.ie