Libraries NI have your "Health in Mind"

Culture Minister Gregory Campbell today congratulated Libraries NI on securing £1million of BIG Lottery funding towards a ‘Health in Mind’ project.

The ‘Health in Mind’ project will be funded over five years in Northern Ireland and will provide mental well being information, support and guidance for people affected by mental illness, their families and carers.

Commenting on the project Minister Campbell said: “The success of this bid shows the benefits of delivering public library services through one organisation, ‘Libraries NI’. A single unified service provides a focus for partnerships and allows good practice to be spread across Northern Ireland.

“Public libraries will play a huge part in helping people unilaterally who suffer from mental illness improve their lifestyle choices and gain better access to mental health information through reading, informal learning and free IT training and access.”

The Minister concluded: “The ‘Health in Mind’ project is a particular example of cross-sectoral and collaborative work between the library service and the voluntary sector targeting individuals at risk and at vulnerable groups.”

The project will also raise awareness and understanding of the difficulties facing people with mental illness throughout Northern Ireland. This innovative development will be delivered along with the Library Service’s partners: Action Mental Health, Aware Defeat Depression, CAUSE and MindWise.

Notes to Editors:

1. On 1 April 2009 Libraries NI took over responsibility for the Public Library Service from the five Education and Library Boards.
2. The Libraries NI Grant for the ‘Health in Mind’ project is one of 17 grants totalling nearly £17million which have been awarded to 17 projects across Northern Ireland through the Big Lottery Fund’s Live and Learn programme which supports projects helping local people of all ages boost their learning opportunities and improve their health.
3. The project aligns with the ongoing work following on from the Bamford Review of Mental Health.
4. Media enquiries should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Press Office. Tel (028) 9025 8901 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.