Mojo Kildare is on its way to Celbridge and needs financial assistance from businesses in the Celbridge area.
Background
Mojo is an interagency programme (managed in Kildare by Teach Dara Community & Family Centre which was pilot funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention) developed to provide a coordinated response to men who are in distress. The premise is that forced unemployment can increase a man’s risk to suicide.
The key objectives are to provide a resource to fourteen men by way of a training programme that engages them on a bi-weekly basis and to facilitate statutory and non-statutory organisations to work together.
Intended Outcomes
The men will:
- Engage with a group process that is supportive and responsive to their needs.
- Experience improved self esteem and self worth.
- Access information on available services and supports.
- Be empowered to access relevant services and supports.
- Be supported to develop a personal action plan (a Mojo Plan) to progress onto other opportunities.
- Increased their ability to manage their own mental health, physical health and self care.
Implementation
We began the Mojo pilot programme in Kildare town September – December 2015, a Mini Mojo Programme November 2015 and a second programme Jan – April 2016. We had 66 referrals from a wide variety of agencies and significantly from men themselves.
These Mojo programmes have been a huge success for all participants with an 86% retention rate. The men recognise the profound effect the programme has had in relation to their knowledge, attitudes, understanding and behaviour change in managing their mental health, wellbeing, life planning and physical activity. All of the men are now taking positive steps towards becoming actively engaged again and have identified the appropriate supports to enable them progress and achieve their goals
- 25% aim to find employment
- 25% will return to education
- 25% will progress onto volunteering opportunities
- 25% want to develop greater social connections e.g. support groups, friendships
While demand and interest in the programme has been hugely positive we recognise the need to make this programme more accessible to men at risk across Kildare. Following many enquiries from North Kildare we have worked directly with key organisations to upscale and develop this highly successful programme to be available to other areas of Kildare.
During 2016 Mojo Kildare will deliver
- 2 additional Mojo programmes in Co Kildare –Celbridge and Kildare
- Development of a Mojo Male space for participants after completion of the Mojo programme
- Provision of 4 Mini Mojos across the county – Celbridge, Kildare, Athy, Newbridge
- Tracking of all Mojo participants.
Niamh Keaveney
Mojo Programme Manager
(085) 2845871