New View Well-Being

19/11/2025

There is a lot about our lives that we have no control over. You wouldn’t want to be thinking about it for too long. Tragedy and sadness can arrive in a flash and cause havoc and heartbreak. Even just hearing about sad events can unsettle us. We can feel insecure and afraid. All of a sudden, the reality of our mortality can slap us in the face.

We are human, and empathy should flow. This is natural. Feeling for others protects communities and encourages traits like love and understanding. Our innate capacity to be compassionate needs expression. We should help others when we can. This is goodness and is good for us.

When we are external to a tragedy, we often feel powerless. But we can remind ourselves that every day is a golden day. We can live it as the gift that it is. We can work harder at worrying less about things that don’t matter as much as we think. We can cultivate a sense of gratitude for the little things we often take for granted. And if we have faith, we can pray for those in pain and hurting. Studies into resilience show that prayer provides great comfort to those who pray.

The life we live is imperfect, but there is nothing more perfect than love. It is needed more than ever before.

12/11/2025

09/11/2025

Cute coping strategy for a new week ahead!

11/10/2025

10/10/2025

Love this, from Psychologist Shane Martin. By having a shift in perspective, and finding the positive in situations when possible, we can make a massive difference in our resilience and promote positive well being 🫶.

Optimism offers numerous advantages. In challenging times, optimists can unite teams by fostering hope. They persistently seek solutions and possibilities, often persisting longer than others.

Some people naturally exhibit optimism, while others need to cultivate it. It’s a realistic optimism that’s productive, not reckless. Resilient individuals tend to have abundant optimism. We desperately need optimists in our families, workplaces, and communities.

Optimism also benefits health outcomes. Harvard University School of Public Health reviewed data from over 200 studies, revealing that a positive psychological outlook reduces the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events. Other studies suggest that optimism, life satisfaction, and happiness are linked to a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, body weight, or smoking history.

In another study, researchers at Duke University Medical Centre tracked the psychological and physical health of heart disease patients over 15 years. They found that optimists (as determined by questionnaires) about their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery were more likely to survive than those with lower expectations. The research showed that even moderate optimism had an effect.

Children with extreme pessimism are more vulnerable to mental health difficulties as they grow older. However, they can be taught to be more optimistic, reducing this vulnerability. Learning to question, consult, consider all possible outcomes, and explanations can help dismantle negative biases with practice.

Pessimism has its advantages, such as being prepared for all eventualities and never being caught off guard. However, when facing crises, optimists are essential. Pessimists should engage more with optimists and consider their theories and ideas. This can be challenging, but giving optimists more time than the usual two minutes might yield refreshing and new insights.

(C) Shane Martin

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26/09/2025

Worrying statistics shared by our Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill.

School years can be tough for many, but they are also a critical time to build strong and resilient young people. With increased resilience, young people can enjoy greater success in school and beyond, enjoy healthy relationships, be more equipped to deal with life’s inevitable challenges, and most importantly, have better mental health, be happy and enjoy life.

Through New View Well-Being, I believe in the importance of being both proactive and reactive when it comes to our mental well-being. Through the workshops delivered in schools and youth settings, we explore practical strategies and psychoeducation to build resilient young people. Delivered in fun and engaging ways to both small and large groups, this is an opportunity to be proactive in looking after their mental health. (For more information on this, please see my previous posts detailing the back to school workshops delivered recently).

Through one-to-one counselling support, offered at our counselling venue in Ballygawley, County Tyrone, I work collaboratively with young people to help explore and work through challenges, and find appropriate tools to help them cope with life’s hurdles in a relaxed, safe environment.

For more information, please get in touch for a chat.
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/brenda-mc-elroy

Did you miss Mental Health Champion, Professor Siobhan O’Neill speaking at the Education Committee yesterday?

Read the briefing paper provided to the Committee here: https://bit.ly/3ItvUV0

16/09/2025

Back to school well-being workshops have continued, and I was delighted to work with the year 8, 9 and 10 students in the Dean Maguirc College in Carrickmore over the past week. Each workshop is specifically designed to meet the needs of the students, and includes some psychoeducation relevant to the young people, some practical strategies to promote positive mental health, as well as fun and games to keep everyone engaged. 😊
For the year 8's, we focused on new beginnings, starting the new school year on a positive note, thinking about resilience, shifting perspective and positive connections. For the year 9 students we focused on building positive relationships, focusing on the 5 C's of friendship. Finally, the year 10 workshop incorporated resilience and relationships, exploring emotions, power of positive thinking and self-care.
Fantastic 3 days in a great school, the students were brilliant! Thank you again for the opportunity. 🫶
For more information on workshops or counselling, please get in touch!

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/brenda-mc-elroy

05/09/2025

The 'back to school' workshops continue this week, and I was delighted to work with the year 9 students in the Sacred Heart College in Omagh. We had a jam packed session, focused on positive self-talk, compassion, connections, emotions and building hope. This was explored through fun and interactive games, discussions and guided reflection. It's always an absolute joy to visit this fantastic school. Wishing all the year 9 students a brilliant year ahead!

01/09/2025

Introducing the newest resident in New View Well-being's counselling room, Nellie 🐘.
Nellie is the elephant in the room. She is a symbol of hope, resilience and empowerment, and a reminder that this is a safe space to share your thoughts and feelings.

Nellie is the elephant of connection, and I was introduced to her symbolism recently while completing the connections training initiative through Fresh Minds Education. The connections training is focused on supporting those in emotional distress, and equipping people with the skills to identify, connect and de-escalate risks of harm. Such worthwhile training that can make a massive difference. ❤️
https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/brenda-mc-elroy?utm_source=counselling-directory&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=profile_approved

27/08/2025

Back to school workshops returned today in Crumlin Integrated College, where we explored pupil wellbeing and positive steps to build young people's resilience. Thank you so much to all the lovely staff in Crumlin Integrated College for your warm welcome and participation. 🫶

12/08/2025

August seems to be flying in, I can't believe we are almost half way through the month! Back to school promotions seem to be everywhere, and exam results are just around the corner. This can be a time of increased anxiety and worry for so many young people. By reaching out and accessing counselling support, I try to help you manage your thoughts so you can enjoy the last few weeks of the summer and develop coping strategies, rather than allow the fear and dread to build up, If this relates to you, please get in touch.

https://www.counselling-directory.org.uk/counsellors/brenda-mc-elroy