NEWS
#MENTALHEALTHAWARENESSWEEK
P hoenix Natural Gas recently businesses operating within the wider natural gas industry. Hosted by Neil McCracken, General Sales Manager at Phoenix, it featured presentations from experts at Deloitte and Carson McDowell, who shared insights on the schemes available from the Government to support businesses during Covid-19. Forty-five local businesses also listened intently to a briefing from Adrian McNeilly, Health & Safety Manager at Phoenix, on held the first in a series of virtual briefings designed to support the mitigations that local businesses will need to consider as they look to resume operations. Neil McCracken said: “Businesses right across the economy have been impacted by Covid-19 and we wanted to play our part as the largest gas distributor in Northern Ireland to ensure that those T he focus this year was on brilliantly: ‘Kindness strengthens relationships, develops community and deepens solidarity.’ You may have found yourself composing some poems or painting a picture about ‘kindness’ as part of your child’s schoolwork and thought this week didn’t concern adults. However, there kindness, as the Mental Health Organisation phrases so are some truly shocking statistics about mental health in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Did you know that 18.5% of the entire Irish population has a recorded mental illness? Or that 1 in 5 adults in Northern Ireland will experience signs of a mental illness? Combined with those, 3 in 5 tradespeople are saying the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health – so it really is something that impacts all of us. Though we set aside one week
T he Coronavirus crisis has revealed the good in people, but also that there are plenty of folk still struggling to grasp the concept of social distancing. We’ve all seen it in shops, with the vast majority staying a safe distance, and then one or two wandering around as if they don’t have a concern in the world. This approach has implications for our industry. Many people were putting off jobs, even emergencies, but when it got a bit cooler a few weeks ago the phones started to ring again. Despite explaining social distancing and safety measures on the phone or in an email before heading to the job, I’ve heard plenty of examples of customers still standing too close, looking to chat and bringing over cups of tea. It a nice touch we all used to appreciate, but not now. Instead, it puts us in a very awkward position. Nobody feels comfortable telling a customer to back off, and yet we have to consider the safety of not just ourselves, but our families. We have to think of what we could potentially be bringing home after the work is finished. It’s very easy these days to get drawn into all things Covid-19. It can make us seem like depressing sorts. So, I’d prefer to end as I started, by talking about the good in people. From the guy who sold gas parts he found in his shed to raise funds for the Galway Simon Community, to members who have donated vital PPE equipment to the medical services, there have been countless examples from our industry that renew your faith in humanity. I, for one, am proud of everyone’s efforts. If you are an RGI or work in the gas industry and would like to join us, search for “Gas Chat Ireland” on www.facebook.com or email gaschatireland@gmail.com for help, advice, member deals and a bit of craic. KEEPYOURDISTANCE GASCHAT
a year to really focus on and explore the issues many of us face, it is vital that we remain aware and treat others with kindness the other 51 weeks of the year. There are many helpful resources available in both ROI and NI that aim to help you address your mental health concerns, guide you toward getting help or simply pick up the phone and listen when you, or a loved one, may need it most. ROI: www.mentalhealthireland.ie
www.alustforlife.com/ NI: www.aware-ni.org www.mindwisenv.org/
PHOENIXSUPPORTINGTHESECTOR
Neil McCracken, General Sales Manager at Phoenix National Gas leads a virtual briefing to support businesses operating in the wider natural gas industry at this time.
businesses and traders in the natural gas industry were aware of all the financial supports available to them.” If you would like to register to attend contact: Neil.mccracken@ phoenixnaturalgas.com
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