Published date:
W elcome to the second edition of the CONNECT Service User Newsletter. This is another full edition and I’m delighted that so many of you have once again wanted to contribute. Every contribution is thought provoking, but even more, as Marianne Williamson said, “as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same”.
Connection with others remains as important now as ever. We are experiencing unprecedented challenges, which includes a cost of living crisis. As human beings, most will agree that we're designed to connect with each other. Yet many people experience loneliness, which has been linked to poor physical health, poor mental health, and reduced quality of life. It is also related to higher rates of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and other mental health issues.
For others, feelings of social isolation are linked to poor emotional well being. A connection doesn’t always have to be a physical bond, and in this Newsletter, we’re continuing to share experiences, advice, ideas, and stories to help one another. We’re using it to reach out to everyone in a way that we otherwise couldn’t.
We hope to publish a Newsletter every year so if this edition has inspired you, if you have stories, experiences or ideas that you want to share with others, or have art, poems, recipes or quotes that you think others might enjoy, please get in touch with your Probation Officer, Probation Services Officer, Community Service Officer or via: serviceuser@probation-ni.gov.uk
I hope you enjoy reading.
Gillian Montgomery, Director of Operations, Probation Board for Northern Ireland