More help is being offered to people with drink and drug addictions thanks to a lottery grant.

The Motiv8 charity has been given £48,000 to launch three initiatives - MiniMotiv8, Motiv8 Recovery Network and Live Longer and Healthier: Older Generations Project.

The Live Longer and Healthier - Older Generations Project attempts to help people over 50 who have substance use.

As part of this initiative, alcohol awareness sessions are provided as part of workplace sessions and/or retirement planning programmes.

behaviours

MiniMotiv8, a mental health group project for children and young people, is aimed at anyone between the ages of eight and 18 affected by ’addictive behaviours’.

Motiv8 Recovery Network, a group work programme, aims to help people with mental health problems and addiction.

The charity is also providing training opportunities to become a facilitator to help others suffering from addiction.

It has also initiated a ’Give Back, Feel Good’ environmental project, which is designed to help people with mental health issues and recovery from addictive behaviours.

Lyndsey Smart, deputy director at Motiv8, said the link between addictive behaviours and mental health had been clearly established.

She said that substance abuse and addiction could be both the cause and symptom of various mental health problems.

’We have developed this three-tiered programme with that in mind - encouraging recovery by connecting people with others, empowering them to make choices and be in control of their own destiny and allowing them the opportunity to learn and develop new skills,’ she said.

’Recent research on substance misuse in older people in the Isle of Man noted that many issues were being overlooked or misdiagnosed.

’It also found a disproportionate number of retirees go on to develop increased alcohol or substance use, increasing the risk of depression, anxiety and mental health issues and reducing quality of life.

’This project is tackling this issue head on, along with a wide and varied range of problems being faced across all age groups. We have been overwhelmed with the response so far and are pleased to see how well the project has advanced, just three months in.

’Through education, patience, understanding and compassion, we can make a difference to lives in our community.’

Motiv8 Addiction Services received the grant from Manx Lottery Trust for the project as part of its 2018/19 thematic funding scheme, whose theme was ’mental health and wellbeing’.

Sarah Kelly, chairman of Manx Lottery Trust, said: ’The mental health and wellbeing of our community is so important and a programme like this can make such a difference to those that need additional help and support.

’It is great that Motiv8 has considered all demographics and can offer targeted support across all ages, we’re pleased to support the charity once again.’