HSE Dublin & South East Community Healthcare is recruiting a Peer Support Worker (Ref: SE26PSWST).
This is an opportunity to use lived experience of mental health recovery to support and encourage others on their own recovery journeys.
Closing date: Monday, July 20th, 2026, 12:00 PM
To view the advertisement and apply:

• Rezoomo: https://www.rezoomo.com/job/100528/
• HSE website: https://about.hse.ie/jobs/job-search/oibri-tacaiochta-piarai-peer-support-worker-se26pswst/

Please share with anyone who might be interested in applying.
Contact: [email protected] | 086 1746330

​Every night offers us a fresh opportunity to reset, yet establishing a peaceful transition into deep, restorative sleep can often feel like and uphill battle. Across two weeks, our group gathered to dissect night time routines, uncover hidden obstacles to rest, and share practical, lived experiences for building sustainable habits. This guide compiles the collective wisdom, core concepts, and supportive tools explored during our sessions together, offering a roadmap to help you cultivate a healthier relationship with sleep and revitalise your waking hours.

Week 1: Mapping Our Patterns & The Power of Sleep

Our first session opened with a reflective group discussion, mapping out current night time habits and evaluating how the quality of our sleep influences our daily lives.

The True Cost of Sleep Quality

The group examined how a single night's rest echoes through our entire system, dividing the impacts into three distinct dimensions:

• The Physical Self: True rest rewards us with enhanced vitality, robust physical defences, and diminished body aches. Conversely, poor sleep leaves us feeling physically drained, highly susceptible to common bugs, and can even alter our appetite cues.
• The Cognitive Self: Adequate sleep sharpens our mental focus, streamlines decision-making, and keeps our memory intact. When we miss out, we face brain fog, scattered attention, and slower mental processing.
• The Emotional Self: A well-rested mind experiences greater patience, emotional stability, and a higher threshold for stress. Sleep deprivation chips at our resilience, leaving us vulnerable to irritability, low mood, and anxiety.

Unpacking Sleep Myths

To separate science from fiction, the group debated a series of True or False statements. We discovered that the rigid 8-hour rule is a myth - sleep requirements are deeply individual. We also learned that dreaming isn't exclusive to deep sleep stages, and that crashing into sleep the absolute second your head hits the pillow is actually a sign of severe overtiredness rather than healthy sleep. Crucially, the group discussed how a nightcap might make you drowsy, but it ultimately disrupts your natural sleep architecture.

Uncovering the Roadblocks

To improve our nights, we first had to identify what was pulling us away from rest. Participants highlighted several everyday disruptions:

• Hidden stimulants like late-afternoon caffeine, nicotine, or a reliance on sleeping aids.
• The realities of shift work and changing schedules.
• Late-night meals and the stimulating blue light radiating from electronic screens.
• ​Lingering daytime stress and a lack of a dedicated "wind-down" window before bed.

At the end of Week 1 session, participants were given a Sleep Diary tracking tool to help monitor their baseline behaviours over the following seven days.

​Week 2: Mental Health, Chronic Insomnia, & Holistic Rest

We opened our second session with a group check-in regarding the sleep diaries, noting the real-world challenges of trying to track these habits before moving into a broader discussion on how sleep directly impacts our mental health.

The Cycle of Stress and Sleep

The group explored the tightly linked relationship between peace of mind and quality rest. When we are caught in a cycle of worry, our sleep is often the first thing to suffer, which quickly ripples into our daytime life:

Feeling of worry or stress -> Poor quality of sleep -> Tiredness -> Difficulty coping with daily life -> Feeling of worry or stress

Defining Insomnia

The group spent time clarifying what insomnia actually is. Tossing and turning for a night or two is a normal human response to temporary pressure. However, bad sleep transitions into clinical insomnia when it occurs at least three nights a week for three months or more, causing genuine distress and actively disrupting your daytime functioning. 

Common indicators include struggling to fall asleep, frequent night time awakenings, lying awake for long periods, waking up far too early without being able to drift back off, and feeling unrefreshed despite spending hours in bed. If left unaddressed, it can ripple out into long-term cognitive war, physical exhaustion, and social consequences.

Expanding the horizon: The 7 Pathways of Rest

One of the most profound realizations of the workshop was that sleep is only one piece of the recovery puzzle. True restoration requires incorporating multiple forms of rest into our lives:

1. Physical Rest: Passive choices like sleep or active choices like gentle movement and stretching.
2. Mental Rest: Intentionally practicing mindfulness or taking short microbreaks throughout the day.
3. Sensory Rest: Disengaging from screens, bright lights, and loud devices to embrace moments of silence.
4. Creative Rest: Allowing space for play, hobbies, or simply appreciating the beauty in nature and art.
5. Emotional Rest: The freedom to authentic step away from carrying everyone else's expectations and express genuine feelings.
6. Social Rest: Surrounding yourself with positive, fulfilling social interactions that lift you up rather than drain  you.
7. Spiritual Rest: Connecting to a deeper sense of community, meditation, or personal reflection.

Shaping a Restful Environment

Optimising your sleep doesn't mean changing your entire life overnight. It is about creating gentle, intentional boundaries around your evening hours:

What to reduce:

• Rich, heavy meals or intense training late in the day.
• Scrolling through phones or tablets in bed.
• Relying on alcohol or caffeine to manage energy.
• ​Carrying daytime conflicts into the evening.

​What to introduce:

• Maintaining a consistent wake-up  time every morning.
• Incorporating an evening walk to clear the mind.
• Keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet.
• Crafting a soothing pre-bed ritual, like a warm bath.

What is your next step? Whether it is committing to a screen-free half hour before turning off the lights, trying out a new form of daytime rest, or filling out your sleep diary, every small boundary you set is a massive win for your mental health.

If you would like to find out more about the Getting Goodnight's Sleep programme, or any of our workshops, feel free to call us on 086 1746330 or send us an email at [email protected]. To keep updated on workshops/events, check our website and/or Facebook/Instagram/X.

Welcome to this summary of our 3-week workshop, where we came together to share, learn, and discover paths toward deeper meaningful connection. Over the course of three weeks, participants explored the personal impacts of isolation, shared their lived experiences, and collaborated on practical strategies to foster a stronger sense of belonging. This guide serves as a recap of the vital concepts, frameworks, and community resources we discussed during our time together.

Overcoming Loneliness and Isolation: Building connection and community

Finding a sense of belonging is a fundamental part of the human experience, yet many of us struggle with the heavy weight of loneliness. In this workshop, we explored the nuances of social connection, the power of solitude, and the practical steps we can take to build a supportive community.

Understanding Loneliness vs. Isolation

It is important to distinguish between being alone and feeling alone. While they often go hand in hand, they are distinct experiences:

• Loneliness is the distressing feeling of being alone or separated from others.
• Social Isolation is a measurable lack of social contacts and having few people o interact with regularly.​

We also explored the concept of solitude. Unlike loneliness, solitude is a state of being alone that we choose for ourselves. It is restorative and can lead to self-awareness and empowerment - essentially providing yourself with sufficient company when you want it.

The CHIME Framework for Recovery

To guide our personal recovery and reconnection, we look to the CHIME framework:

• Connectedness: Building secure relationships, peer support, and a sense of belonging.
• Hope and Optimism: Maintaining a belief in recovery and having dreams or aspirations.
• Identity: Rebuilding a positive sense of self and overcoming stigma.
• Meaning: Finding purpose in our experiences and meaningful social roles.
• Empowerment: Taking personal responsibility and focusing on our strengths.

Why Connection Matters?

Humans are hardwired to connect; it is what gives our lies purpose and meaning. In a recovery context, being connected is associated with better mental health and wellbeing. While barriers like social anxiety, fear of rejection, or low self-confidence can hold us back, finding your 'tribe' starts with identifying the connections you already have.

Finding Support in Our Community

You don't have to navigate this journey alone. Our community offers a wealth of resources to help you bridge the gap:

• Involvement Centres: Peer-led, recovery-focused spaces that offer a warm, non-judgemental environment for art, chat, and support.
• Community Groups: Men's and Women's Sheds, Family Resource Centres, and Recovery Colleges.
• Hobbies and Sports: Gardening groups, book clubs, walking groups, or social prescribing.
• Support Groups: Organizations like Grow, Shine, Aware, and the Samaritans.​​

​The Taking Charge of Our Mental Health workshop was a four-week programme designed to support personal recovery through practical skills and community connection. As we moved into Weeks 3 and 4, our facilitators shifted the focus toward developing effective decision-making abilities during mental health challenges and exploring the wide range of support networks available to aid the recovery journey. These sessions, enriched by our group discussions, aimed to empower each of us to take greater control of our wellbeing and build resilience for the future.

Week 3: Navigating Decision Making When Mental Health Is Challenging

In Week 3, the group dived into the complex relationship between our mental health and the choices we make. Our facilitators introduced us to a structured seven-step decision-making process designed to help us slow down and think more deliberately. Together, we walked through the stages: from identifying the decision and gathering information to weighing the evidence, taking action, and finally reviewing the outcome to see what we could learn.

Week 4: Building Support Networks on the Recovery Journey

The final session shifted focus to the essential role of support networks in recovery. Facilitators guided a thoughtful discussion about the many layers of support available, beginning with the individual's own responsibility for self-care and extending outward to family, friends, neighbours, community groups, organizations, and health and social care professionals.

Participants reflected on how each layer contributes uniquely to wellbeing, from emotional encouragement to practical assistance and professional care. This holistic view helped many appreciate the value of reaching out and accepting help as a strength rather than a weakness.

A highlight of the session was the introduction to the Kilkenny Social Prescribing Service, a free community-based program designed to reduce social isolation and improve health by connecting people to local activities such as social groups, exercise classes, volunteering opportunities, and relaxation sessions. Participants discussed how such services complement formal healthcare by fostering meaningful social connections and empowering individuals to take greater control of their wellbeing.

The facilitators also provided practical resources to support participants beyond the workshop. A Doctor Visit Preparation Form was shared to help organize questions and symptoms before medical appointments, reducing anxiety and improving communication with healthcare providers. The Medication Mood Card was introduced as a tool to track mood, stress levels, sleep patterns, emotions, and medication doses, enabling participants to better understand how these factors interact. Additionally, a Jargon Buster Sheet clarified common abbreviations and terms used in mental health services, helping participants navigate the system with greater confidence.