Waterford Lions Club in collaboration with the HSE Regional Suicide Resource Office, Samaritans (Waterford and South East), Beat 102/103, WLR FM and Healthy Waterford are hosting a positive mental health awareness event on Tuesday, November 8th at 7.30 pm in the Crystal Centre, Waterford.
This event promotes the HSE’s #littlethings, a positive mental health campaign created by the HSE’s Mental Health and Communications Divisions and 32 partner organisations (including Suicide or Survive, the GAA, the FAI and ReachOut.com).
The campaign focuses on sharing evidence-based, simple and powerful day-to-day steps developed by mental health experts – little things that we can all do to protect our own mental health, and support the people we care about. People are encouraged to eat and sleep well, take regular exercise, talk about their problems, drink less alcohol and stay in touch and spend time with others – all proven to improve mental health.
Our aim, across all communities in the City and County, is to build understanding of the key messages of the campaign:
* “It’s okay not to be okay”
* “There are #littlethings that you can do for yourself and for other people” * “Help is at hand from Samaritans Freephone 116 123 or at www.yourmentalhealth.ie“
Teresanne O’Reilly from WLR FM and Dermot Keyes from the Munster Express will present an evening of guest speakers and a panel discussion, speakers include:
> John O’Shea, International Footballer
> Derek McGrath, Waterford Senior Hurling Manager
> Caroline McGuigan, CEO of Suicide or Survive
Caroline is a qualified psychotherapist and founder and CEO of Suicide or Survive. Caroline has experience of personally attempting suicide and the limited services provided. She spent 8 years as a user of the psychiatric services, leaving her with an in-depth knowledge of the medical model, how and why a person is diagnosed and the treatment they may receive in Ireland. Caroline was part of a very powerful documentary “I See a Darkness” Today, she lives with her husband John and has two children Conor and Amy.
> Derek Chambers, ReachOut.com
ReachOut.com is an online youth mental health service. It helps young people through tough times and was, in fact, the first of its kind in the world. Originally the Inspire Foundation, ReachOut.com was developed in Australia in 1998.
With the escalating rates of youth suicides came an increased need for online mental health supports and information. The next step was to create ReachOut.com, a service driven and supported by young people. ReachOut.com Ireland was launched in 2009. Ireland had high levels of technology usage and availability. Its ongoing challenges with mental health problems and suicide rates, particularly among people aged 12 to 25 years-old, also meant ReachOut.com fitted Ireland’s existing services perfectly.
Derek is Director of Programmes & Policy at Reachout.com. Derek began his career in the role of research sociologist as part of a multi-disciplinary team in Ireland’s National Suicide Research Foundation in 1996 before taking up a research post with the Health Service Executive in 1999. While working for the HSE he was lead author of Ireland’s national suicide prevention strategy. This led to the establishment of the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention which Derek joined as Senior Researcher and Deputy Head. He joined reachout.com in 2009.
> Alison Canavan, Irish Model
Alison Canavan is one of Ireland’s most successful international models and in recent years has become one of Ireland’s foremost parenting, health and wellbeing specialists. Alison’s writing career started with her Mothering Diary in Ireland’s VIP Magazine for over 4 years. She has appeared on the Late Late show with Ryan Tubridy, The Health of the Nation on RTE as well as many others.
Her main focus is education and information drawing on the difficulties she herself has experienced over the past few years. Alison has become a much sought after motivational speaker and regularly delivers talks on stress in the workplace to CEO’s and business leaders across the country and in June 2014 she chaired and spoke at the first ever Barnardos Parental Mental Health Conference in Ireland at Croke Park. Her message is one of positivity and hope. She believes that with passion and determination anything is possible. She has written a book “Minding Mum, it’s time to take care of you” which she has available with her tonight.
Admission is free and all are welcome, for further information contact Tracy on 087 9271041
Positive Mental Health & You information night takes place in Waterford city this Tuesday night November 8th
Waterford native and Republic of Ireland star John O'Shea was due to attend as he was expected to be in Ireland with the Republic of Ireland squad. However because he is now nursing an injury, his club Sunderland is not in a position to release him to return home for international duty. John O ‘Shea has expressed disappointment that he can’t be there in person but has reiterated that he will continue to support the campaign which raises awareness about positive mental health.
The information evening will go ahead as planned at the Waterford crystal leisure centre on the cork road in the city at 7.30pm.
