Friday 20th May 2016 is See Change’s designated National Time to Talk Day. To mark the day, See Change and TaxiWatch.ie are teaming up to end the silence on mental health in Kilkenny. TaxiWatch.ie will be raising mental health awareness in Kilkenny by distributing Green Ribbons to passengers. National Time to Talk Day is part of See Change’s Green Ribbon mental health awareness campaign, which runs throughout the month of May. The Mayor of the Municipal district of Kilkenny, Joe Malone, will help celebrate the launch of the partnership and the arrival of the Green Ribbon to Kilkenny at 5pm in the County Council Buildings, John Street, Kilkenny.
Speaking ahead of the day, See Change Support & Liaison Officer, Sorcha O’Neill says, “We are delighted to partner with TaxiWatch.ie to raise mental health awareness here in Kilkenny. We’ve already distributed an overwhelming 425,000 Green Ribbons across the country this year. People are more interested than ever about raising mental health awareness.”
Ms O’Neill continues, “You don’t need to be an expert to talk about mental health. Simply asking someone how they’re doing and listening can make a huge difference.”
TaxiWatch.ie Founder, Derek Devoy, adds: “I know from my own experiences of mental health difficulties how important it is to talk about what you’re going through.”
He continues, “I set up Taxi Watch in November 2014 after a tough time in my own life. Since then we’ve had 105 direct interventions with people seeking to end their own lives. We’ve also grown and are now in Ennis, Waterford and Clonmel.”
Ms O’Neill concludes, “The ask is simple: This Time to Talk day wear a Green Ribbon to raise mental health awareness. Take two and start a conversation with a friend and help change minds about mental health.”
