Tag Archives: mental health

IT’S a sobering reality that there are few GAA clubs that have not been touched, in some way, by suicide. With this scourge in mind, the GAA and the Samaritans have launched a partnership, which aims to reduce the stigma around the issue of mental health and to encourage help-seeking behaviour. In its next phase, clubs are being encouraged to get in touch with Clare Samaritans liaison volunteers, who can arrange awareness talks for their members. The Samaritans exists to offer confidential, emotional support to people who are experiencing feelings of distress and despair, including feelings that may lead to suicide. This is done, primarily, by providing those who are having trouble with a safe place to talk. To achieve this, the charity operates a helpline, which is available 24/7, at a free-to-caller number 116 123. They may be contacted by email at jo@samaritans.org, or people can also call to the centre on the Kilrush Road in Ennis, between the …

The Union of Students of Ireland (USI) has launched a new campaign that highlights the mental health impact of harmful drinking on young people. The USI’s new resource on alcohol and mental health, mentaldrinking.ie, contains easy-to-understand information on the risks that alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking, pose to young people, and the impact this can have on their mental health and wellbeing. As part of its campaign, the USI is also encouraging third level students to lead by example and pass on the truth about harmful drinking and the many problems it causes to the next generation, particularly their younger brothers and sisters. Alongside its information and awareness-raising campaign, the USI will be providing alcohol brief intervention training, beginning with student union welfare officers and then extending to student counsellors and other relevant groups. The USI will also be working with students unions throughout the country to implement new alcohol policies and improve best practice, particularly around events and their …

RehabCare in Shannon recently  highly commended in the Rehab Group Innovation Awards 2014 at an award ceremony in Dublin for its ‘What’s Good For Your Head?’ project. This project won the award in the ‘Health and Social Care Innovation’ category and was selected as a highly commended out of 64 innovative projects, which had been submitted from across the organisation. ‘What’s Good For Your Head?’ was set up to promote positive mental health in the community. Eight people with experience of mental health difficulties worked with a quality and planning co-ordinator in RehabCare to develop a project and booklet on positive mental health and wellbeing. The project examined what mental health is, looked at ways to recognise mental health difficulty and also provided some self-management practices. The booklet contains all of this information as well providing information on local support services. Jessica Curtis, Community Services Manager from RehabCare said, “The Rehab Group Innovation Awards reward examples of best practice, improvement …

An Ennis woman, who recently tried to take her own life, has appealed for changes in the general admission and treatment policies for people suffering from severe psychological and emotional distress. Aisling Byrnes, aged 36, claims she was discharged on her own from University Hospital Limerick recently, without a care plan or a request for a family member to take her home, despite being under high observation while she was in the hospital. She has decided to speak about her recent experience to try and ensure no other patient experiences the same serious deficits in the regional mental health system. Her experience has prompted Liam Minogue of Emotions Peer Support Centre (Peer) to request the Mid-West HSE to conduct an urgent review of general admission and treatment policies for people in crisis. The Mid-West HSE hadn’t responded to a number of queries from The Clare Champion at the time of going to press. Ms Byrnes, who suffers from borderline personality disorder, …

Over 6,000 people experiencing mental health or psychological difficulties have visited an Ennis drop-in support centre over a two-year period. According to official figures produced by Emotions Peer Support Centre, the number of attendees went up from 2,800 in the period from May 2012 to May 2013 to 3,200 from May 2013 to May 2014. The centre, which celebrates its two-year anniversary with an open day from 11am to 3pm this Friday, has attracted almost 8,000 hours from volunteers. Liam Minogue of Emotions Peer Support said the centre has been a huge success, since it opened its doors two years ago. Mr Minogue said eight Health Service Executive (HSE) staff participated in a Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Peer Support Group workshop at the centre, which can now be provided for clients in day facilities run by the HSE in Ennis, Shannon, Lisdoonvarna, Ennistymon and Kilrush. Operating on a budget of €18,500, the drop-in centre operates from Monday to Friday …

CIARAN Ennis has laughed his way to a national title. The founder of the locally based Ennis Laughter Dragons was named Irish Laughter Champion in Galway at the weekend. “It felt brilliant to be named the winner, and I will definitely be back next year to defend my title,” he told us. The event was held in aid of Galway charity, Jigsaw, a free and confidential support service for young people, their mental health and wellbeing. Ciaran and Angie Lindenau, lead the Laughter Dragons, a laughter yoga club, every Tuesday at 6pm in the Gaelscoil. The community laughter group meet to explore the benefits of laughter yoga. He explained, “It’s a group where we meet once a week and it’ all about learning to laugh for no reason at all. We use laughter yoga, which comes from India. And we use laughter as an exercise, its one of the most powerful, dynamic exercises. The whole reason why we use laughter …

RENOWNED Irish singer Mary Coughlan will visit Ennis this month where she will officially launch the Ennis Women’s Shed, the first such organisation in Europe. The launch will take place as part of Ennis Men’s Shed’s first national conference to be held in the county capital. The conference, titled ‘No Man is an Island’ will take place on April 25 and 26 in the West County Hotel. Frank McNamara, facilitator, Ennis Men’s Shed explained, “As the Men’s Sheds were set up to enhance or maintain the wellbeing of the participating men, this conference entitled “No man is an island”, will explore how this objective can be attained using the concept of men’s sheds.” It is hoped that the “No man is an island” conference will show how the men’s shed can be used as a tool to enhance the men’s wellbeing, both mentally and physically.” This conference will be opened by Councillor Mary Coote Ryan, Mayor of Ennis and will …