Cllr Healy-Rae – ‘culture of silence' on men's mental health needs challenging
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae welcomed the initiative saying the challenges facing his generation of young men can best be tackled by talking and interactive counselling.
He said men make up around 80 per cent of all suicides, nationally, yet women represent two-thirds of clients in existing counselling services. This new service will provide counselling annually through GPs, the HSE helpline, and yourmentalhealth.ie.
The new programme will also include targeted supports for young Traveller men and the promotion of tailored mental health programmes such as 'Minding Your Wellbeing for Men'.
Cllr Healy-Rae explained that the initiative will give men a safe space to talk in a way that suits them and make those services easy to access.
'As a 30-year-old man, I see first-hand the challenges my generation, and men in general, face when it comes to mental health,' Cllr Healy-Rae said.
'Too often, men suffer in silence because of stigma, pride, or the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. The reality is the exact opposite – reaching out is one of the strongest and most important things you can do,' he added.
Cllr Healy-Rae said that whether it is stress, relationship pressures, financial worries, or feeling overwhelmed, help is there.
'I would urge any man who is struggling to take that first step and talk to someone, whether it's a counsellor, your GP, or even a friend,' he said.
'Men of all ages, but especially young men, need to know that it's okay to speak up. This funding is a big step in the right direction, but we must also keep challenging the culture of silence around men's mental health. If this announcement encourages even one man to open up, it will already be a success,' Cllr Healy-Rae concluded.
The announcement of funding of €2 million was made by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Independent
3 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Two more reviews completed on Portiuncula maternity unit
In response to a parliamentary question from TD Claire Kerrane, Health Minister stated that the hospital and the safety of maternity patients are of 'critical importance'. While the response acknowledged the completion of two additional reviews and the increased number of recommendations, it merely stated that implementation would proceed 'over the coming months'. To date, Deputy Kerrane has received no further updates from the HSE or Health Minister. The direction for the hospital's future, according to the ministerial response, will require an 'extensive evidence base, of which an extensive review of the implementation of the current National Maternity Strategy will form part'. Deputy Kerrane expressed concern about the ongoing lack of clarity around future plans for PUH, particularly regarding efforts 'to ensure a full return of maternity services'. 'This roadmap is essential to ensuring the current reduction in services is not seen as a permanent solution and the hospital can continue to serve our community. This prolonged uncertainty is completely unacceptable, especially for pregnant women, who, as long as this situation continues, will have to travel further to have their babies.' The Irish Independent reported recently on the Galway County councillors call to the HSE and the health minister requesting a 'fully independent, external review' of the hospital. The councillors urged a broader evaluation of the hospital, placing it within a 'contextual service' framework alongside other maternity services nationwide. Initial recommendations in the first five reviews suggested diverting high-risk pregnancies to other hospitals, such as University Hospital Galway (UHG). This has raised concerns among local residents and councillors, as PUH serves communities across counties Tipperary, Offaly, and Clare. Questions have since been raised about the infrastructure and readiness of the hospitals expected to take on these patients, along with safety risks for women facing emergencies during labour. Deputy Kerrane is calling on the HSE to use the meeting to present a clear 'roadmap' and offer 'much needed assurances' that the diversion of high-risk pregnancies is only a temporary measure. Additionally, a petition to preserve and enhance existing maternity services at PUH has already gathered over 3,000 signatures. Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
Irish Times
15 hours ago
- Irish Times
Agency nurse's two complaints alleging penalisation rejected by Labour Court
An agency nurse working in intellectual disability residential services who reported a staff colleague for pouring water over a patient has had two complaints alleging penalisation in the aftermath of the incident rejected by the Labour Court . Gerard Foy appealed decisions by an adjudication officer at the Workplace Relations Commission where it was found, while he had made a valid protected disclosure in respect of the incident, he had failed to establish this had directly led to him failing to secure staff jobs he applied for or to the reduction of his hours as an agency nurse. At the Labour Court hearing, the HSE acknowledged the incident Mr Foy witnessed in April 2020, which was the pouring of a cup of water over a patient by a female colleague who was directly employed at the facility, amounted to an assault. It said he followed all the correct procedures in the way he reported the incident to management, but breached GDPR guidelines by also reporting it to two other colleagues coming on duty at the end of his shift. READ MORE Mr Foy said he was told by his line manager if it had been a staff member who had witnessed the incident it would not have been reported. Despite this, he said he believed the incident had not initially caused him any problems in his work and the person who he had reported apologised to him for putting him a difficult position. This changed over time, he suggested, and he began to feel colleagues turned against him. In January and February 2022 he applied for staff nurse roles he felt he was more than qualified for but failed to secure the positions. He said they went to far less experienced candidates. He appealed the outcome but an initial investigation upheld the decision of the interview panel and he did not take the matter further. He began to get fewer hours, however, and fewer premium shifts. He said he was told this was in part because the colleague he reported, who had been moved to a different area of the facility but was employed there, said she did not want him rostered to work with her and this was facilitated by senior management. The HSE said because other staff positions were filled, there was less need for agency staff. Mr Foy wrote to the regional director of nursing for the area, Eva Hayes, to say he felt unsupported by management in the wake of the incident. Mr Foy said he met Ms Hayes to discuss the situation in October 2022 when he was surprised by the weight attached to the GDPR issue. He was, he told the court, pressured to apologise for the privacy breach to the staff member he had reported and, fearing he would lose more work, had to agree to undertake GDPR training. The apology he subsequently made to the colleague was in writing because she would not deal directly with him. He said he felt 'isolated, bullied, victimised and punished' because he had acted properly. The HSE said the incident had been fully dealt with in a confidential process and he had been treated fairly at all times. The court found he had made a protected disclosure but agreed with the WRC that he had failed to establish a direct link between his report of wrongdoing and his subsequent failure in the recruitment process or what he regarded as other examples of penalisation. It also said he had failed to prove penalisation during the six-month period it had jurisdiction to consider and the WRC's decision that his two complaints were not well founded was upheld.
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Cllr Healy-Rae – ‘culture of silence' on men's mental health needs challenging
The funding aims to break down barriers and to recognise that while men are more likely to experience serious mental health difficulties, they are less likely to seek help. Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae welcomed the initiative saying the challenges facing his generation of young men can best be tackled by talking and interactive counselling. He said men make up around 80 per cent of all suicides, nationally, yet women represent two-thirds of clients in existing counselling services. This new service will provide counselling annually through GPs, the HSE helpline, and The new programme will also include targeted supports for young Traveller men and the promotion of tailored mental health programmes such as 'Minding Your Wellbeing for Men'. Cllr Healy-Rae explained that the initiative will give men a safe space to talk in a way that suits them and make those services easy to access. 'As a 30-year-old man, I see first-hand the challenges my generation, and men in general, face when it comes to mental health,' Cllr Healy-Rae said. 'Too often, men suffer in silence because of stigma, pride, or the belief that asking for help is a sign of weakness. The reality is the exact opposite – reaching out is one of the strongest and most important things you can do,' he added. Cllr Healy-Rae said that whether it is stress, relationship pressures, financial worries, or feeling overwhelmed, help is there. 'I would urge any man who is struggling to take that first step and talk to someone, whether it's a counsellor, your GP, or even a friend,' he said. 'Men of all ages, but especially young men, need to know that it's okay to speak up. This funding is a big step in the right direction, but we must also keep challenging the culture of silence around men's mental health. If this announcement encourages even one man to open up, it will already be a success,' Cllr Healy-Rae concluded. The announcement of funding of €2 million was made by Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler.
