Latest news with #MentalHealthIreland
The Journal
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Journal
Start a conversation about mental health by asking 'Hello, how are you?' on 15 May
WHILE WE MIGHT not always realise it, sincerely asking someone how they're doing and listening to what they have to say can make an enormous difference to their wellbeing. Perhaps too often we use the phrase 'How are you?' in a passive way — not listening closely enough to the answer, or not answering the question seriously when we're the ones who are asked. By asking 'How are you?' and meaning it, we can all do our part to encourage the people we care about to open up about their mental health. On 15 May, Mental Health Ireland is encouraging people to ask 'Hello, how are you?' in a meaningful way, bringing us all closer together, tackling loneliness, and facilitating important conversations about our collective mental wellbeing. Making conversations about mental health more commonplace is a great way to normalise the topic, and increase the public's confidence in starting conversations about mental health. The Hello, How Are You? campaign has been running nationally since 2022 and there are many ways that you can get involved this year. By visiting this page , you can see what campaign events are taking place in your area. The website provides an interactive map that will show you which events are happening in every county. Events and gatherings, where you can go to talk about how you are and find out how others in your community are doing, include park runs, crocheting events, 'walk and talk' events and some meet-ups that are simply geared towards saying 'Hello' with a view to giving people the invaluable opportunity to just talk. Make sure to browse the full list of events in your county here . If you want to get involved in a more hands-on way, you can also register your own event with Mental Health Ireland as part of the campaign. There are resources available for planning an event of your own, including conversation cards that can help foster healthy chats around mental wellbeing. These conversation cards are available in a range of different languages, including Irish. Advertisement Through the website, you can also download a guide on how to run your event, as well as printable posters. But whether or not you set up your own event, the main way to take part in the campaign is to ask someone in your life one simple question: 'How are you?' Mental Health Ireland has encouraged anyone participating in the spirit of the campaign to follow the 'HELLO' steps when having a conversation about mental health: H — Hello: say hello and ask the person you care about how they are. E — Engage: make sure the person you're speaking with understands you're truly interested in how they are doing. L — Listen: hear them out and listen carefully when they tell you about their wellbeing. L —Learn: empathise with what your friend or loved one is describing, make sure that they know they're not alone. O — Options: make sure you're informed about the various options available to the person you're talking to should they need to continue the conversation further. Hello, How Are You? is a campaign about connection and engaging in open conversations about mental health. The campaign asks individuals, communities, workplaces, friends & family to say Hello and ask the question 'How Are You?' in a meaningful way. Learn more about the campaign and how you can get involved here .
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Independent
New adult ADHD team for Waterford and south east announced
Health Minister Mary Butler TD also confirmed the commencement of recruitment for the multidisciplinary team. The new adult ADHD team will service the integrated healthcare areas (IHAs) of Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and south Tipperary. The team will be multidisciplinary, with a consultant, psychologist, occupational therapist, clinical nurse specialist and administrative support. Recruitment is underway with the team expected to become operational later this year. The team will work with adults with ADHD to assess and manage their ADHD, providing person-centred and responsive supports. Ms Butler said: 'Prior to the inception of the National Clinical Programme (NCP) for Adults with ADHD which I launched as minister in 2021, there were no specific ADHD public services available for adults in Ireland. 'The National Clinical Programme for Adult ADHD is now being implemented across the country by multidisciplinary teams on a phased basis, with seven teams already operational. In Budget 2025, I secured the funding to complete the roll out of the programme and bring ADHD teams to all areas of the country, including the south east. 'The Adult ADHD team will be based at St Johns Primary Care Centre in Waterford, and will be a really significant new service for adults with ADHD living in the region.' Separately, progress is underway to establish a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east. Ms Butler met with Waterford Comhairle na nÓg members in Government Buildings to update them on the status of the project. The Waterford TD has reiterated her intention to secure a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east at a meeting with members of the Waterford Comhairle na nÓg this week. Ms Butler invited the delegation from Comhairle na nÓg to her office in Government Buildings last week where she confirmed her office had received a formal proposal from Jigsaw in recent weeks to establish a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east. In addition, the minister confirmed she has invited proposals from other relevant organisations including Mental Health Ireland, the NGO behind the Mindspace youth mental health service in Mayo. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more The minister also shared with the Comhairle na nÓg members that work to secure a suitable premises for a youth mental health service had begun with the chief executive of Waterford City and County Council. Ms Butler has shared her intentions to establish the service with the HSE IHA manager for Waterford and Wexford, Dr Sinead Reynolds. Ms Butler said she intends to secure the funding for a youth mental health service for the south east in the upcoming budget estimates process for 2026. 'I am determined to establish a youth mental health service for the young people of Waterford and the south east,' she said. 'I believe every young person should have access to an early intervention service for mild and moderate mental health issues. 'I commend the members of Waterford Comhairle na nÓg for their advocacy and support for this project and I am very grateful to them for meeting with me this week where I was able to hear directly from them about the issues facing young people in Waterford, particularly in relation to school stress and bullying. 'I have received a proposal from Jigsaw, and I have also met with Mental Health Ireland to hear more about their model of service provided by the Mindspace youth mental health service in Mayo. 'I have also spoken to the new chief executive of Waterford City and County Council to explore securing a suitable premises for the proposed new service. 'I am evaluating all of the options available to me as minister in how best to provide a youth mental health service for Waterford, and also other areas of the country where a service has yet to be established. 'It is my firm intention, as minister for Mental Health, to secure the funding for a youth mental health service for Waterford and the south east in the budget estimates process for 2026,' added Ms Butler.
Agriland
05-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Farmers should ‘take mini-breaks' to beat stress
Farmers could take 'mini-breaks' from their work as an effective way of managing stress, a Westmeath psychotherapist recently told Midlands Radio 3. These mini-breaks could be as simple as grounding yourself and taking a few minutes for deep breaths during the working day, Siobhan Leijn, psychotherapist and CEO of said. Leijn said such breaks are to avoid being stressed for too long, which can lower the immune system and make people more prone to illness. Farming is a hands-on profession, Leijin acknowledged, and said: 'Even if they [farmers] are sick, they still have to feed their livestock. It's a way of life to farm. 'One of the most important things I would have learned from my uncle was to have a good network of friends out there, neighbours, people who will help you.' 'Mindful practice is always good as well, grounding yourself and thinking about your breath and not focusing on anything outside of it because our brain is notorious for skipping ahead,' she said. Farming-related stress Research by FRS Farm Services found that nine out of ten farmers believed that their stress levels had elevated in the last year, while a further seven out of eight farmers expressed concern about their wellbeing. According to 'The Pressures of Farming' compiled by Teagasc in association with Mental Health Ireland, the physical symptoms of stress can include headaches, chronic tiredness and fatigue, musculoskeletal aches and pains, hypertension, rapid heart rate and panic attacks. Emotional symptoms can include depression, anxiety, worry, fear, feelings of powerlessness and being overwhelmed, feeling trapped, frustrated, irritable or angry, loneliness, grief, and feeling like crying a lot. Being socially included is one of the most powerful protectors of human wellbeing, according to the publication. It also states that nvolvement with others and maintaining good neighbourly relationships are hugely important for wellbeing and protecting social inclusion, Mental Health Ireland said minority groups such as LGBT people are an important part of rural society, as rural areas can lack diversity and be stifling to some isolated people.
