Limerick Mental Health Week 2018 starts on October 4th running until October 13th. With a wide variety of events planned, we look forward to another impactful week.

What does Limerick Mental Health Week stand for?

Limerick Mental Health Week was started in 2005 due to the recognized needs for more information regarding Mental Health. From 2005 the week has grown year upon year with over 40 partner organisations in 2018 spreading across Limerick City and County. We are proud to be a leader for mental health in Limerick.

Mental Health Week is not just based in Limerick and not just based in Ireland. This is a worldwide initiative. WHO or the World Health Organisation play an impact on our week by giving us a theme and setting World Mental Health Day which falls on October 10th and allows us to better tailor our week. This year the theme is “Young people and mental health in a changing world.”

For us that meant involving youth throughout the planning of the week and making sure it is the core of our events. The changing world element made us look at the current trends in Mental Health and how we as a county and country are keeping up as Mental Health evolves and changes.

Limerick Mental Health Week for us stands upon three pillars within the community of Limerick: Awareness of Mental Health, Highlighting of services and Collaboration between all of the organisations.

What is happening?

The events planned this year are aimed to be: informative, fun and interactive. Running through the week, there will be a core event happening each day and lunch-time talks within the city for thirty minutes. We have 5ks/10ks runs, talks, workshops and all range of events taking place throughout the week. Check out our full event listing. The following are some events to look out for:

Thurs Oct 4th – Northstars “Commemoration of Hope” in the evening. This will see a moving evening of story’s and music around the impact of addiction and the spark of hope.
Friday Oct 5th – The official launch of the week at King John’s Castle showcasing art from various groups.
Saturday Oct 6th – The annual family fun-day with all ranges of activities from face painting to jumping on bubble wrap happening on Bedford row within the city.
Friday Oct 12th – The official closing ceremony of the week taking place within St. Mary’s Cathedral incorporating the various choirs across Limerick coming together to showcase their talents and give the week an emotional close.

Thank you to all involved

We cannot put together this week of events without the help and equal partnership of all the different mental health organisations. The strength of the team is each individual member and the strength of each member is the team. We as organisations need to be aware of what is happening and what we all do across Limerick. Planning the week involves all the different organisations coming together at the same table working towards the common goal. Limerick Mental Health Association is proud to be able to learn about the different organisations, which in turn helps our future work as it does for each other.

We would like to thank all of the organisations involved, these include: Aries, Alex Findlater & Company, EmployAbility, GetWest, Buddy Bench, ABC Start Right, Childrens Grief Centre, Croom Family Resource Centre, Gender Orientation Sexual Health HIV (GOSHH), GROW, Jigsaw, King John’s Castle, IAHIP, Parkrun, Limerick Suicide Watch, Limerick Institute of Techonology(LIT), The Savoy Hotel, HSE Mid West Suicide Prevention Office, University of Limerick, SMRC Urban Run, My Mind, LIT Students Union, Mary I Students Union, Mary Immaculate College, North Star family support project, UL Student Life Belong to the pack, Samaritans, Limerick Youth Service, Junior Parkrun, Limerick City and County Council, Mayor Daniel Butler, Colaiste Chiarain Croom Secondary School, Donoughmore National School, SMRC St. Michael’s Rowing Club, and ICHAS.

We would also like to thank our Limerick Mental Health Week sponsors: HSE, Local Authority, Paul Partnership, Limerick Post, The University of Limerick and Westside security systems.