Karl Spain Mental Health Ambassador for Limerick Mental Health Week. Karl helps Limerick Mental Health Association celebrate the launch of Limerick Mental Health Week 2016.
Limerick Mental Health Association and several community groups across the city & county have been working tirelessly over the last several months to put together a week of talks, workshops, exhibitions and events for the public in the month of October on the topic of mental health. Check out the timetable of events. The week marks World Mental Health Day Oct 10th which is run yearly by the World Mental Health Federation and this year’s theme is Dignity in Mental Health: Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for All
Who is involved?
The groups, which include GROW, MyMind, Samaritans, HSE, Headway and many more come together voluntarily to focus on creating a week that will shine a much needed spotlight on mental health and well-being.
‘We are delighted that Limerick Mental Health Week continues to grow bigger and bigger each year as this kind of campaign helps to eliminate the stigma and taboo which surrounds mental illness.
She notes that ‘We are still a million miles away from putting mental health on a par with physical health. Imagine lying in a ditch after a road traffic accident and being told that the ambulance would be along in a couple of weeks. Yet for severe mental illness, that long and much worse is taken for granted’. — Chairperson of Limerick Mental Association and lecturer at the University of Limerick, Dr Jennifer McMahon.
What is the aim of Mental Health Week?
The main aim of this week is to engage people from every walk of life. Mental Health and well-being is relevant to everyone, yet many people in Limerick City and County feel either uninformed or excluded from society’s discussion around mental health.
‘The week will be about socialising, building communities and networks, self-expression through art and music and discussion. This is positive mental health in practice.’ — Karl Spain, mental health ambassador for the week.
‘The week is about connecting to the community, taking care of yourself and learning to build resilience in how you live day-to-day, it shouldn’t have to be about reaching a crisis. This week is also about bringing the conversation about mental health and well-being into the mainstream.’ — John Downey, director of The Samaritans.
When is Limerick Mental Health Week?
Mental health week runs this year from Oct 9th – Oct 15th with this year’s launch of the event in King John’s Castle on Oct 9th. Having a dedicated week around mental health illustrates the strides made in Ireland in acknowledging and addressing the importance of mental health and supporting ourselves and each other.
Limerick Mental Health Association would like to thank the HSE and all organisations that arrange and run events throughout the week. We also want to thank the community members who attend and bring their voice and attention to the importance of our mental health as a community and as individuals.
Check out our facebook event and our timetable of events, join the conversation twitter #LiMental