‘Numbers If You Need Them’ – mind your mental health

AS part of the government’s Keep Well campaign, people in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon are being urged to pay extra attention to their mental health this winter as they grapple with Covid-19’s impact on daily living.

“Winter is often a difficult time as we cope with shorter days and poorer weather, and this winter Covid-19 adds another layer of challenge,” said Mary McGrath of Connecting for Life (Galway, Mayo and Roscommon).

Connecting for Life, a suicide prevention action plan for the three counties in Community Healthcare West, has produced a ‘Numbers If You Need Them’ poster and pocket-sized card containing key contact points to support those who find themselves struggling with their mental health.

“There are a lot of services and resources available in the Galway, Mayo and Roscommon region. These services are open, but may be working differently at this time. We encourage people to become familiar with them in the event of needing to avail of them themselves or to support others who do,” added Mary.

The poster and cards are being distributed by a variety of means, including as inserts in local newspapers throughout Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

“In reality, mental health is not something we talk about only when we are struggling – we need to tend to our mental health every day, and many of the resources on the poster and pocket sized card may be of support,” said Mary. “Covid-19 is challenging for people of all ages. There is so much uncertainty associated with it in terms of employment, study and general community life. Many things seem to have changed in our lives and that level of upheaval can be very stressful.

“Our message is simple: don’t suffer in silence. Help is available. The poster and card offer a range of numbers and contact points where professional, trained support workers are available to listen to and to support you. We urge you to download, keep safe and display this information in your home, workplace, local shops, and community areas or on social media, in case you or someone else needs it.”

The information can be downloaded from https://www.westbewell.ie/flyer/, which is also a great resource for information relevant to this region.