Mayo GAA linking up with HSE to promote wellbeing initiative
The HSE and Community Healthcare West (CHW) Mental Health service has renewed its alliance with Mayo GAA in its commitment to reaffirm the continued promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing.
In addition to showcasing the cream of footballing talent from the province at the quarterfinal of the Connacht Senior Gaelic Football Championship next Sunday, the occasion will see the officially launch of a new partnership to promote the West Be Well mental health support initiative.
Established recently, the West Be Well group collaborates with the HSE Connecting for Life - Ireland's national strategy to prevent suicide - the Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) and Mindspace Mayo. It is supported by Healthy Ireland.
One of the first initiatives of its kind, it promotes timely, safe, evidence-based mental health messages and local and national mental health supports and services by the HSE or other state-funded organisations as well as mental health and suicide prevention education and training programmes and events.
It does so across a multi-channel digital platform incorporating Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts as well as its recently redesigned website www.westbewell.ie – the most comprehensive resource of wellbeing, mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
John Prenty, secretary of the Connacht Council noted Connacht GAA’s endorsement of the West Be Well initiative.
He said: “This builds on our previous successful mental health promotion initiatives with the HSE during the Connacht Championships in the past few years such as the promotion of Connecting for Life Strategy, Little Things and Green Ribbon campaigns.”
Charlie Meehan, head of Mental Health Services in HSE CHW, stated: “We are delighted that the GAA in Connacht have taken the opportunity to assist the public ability to get informed and up to date evidence based help and supports for members of our communities who may be in need of assistance.”
Breda Crehan-Roche, chief officer HSE CHW, stated: “Community Healthcare West welcomes collaboration with the GAA, an organisation that is so active and respected in communities across the country and appreciates the importance of health and wellbeing for all members of the public.
"We are grateful that so many GAA clubs in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon made their facilities available to us during the Covid-19 crisis in order to carry out testing."
The chairperson of the Mayo GAA County Board, Seamus Tuohy, said he is delighted to partner with the neighbouring Galway GAA County Board to support and promote the West Be Well online mental health resource.
“As Ireland’s biggest sporting organisation, the GAA influences Irish society, and we have a responsibility to the communities we serve.
"The need for a resource like this has never been greater and we would encourage all members of our community to consider using this resource as a tool for maintaining their own wellbeing.”
Fran Downey, chairperson of the Mayo GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee, remarked that the partnership with West Be Well would enable the GAA to extend its support for clubs that nurture the holistic health of their members into the wider community, raising awareness around positive health and wellbeing as well as the comprehensive online supports available locally.