Changing Minds about mental health, one conversation at a time
Posted on 25th May 2016
A walk with a difference took place under sunny skies in St Catherine’s Park, Lucan Demesne on Tuesday, May 17 when Third Age joined forces with See Change to walk and talk together with the theme: ‘Changing Minds about mental health, one conversation at a time’.
See Change is a national organisation working to change minds about mental health problems in Ireland. See Change’s Green Ribbon campaign takes place throughout the month of May, aimed at encouraging people to talk about mental health, well-being and resilience.
Third Age under the Operation Conversation campaign banner is a perfect fit for this.
During the walk groups talked informally together about their lives. After the walk, guest speaker Elaine Clear whose teenage son Dan Hogan took his own life two years ago, spoke movingly to the group of her experience of his illness, and of how the psychiatric services could be much more family friendly when a family member is ill. She praised her son’s bravery, goodness and kindness, and her wish to contribute positively to the national debate about mental illness and resilience. Rick Rossiter an Ambassador for See Change described his own history of depression, and explained how he has come through to feeling grateful for life and being able to look forward.
Aine Brady, CEO of Third Age thanked everyone for coming and reminded us of the serious purpose of the day, which is to shine a light into the often-dark place of mental illness. Laura Louise Condell of See Change said that our mental health is an issue for each person. It is in giving and receiving support, in speaking about mental illness that we can help one another, and bring the subject to the forefront of society.
