Health Service Executive (HSE) Community Healthcare West (CHW) Mental Health service is delighted to collaborate again with the Connacht GAA Council as it continues to lead the way with its commitment to the ongoing promotion of positive mental health and wellbeing.
In addition to showcasing the cream of footballing talent from the province at Connacht Senior Gaelic Football Championship quarter final clash between Mayo and Galway in Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo on Sunday, April 24th next, the Connacht Council along with both the Mayo and Galway county boards will also be using the occasion to officially launch a new partnership with CHW to promote the West Be Well mental health support initiative.
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 this recently redesigned website www.westbewell.ie – the most comprehensive resource of wellbeing, mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.
Seamus Tuohy, Mayo Chairperson County Board; John Prenty, Connacht Council Secretary; Michael Geraghty, Galway Football Chairperson celebrate the new partnership between the GAA and HSE Community Healthcare West to promote the West Be Well mental health resource.
John Prenty, Secretary of the Connacht Council noted Connacht GAA’s endorsement of the West Be Well initiative commenting, “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 remarked; “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, etc.”
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.
Commenting on the partnership with the HSE, Galway GAA chairperson, Paul Bellew stated; “This builds on the strong relationships that we already have with the HSE and with both organisations being very active in every community across Connacht, it is an opportunity for both organisations to assist our communities and members by raising awareness of this magnificent resource. Our Galway Health and Wellbeing committee have been very active since its establishment promoting wellness, good health and inclusiveness for our clubs and communities and this resource assists them to assist clubs who may be seeking assistance.”
Iggy Clarke, Chairperson of Galway GAA’s Health and Wellness committee, said his committee is also pleased to be part of the collaboration with West Be Well and build on the work that is being carried out in Galway with clubs and communities. Iggy describes the website as a wonderful resource, featuring detailed sections on health and wellbeing, anxiety and grief as well as a page dedicated to young people and mental health issues.
Michael Geraghty Galway football Chairman noted, “The platform’s abundance of safe, evidence-based mental health messages and detailed directory of supports and services make it an ideal reference point for members of the public dealing with mental health/wellness-related issues if they require information in order to get assistance and I am delighted to endorse this project.”
West Be Well is happy to share news, events, and resources of relevance on its website and social media channels. Details can be supplied via the Submit Events tab on the website where the inclusion criteria are set out or by emailing comms@westbewell.ie .
Members of the public are encouraged to follow West Be Well on social media and the hashtag #WestPlayWellWestBeWell and help share the valuable resources it promotes so that as many people as possible have access to this helpful information should they need it.
