2020 has been a time of reflection for many, it has also been a time of great anxiety.

Creating awareness about mental health

This is the second year of North Tipperary Mental Health Week, which will run from October 5th to 10th. The emphasis for 2020 is creating awareness about how you can mind your mental health. North Tipperary Mental Health Week 2020 is promoting specific actions that relate to the five ways to well-being; while also creating awareness about opportunities and supports that are available to people living and working in North Tipperary in helping them achieve one or more of the ways to well-being in their lives.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions there is a mixture of closed and online events planned for 2020. Tipperary Sports Partnership are providing opportunities for post-primary students to ‘be active’ and engage in a Joe Wicks style fitness session. Tipperary ETB Community Education programme has organised a series of programmes from Poetry for Peacefulness to Introduction to Pottery for people to ‘keep learning’ and to ‘take notice’ you can register for these courses on www.fetchcourses.ie. In addition, Tipperary Volunteer Centre has linked with three Tidy Towns Committees across the county to enable people to ‘connect’ in their communities and to ‘give’ back through their time and effort to their community.

The committee is made up of community and statutory agencies, who recognise and value the importance of people minding their mental health. Tipperary Comhairle na Óg have kindly given of their time, to compile the health promotion literature, and have been rewarded for their efforts with Healthy Ireland goodies. The post-primary schools in the county have received information packs with useful resources from the HSE and been invited to promote the five ways to well-being in a small or large way within their school community. Silverarch FRC have organised an online practical toolkit for parents of teenagers which will be deliver by Dr Eddie Murphy. CARMHA will host a webinar on Tuesday, October 6th, at 6pm covering addiction and mental health - you can register for this course by e-mailing carmha@outlook.ie.

We are also thrilled this year to welcome Centra in Thurles, Nenagh and Roscrea on board as part of NT Mental Health Week. We are promoting the idea of ‘giving’ as the Mental Health Champs, will take to the streets handing out coffee vouchers to people whilst informing them about NT Mental Health Week and promotional literature will also be available. The team are particularly thankful to Centra for their sponsorship of this action as having a cup of tea and a chat with a friend is one of the ways we can improve mental health.

2020 has been a time of reflection for many, it has also been a time of great anxiety, stress and worry given the many challenges which Covid-19 has and continues to present. As winter approaches it is important for all of us to learn how we can continue to Mind Our Mental Health. Please follow our social media pages during NT Mental Health Week, where we share opportunities about how you can mind your Mental Health using the five ways to well-being. 

Our social media pages are: Twitter: @northtippmhw, Instagram: @NorthTippMHW, Facebook: North Tipperary Mental Health Week

 

FIVE WAYS TO WELL-BEING

The five ways to well-being are simple actions to practice each day.

1. Connect: Make time each day to Connect. Connect with the people around you.

2. Be Active: Look for ways to be active everyday. Go for a walk or a run. Step outside. Cycle, play a game, garden or dance.

3. Take Notice: Be aware of the world around you and what you are feeling. Be curious. Catch sight of the beautiful. Notice the changing seasons.

4. Keep Learning: Try something new. Rediscover an old interest. Sign up for that course. Cook a new recipe. Take on a new responsibility.

5. Give: Giving to others is good for you. Do something nice for someone else. Thank someone. Volunteer your time or join a community group.