'We want everyone to feel supported'

A festival starting this weekend will encourage people to focus on their mental health and wellbeing.

It’s Cork’s second Mental Health and Wellbeing Festival which is being organised by Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and partners and coincides with World Mental Health Week from 10-17 October.

The festival will encourage Cork people to take some time during the month to learn, talk, reflect, and engage with others around the topic of mental health and wellbeing.

This year’s event will also support the Green Ribbon campaign, the annual event that aims to reduce stigma regarding mental health and highlight supports available throughout city and county. Green Ribbon month runs in May but was delayed this year due to Covid-19.

The festival is a Connecting for Life Cork initiative which is an inter-agency suicide and self-harm reduction plan for the city and county, led by the HSE.

Priscilla Lynch, Head of Health & Wellbeing with Cork Kerry Community Health Services said: “It’s important to acknowledge that health and wellbeing is a priority for us as a society. This festival is part of our effort to help everyone access information and new learning to make positive change and improve mental and physical health.

“We want everyone, young and old, to feel supported in their communities in taking steps, big and small, towards a mentally and physically healthier lifestyle.”

Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention Martin Ryan said: “We want to promote the concepts of hope and recovery, as well as reminding ourselves that we all need to care for our mental health.

“There are huge benefits to our overall wellbeing by keeping physically and mentally healthy and there are many supports available to help us to do that. I’d encourage everyone to check out the full calendar of events on connectingforlifecork.ie.”

Martin Ryan added that services are available to support anyone with mental health difficulties.This year’s events can be viewed at connectingforlifecork.ie.