Dr. John Connolly, Secretary of the Irish Association of Suicidiology, will officially launch a county wide well-being campaign on Monday, 14 January at 2.00 pm in the Mayo County Council Offices. The campaign is being led by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance*, a group which first formed in Mayo in 2009. It is made up of a wide range of organisations and groups working in the area of mental health and suicide prevention in the County.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, front l-r; Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE & Chairperson Fionnuala Cahill, Chairperson Comhairle na n’Og Maigh Eo, Yvonne McCaffrey, triathlon competitor, . Back l-r; Sarah Flood, Snap PrintingJohn Maughan, Mayo County Council and Greg Murray, triathlon competitor . Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

The Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance recognised the importance of drawing together groups and services that support mental health, to share ideas and to work in partnership. The group want to make sure that the resources that are available are used in the best way possible, and that all the work is being done in a well co-ordinated way. A key aim is to highlight and promote the good work that continues across the County.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, l-r; Dr. John Connolly, Secretary Irish Association of Suicidology, Cathaoirleach Cyril Burke, Mayo County Council and Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE & Chairperson. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Speaking on behalf of the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, Mary O'Sullivan, HSE West, said; "This project would not have been possible without the very generous funding received from Mayo County Council. We are also very grateful for a further donation from the Living Links Mayo Tri Fundraising Group. It shows the huge good will, community spirit and value placed on promoting positive mental health and well-being within the County. By us all working together we can make a difference".

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE & Chairperson and Dr. John Connolly, Secretary Irish Association of Suicidology holding the campaign fliers. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

As you browse through this newspaper you will have seen a colourful flier called "Tips for keeping positive - Mayo Be Well". It lists some practical tips that we hope you will find useful in keeping well in these challenging times. Some are to do with looking after our physical health such as eating well, getting a good night's sleep and getting some fresh air every day. Others suggest ways in which to deal with challenges in our lives such as worries. It encourages us to listen to others and talk about our problems. You will also see some useful telephone numbers for some of the services that you can contact for support. We are aiming to have this flier in every home in County Mayo. Please keep this sheet safe, so that you can use it if you need to, from time to time.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, representatives from the statutory, voluntary and community groups in Mayo, l-r; Michael Larkin, HSE, Dara Calleary TD, Anne Forde , Mayo Living Links, Councillor Blackie Gavin, Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE & Chairperson, Mike Murphy, HSE and Damien Ryan, Mayo County Council . Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

As part of the project an advertisement campaign will run on Mid-West Radio and other local stations in Mayo in the coming weeks. It is encouraging us all to look after our mental health. It highlights the importance of listening to others and also talking to others who can support us in our community.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, organising committee front l-r; Liz McHale, Addiction Counsellor, HSE & Choose Life Reach Out, Rose Conway-Walsh, Erris Community Development project, Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE & Chairperson, Marina Tuffy, Psychotherapist representing the LGBT Community, Jacinta Lavelle, Mental health Services, HSE, & Choose Life Reach Out, and Therese Ruane, Mayo Intercultural Action & Mayo Community Platform. Back l-r; PJ Rainey, Director of Mental Health Nursing HSE, Breda Ruane, Youth Officer VEC, Laurence Gaughan, Primary Care HSE, Dolores O’Boyle, Employability Service Mayo & Choose Life Reach Out, Kate Donnelly, Aware,James Ryan, representing families bereaved by suicide, Maire Ni Dhomhnaill, Counsellor & Mayo Suicide Liaison Project, Family Centre Castlebar and Bina Munnelly, Education Officer VEC. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Pictured in Aras an Chontae Castlebar at the launch of the Well Being Campaign- “Mayo Be Well” by the Mayo Suicide Prevention Alliance, Chairperson Mary O’Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention HSE outlining the campaign plan. Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2013.

Mayo County Council is the main funder of this project. This shows that its members recognise the important role they play, along with others, in promoting positive mental health in the community which they serve. A donation was also received from a triathlon held in Belmullet organised by Mayo Living Link Tri Fundraisers.

*Members of the group include:

Thelma Birrane, Health Promotion Department, HSE West;
Cliona Carey, Clinical Psychologist, HSE West;
Kate Donnelly, Aware;
Laurence Gaughan, Primary Care, HSE;
Jacinta Lavelle, Choose Life Reach Out;
Bina Munnelly, VEC;
PJ Murphy, Mayo Mental Health Association;
Liz McHale, Addiction Counsellor, HSE West & Choose Life Reach Out;
Maire Ni Dhomhnaill, Counsellor & Mayo Suicide Liaison Project, Family Centre, Castlebar;
Dolores O'Boyle, Employability Service Mayo & Choose Life Reach Out;
Mary O'Sullivan, Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE West, (Chair);
PJ Rainey, Director of Mental Health Nursing, HSE;
Breda Ruane, Youth Officer, VEC;
Therese Ruane, Mayo Intercultural Agency & Mayo Community Platform;
James Ryan, Representing Families Bereaved by Suicide;
Marina Tuffy, Psychotherapist;
Rose Walsh, Erris CDP.