On World Suicide Prevention Day, it’s time to talk about mental health in Ireland 

On World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) September 10, 2023, mental health charity Shine calls on individuals, communities, and organisations nationwide to make time to talk about their mental health.

Coinciding with WSPD, we are running our ‘See Change Green Ribbon Campaign’, which is a month-long initiative and a key part of creating awareness, challenging the myths and misconceptions around mental illness and encouraging people to have open and honest conversations about mental health. 

Nicola Byrne, CEO, Shine said; “We firmly believe that by talking to each other and initiating conversations about mental health, we can make a significant impact in tackling the stigma around mental illness. It is estimated that one in four people in Ireland will experience some mental health problems in their lifetime. This means that most of us are affected in some way by this issue. 

We can improve recovery rates and reduce suicide risk by ensuring people feel comfortable accessing services at an earlier stage. One key reason people report putting off seeking support is that they worry about being judged and that they might believe that they will be seen differently by seeking to access to supports. We need to remove the stigma so that people access mental health supports in a straightforward way like how they would access supports for their physical health.  

Concluding, Nicola Byrne said: “Remember, you don’t need to be an expert to start a conversation. Simply being present, actively listening, and providing someone with the opportunity to share and express themselves is invaluable.” 

All information about Green Ribbon campaign is available here: www.seechange.ie    

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) – was first introduced by the International Association of Suicide Prevention (IASP). The theme for 2023 is Creating Hope through Action. In Ireland, this is an important theme that is reflected in our national strategy to reduce suicide, Connecting for Life. 

For support in crisis contact:

Samaritans, visit www.samaritans.ie or freephone 116 123 

By text message – Text About It, text HELLO to 50808, visit www.textaboutit.ie 

You can also call the HSE YourMentalHealth Information Line, anytime day or night, for information on mental health, and what other services and supports are available near you – freephone 1800 111 888 or visit www.yourmentalhealth.ie