62.7% of Traveller women experience Frequent Mental Distress (FMD) compared to 19.9% of females from majority population
59.4% of Traveller men experience FMD compared to 21.8% of males from majority population
Two in every five (40%) adult Travellers say their mental health was never good in the past 30 days
The suicide rate among Travellers is six times higher than the majority population
Suicide accounts for 11% of Traveller deaths
(All Ireland Traveller Health Study 2010)
Supporting and informing Traveller families’ mental health by promoting intervention at earlier stages will be the focus of an upcoming event. The event will help to facilitate recovery and help break the cycle of poor mental health among Traveller families.
Research shows that Travellers experience poorer mental health and higher suicide rates. Research also shows that the Traveller community is very young and this event will look at how there is a need to intervene at earlier stages to promote recovery and break the cycle of poor mental health.
At the event two animations developed by the Cork/Kerry Traveller Youth Mental Health working group will be launched which exhibit experiences of Travellers. The animations will be used to help support Traveller families in accessing services. The event will also see the launch of the “Stages of intervention for young people”, which is a summary document designed by and for Traveller projects. The purpose of these resources is to fundamentally support and empower Traveller parents to access help for their young people who may be experiencing mental health difficulties.
Tehmina Kazi, Traveller Health Coordinator, Cork Traveller Visibility Group said:
The purpose of this event is to support and inform Traveller families’ mental health. The Cork and Kerry Regional Traveller Youth Mental Health Working group is a group who formed as a result of a need to address and develop interventions for young Travellers’ mental health.
We know that Travellers experience poorer mental health and higher suicide rates. Research also tells us the Traveller community is very young. There is a need to intervene at earlier stages to promote recovery and break the cycle of poor mental health. For Travellers, their mental health experience and recovery can be quite challenging, due to social status. Tackling social issues is an ongoing challenge, locally and nationally.
Brigid Quilligan, Project Manager of Kerry Travellers Health and Community Development Project said:
Kerry Travellers welcome the launch of these resources. Mental health difficulties in children need an early intervention to avoid more serious issues being experienced in later life. The widespread institutional discrimination and disadvantage also need to be to tackled to address the root cause of the mental health crisis faced by Travellers.
Speakers at the event will include Minister for Older People and Mental Health, Mary Butler TD and Senator Eileen Flynn. Also speaking at the event will be Mags Casey, the Coordinator of the National Traveller Mental Health Network and Tipperary Rural Traveller Project; Brigid Quilligan, the Coordinator of the Kerry Travellers Health and Development Project and Dr Michelle Mulcahy, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, HSE Mental Health Services, Cork/ Kerry.
The event is called: Supporting Traveller Families’ Mental Health online and will take place on Tuesday 21st June from 11:30am to 1pm.
It is funded by the Traveller Health Unit, HSE Cork/ Kerry Community Healthcare and the National Office for Suicide Prevention through Connecting for Life.
Register for this event through Eventbrite link here: Supporting Traveller Families’ mental health Tickets, Tue, Jun 21, 2022 at 11:20 AM | Eventbrite
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