Today, (Saturday, 10th October 2020) on World Mental Health Day, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Mary Butler TD, and the HSE, are calling on people to be more aware of their own mental health and reminding everyone of the small things we can all do to take care of it.

Speaking about the need to care for ourselves as well as each other Minister Butler said:

The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is Mental Health for All and I am committed in my role as Minister for Mental Health and Older People to improving the mental health outcomes of all people living in Ireland. This will be achieved through enhanced access across a continuum of mental health services and supports, from mental health prevention, promotion and early intervention to specialist mental health services where required. In the next few weeks I will establish a committee with responsibility for overseeing the implementation and monitoring of Ireland’s new national mental health policy Sharing the Vision. This policy will be integral to developing Ireland’s mental health system and ensuring that people get the mental health supports that they need, when they need them.

National Director, HSE Community Operations, Yvonne O’Neil added:

When there is a lot going on it’s easy to forget to take time for ourselves. This year, as we continue to learn to live with Covid-19, we want to remind everyone that things like eating well, taking time out, and managing our news intake can all have a positive impact on our mental health. And while not everyone will need mental health support, for those that do there are also variety of services provided through the HSE and our funded partners that can be found on YourMentalHealth.ie.

Seeking help at the right time is so important. Accessing an online or phone support can be a first step towards support from a health service for anyone who is experiencing more serious mental health difficulties. The availability of more online and phone supports makes it easier for people to get the right support at the right time, and the earlier we can reach out for support the better.

The Psychosocial Response Project, currently underway within the HSE, has been working to highlight the different levels of support including online, phone and text as well as face to face that are available for the general public and for health sector staff. Traffic to YourMentalHealth.ie has increased by almost 100%* since this time last year and almost 75% (73.6) has been from mobile which shows people are accessing the information whenever and wherever works best for them.

It is important that people know what services are available to them. We encourage anyone who is concerned about their own mental health or the mental health of someone they care about to visit YourMentalHealth.ie or to call the YourMentalHealth Information Line on 1800 111 888 any time day or night. We would also remind people who might be worried that they can talk to their GP.

Notes:

5 things you can do to look after your mental health:

• Keeping active – Being active every day, something as simple as a walk is proven to have a positive impact on your mood.
• Talking about your problems – Problems feel smaller when they are shared with others. They don’t always have to be solved – just talking about it will do you good.
• Looking out for others – Lending an ear to someone else in trouble, or catching up with someone who seems distant, can make a difference.
• Eating healthily – A regular healthy, balanced and nutritious diet will help both your physical and mental health, and have a positive impact on how you feel.
• Sleeping well – Getting a good night’s sleep of 7 or 8 hours, as often as you can, will have a positive impact on how you feel.

*  1,316,706 visits to YourMentalHealth.ie between October 2019 and October 2020 vs. 766,252 visits to YourMentalHealth.ie between October 2018 and October 2019.

Background:

Visit YourMentalHealth.ie for information on mental health supports and services that are available nationally and locally including online resources, telephone and face-to-face services relevant to a wide range of mental health issues including depression, anxiety and stress.

Or

Freephone the YourMentalHealth Information Line on 1800 111 888 anytime day or night.

Mental Health supports available via YourMentalHealth.ie include

Call the Samaritans on 116 123

Text YMH to 50808

Online counselling services visit www.mymind.org or www.turn2me.ie

We encourage anyone who is concerned about their own or mental health to talk to their GP. A GP can offer support and advice around a range of mental health issues including feelings of sadness, anxiety, self-harm and psychosis. They can tell you about supports in your community and also refer you to counselling or to a mental health service.

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