Campaigns 2013
Men’s Health Week 2013
Men’s Health Week is celebrated worldwide annually. The Campaign gives everyone (health professionals, service providers, sporting bodies, community groups, employers, policy makers, the media, individuals) an opportunity to encourage men and boys to take better care of their health and to seek help or treatment at an early stage.
Each year individual countries focus on a specific theme. This year, MHW ran from June 6th- June 10th.
Ireland’s theme for 2013 was “Action Men- Turning Words into Action”.
The College marked the week by publishing three articles written by members on mental health issues which are often associated with young men.
The pieces also highlight the College’s 2013 Theme, Youth Mental Health
- Getting worked up about your mental health by Dr Paddy Power (published in Irish Medical News)
- A little knowledge isn’t a dangerous thing by Dr Mark Beirne (Irish Health)
- Suicide and Young People- The Irish Situation By Dr Gary McDonald (The Journal)
- Worth getting worked up about? What is happening with young men’s mental health? by Dr Paddy Power
Click here to download the full programme of events marking Men’s Health Week in Ireland.
For further information, please see the Men’s Health Forum Ireland website and follow them on Twitter @MensHealthIRL for updates, as well as general news and information on mens’ Mental Health.
See Change Green Ribbon Campaign May 2013
“See Change is Ireland’s national programme working to change minds about mental health problems in Ireland. We’re working in partnership with with Irish organisations to create a disruptive, community driven social movement to reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with mental health problems. We’re passionate about equality, and part of our mission is to ensure that everyone enjoys the same rights on an equal basis”, See Change.
This year saw See Change launch its first annual Green Ribbon Month. In May, See Change and its 80 partner organisations rolled out a month long national green ribbon campaign to get people talking openly about mental health problems. See Change’s aim is to make the month of May every year synonymous with promoting open conversation of mental health and challenging the stigma of mental health problems. They will ask people every year is to wear the green ribbon and support a movement to spark a national conversation about mental health all over Ireland- their aim over time is to make the month of May every year synonymous with challenging the stigma of mental health- similar to what the AIDS awareness red ribbon/breast cancer pink ribbons have achieved.
This campaign has already been launched in the US and beyond as the international symbol for challenging the stigma of mental health problems. See Change distributed 150,000 green ribbons will be distributed nationwide free of charge to spark a national conversation about mental health in boardrooms, break-rooms, chat rooms, clubhouses, arts venues, college campuses and around kitchen tables throughout Ireland. As proud See Change partners, the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland were delighted to be involved and ran two very successful events to raise awareness:
• Knitting Get Together at Stitch Wool Shop, Beaumount
• The CPsychI team ran the Dublin Staff Relay for Green Ribbon and Irish Autism Action on May 23rd. A great evening was had by all, and the College came 167th out of a total of 457 teams!
Read See Change’s full report here on some of of the main Green Ribbon highlights