By Róise Collins
ONE of the country’s most formidable and inspiring mental health advocates, Niall Breslin, will take to the stage at An Grianán Theatre, Letterkenny this weekend.
Niall who is also well known as ‘Bressie’ is a proud Mullingar man. However he has strong Donegal roots on both sides of his family tree, his father is from Bundoran and his maternal grandmother hails from just outside Carndonagh.
But the sandy beaches of Bundoran aren’t the only place where Niall has fond memories. The Blizzards frontman told the Donegal News that he is looking forward to returning to An Grianán Theatre where he has previously performed with his band and as a solo artist.
This Saturday night he won’t be rocking his guitar, instead he will be taking his critically acclaimed and multi-award-winning podcast to the stage, in what he described as a “totally different buzz”.
‘Where Is My Mind’ is an immersive exploration into how we can better look after our heads and hearts in the chaos of the modern world.
“People automatically assume it is going to be intense but it is the complete opposite, it’s a funny look at the state of the mind, specifically my mind,” he said.
The special guest on the night is Donegal Tik Tok star Eric Roberts. Niall said that despite following Eric’s career as he has climbed the ladder toward social media stardom they have yet to cross paths.
He added how he admires his authenticity in dealing with his recently found fame and is looking forward to delving into this during Saturday night’s interview.
“I think he has shot up purely because he is believable, and the internet is filled with an awful lot of what isn’t believable.
“He is comfortable, willing, funny, and emotionally intelligent, all of that is crucial and it will make for a fascinating interview,” he said.
With a resume boasting a career as an acclaimed musician and Leinster rugby player, Niall is also an esteemed academic and advocate for mental health. He has a contagious passion and drive for de-stigmatising mental health.
“We keep telling people how they have to be better, stronger more resilient versions of themselves but if you look at the last few years, we have had multiple wars, a cost of living crisis, a pandemic, so of course we are anxious.
“Sometimes the wellness industry just sweeps in and says “Just do yoga and have a flaxseed smoothie and everything will be grand” but I talk more about how I am overwhelmed with it and it is ok that we all are, there is nothing wrong with us, we aren’t broken, we are just humans.”
An important part of the live show is that the audience come away realising it is ok to be a little anxious, especially men, he added.
“We can’t ignore the facts, which are showing that men are five times more likely to die of suicide and we have to talk about this in a way that’s accessible.
“Donegal is no different than Westmeath where we have a massive problem. We can’t just wish it away, we have to talk about it and figure it out.”
Niall is currently undertaking his PhD in social psychology. He chose to embark on this “mammoth challenge” because throughout his twelve years of mental health advocacy he has witnessed the mental health system reverse.
“I didn’t want to just be somebody throwing stones at the problem and shouting, I wanted to see what I can actually bring to the table to tackle the problem.”
Throughout his research he has delved into deficiencies within the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), including here in Donegal.
“I have looked very closely at the CAMHS services in Donegal and they are not unlike any other county unfortunately, they are badly resourced and badly governed.”
He stressed how the country’s mental health system needs a complete overhaul.
“It’s simply not good enough as it is. We need to remember this is tax payer’s money, our money being ineffectively spent.”
Instead of throwing money at a failed system, Niall is focusing every ounce of his energy on promoting early intervention.
His ultimate goal is to create a very sustainable, impactful and coherent curriculum for students from primary schools right through to secondary level.
This propelled him to co-found the award-winning mental health charity ‘A Lust for Life’. Through their free school’s programme they are teaching young people to be effective guardians of their own minds and have, to date, reached over 1,000 primary schools across the country, including here in Donegal.
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