MAJELLA O’Donnell was among the advocates who launched a new mental health initiative.
Rain didn’t dampen spirits on Sandymount Beach as Majella along with Olympian boxer Aidan Walsh and content creator Aoibhinn Raleigh launched MindShift Ireland with Donal Scanlan, Head of MindShift Ireland.
The new national initiative from St John of God University Hospital is focused on helping people move from mental health awareness to action.
Launching ahead of World Mental Health Day on October 10, MindShift Ireland aims to give people the knowledge and confidence to recognise when something may be wrong, start a conversation and help someone access appropriate support.
Developed by the team behind more than a decade of mental health training in Ireland, MindShift Ireland brings internationally recognised, evidence-based programmes together under one platform, building on Mental Health First Aid training completed by more than 37,000 people to help turn awareness into the knowledge, confidence and practical skills to respond when it matters.
Majella O’Donnell said: “From my own experience, I know how important it is to have people around you who notice when something isn’t right and who aren’t afraid to start a conversation. You don’t have to be an expert to make a difference, but having the confidence to ask, listen and know where someone can get help is incredibly important.
“That is what really appealed to me about MindShift. We have become much better at talking about mental health, and the next step is making sure people feel equipped to act on that awareness.”
Donal Scanlan, Head of MindShift Ireland, said: “Over the past decade, Mental Health First Aid Ireland has helped thousands of people across Ireland build the confidence and skills to recognise when someone may be struggling and know how to respond. We have also seen a real change in how openly people talk about mental health, but awareness alone is not enough.
“MindShift Ireland is the next stage of that journey, bringing Mental Health First Aid and The Working Mind together under one identity. Our ambition is simple: to help more people know what to notice, know what to say and know what they can do – whether at home, at work, in schools or in their communities.”
MindShift Ireland will work across workplaces, communities and wider society with programmes designed to build practical mental health knowledge, confidence and skills in different settings.
Its programmes include Mental Health First Aid, which equips people to recognise and respond to mental health problems and crises, and The Working Mind, a workplace programme focused on mental health literacy, reducing stigma and building a shared language around mental health at work.
For more information on MindShift Ireland, mindshift.ie.