TRAVELLER mental health is recognised as a critical issue in Ireland.
While the Traveller community continues to face significant challenges, including discrimination, poverty, social exclusion, and barriers to accommodation, education, employment and healthcare there is also strength, resilience and hope in the community.
In 2022 the Donegal Traveller Project published a report titled ‘Our Lives, Our Voices, Our Future: Traveller Men,’ which showed early experiences of racism, segregation and low expectations in school can have a deep and lasting impact as Traveller men internalised those experiences, carrying feelings of inadequacy into adulthood.
The report was funded by HSE’s Donegal Connecting for Life oversight group which Ciara Wray, HSE’s Suicide Resource Co-ordinator said was one of the agreed actions to better understand suicidal behaviour in order to support communities including the Traveller community and enhance services to meet their needs.
While Traveller mental health statistics remain stark with significantly higher rates of depression and suicide, particularly among young men, there is growing momentum to respond with action, compassion and culturally informed support.
Donegal Traveller project and other Traveller organisations across the region are working together to promote awareness, reduce stigma and make services more accessible in order for Travellers to feel they can reach out for help without judgement.
Ita Madden, Regional Coordinator of Traveller mental health was working with a Traveller man recently who shared his journey of strength and hope.
Liam, who is a 36 year old Traveller, married young and became a young father.
When his marriage broke down, he faced the enormous challenge of raising his children while navigating the court system and financial hardship.
He carried the weight of responsibility quietly, holding everything inside.
Growing up in a large family with very little, Liam experienced instability from an early age.
His father struggled with alcoholism, and family separation deeply affected him.
When his own marriage ended, the stress triggered a nervous breakdown.
He lost confidence, struggled to sleep and eat, and felt there was no light ahead.
With no job and children depending on him, the pressure felt overwhelming.
Liam’s story is one of courage as he took a first brave step by speaking to his GP, even though fear held him back from saying how bad things truly were.
He worried that being honest might lead to judgment or social services taking his children.
Instead, he found support with medication helping to stabilise him, and when counselling was suggested, he made the decision to attend. This decision changed everything.
Through counselling, Liam began to rediscover his strength.
The counsellor supported him not only emotionally but practically, connecting him with services that helped him rebuild stability for himself and his children.
Although he kept it quiet at first, worried about stigma, he began to understand something powerful: asking for help is not weakness, it is strength.
At his lowest points, Liam admits he thought about ending his life.
What kept him going was love, love for his children and a determination to be a good father.
That love became his anchor and his purpose.
Today, Liam keeps himself busy with positive routines and meaningful activities.
He knows now that when you feel low, it can seem like nobody cares but someone does.
Sometimes it is just about finding that person.
Irish Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, announced additional funding for 2026 for Traveller-specific mental health and suicide prevention initiatives and part of this resource will go towards the National Traveller counselling service which provides culturally appropriate, peer-led and community based mental health care with outreach, one to one and online supports.
This national service is now being expanded to meet the needs of young Travellers and they can be contacted at 086 308 1476 or www.travellercounselling.ie.
There is strength in experience, and hope in willingness to speak, to support one another and to seek help when needed.
These small steps can open the door to recovery.
Donegal Traveller Project can be contacted at on 074 912 9281 or www.donegaltravellersproject.ie.
CRISIS SUPPORT
If you or someone you know is in immediate distress, help is available 247:
• Emergency Services: 999 or 112
• Pieta (suicide and selfharm support): 1800 247 247 or Text HELP to 51444
• Samaritans: 116 123
• 50808 Text Service: Text HELLO to 50808 for free, anonymous support
This article has been brought to you from the HSE Connecting for Life Donegal
