Donegal Town has been selected to become Ireland’s first Positive Wellbeing Community under the Cycle Against Suicide movement.
The initiative is designed to create an attitudinal change to mental health and spread the key message of Cycle Against Suicide – it’s ok not to feel ok; and it’s absolutely ok to ask for help.
The Positive Wellbeing Community in Donegal will be the first step in the national Communities Against Suicide initiative. The programme is being developed to achieve a sustained awareness of emotional wellbeing, build momentum within the community in relation to open communication around mental health, and to develop and make available to people the tools they can use for seeking help.
Each community group, school, club and organisation in Donegal Town is invited to come to a public meeting in the Abbey Hotel on Tuesday 7th February 2017 at 7.30pm.
Local volunteers from Cycle Against Suicide and Dudley Farrell, who is the National Coordinator, will be present to hear suggestions on possible activities and events to be run in the local community.
The input from the community is encouraged in order to shape a programme of activities and events that fit every group, club, school and organisation in Donegal Town and its environs. Volunteers want to hear ideas on how people can promote a healthy body, mind and spirit among everyone in the locality.
“The Cycle Against Suicide route will not be passing through Donegal Town this year so we are looking forward to keeping the message alive in our end of the country. Judging by the response so far we have a lot of people interested in the project,” coordinator Anne McGowan told Donegal Woman.
“Anything could come from this meeting and that’s what we are excited about,” she said.
During Cycle 2016, the Cycle Against Suicide movement visited more than 28 towns/villages/communities across 15 counties with a combined population of 1.45 million. This created the opportunity for the Cycle Against Suicide message to reach a huge number of people.
The organisers of the campaign recognised that to bring about attitudinal change, a sustained presence is required in those communities that have been engaged – a sustained presence that is community led and community owned.
“We all have down days, we have highs and lows and most of us can get through it. For someone who is down we tell them just reach out and ask a friend to meet or go for a coffee and say you’re not in good form. It’s not unusual to not feel okay. If you do need help it’s there and just reach out,” Anne explained.
Upon completion of the programme, the Donegal Town Community will be acknowledged by Cycle Against Suicide as a “Positive Wellbeing Community”
In order to ensure that every group is represented please text Rena Brogan 087 241 6975 or email anne.mcgowan@cycleagainstsuicide.com if you and members of your group or organisation can attend.
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