Galway and Mayo football rivals join forces for mental health project

The senior footballers of Galway and Mayo may be preparing to do battle on the path to All-Ireland glory on Sunday – but they are also uniting to help launch a new programme to help with mental health.

West Be Well is a combined initiative of the HSE and the Connacht Council along with Community Healthcare West to actively promote positive mental health and wellbeing.

And the Connacht Council – with both the Galway and Mayo County Boards – is using the big clash in Castlebar to officially launch a new partnership.

Recently established, the West Be Well group collaborates with the HSE Connecting for Life – Ireland’s national strategy to prevent suicide – the Children and Young People’s Services Committee and Mindspace Mayo.

One of the first initiatives of its kind, it promotes timely, safe, evidence-based mental health messages and local and national mental health supports and services by the HSE or other state-funded organisations as well as mental health and suicide prevention education and training programmes and events.

It does so across a multi-channel digital platform incorporating Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts as well as its recently redesigned website West Be Well – the most comprehensive resource of wellbeing, mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives in Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Former Galway star Iggy Clarke, who is Chairperson of Galway GAA’s Health and Wellness committee, said his committee is also pleased to be part of the collaboration with West Be Well and builds on the work that is being carried out in Galway with clubs and communities.

“The website is a wonderful resource, featuring detailed sections on health and wellbeing, anxiety and grief as well as a page dedicated to young people and mental health issues,” he said.

Breda Crehan-Roche, Chief Officer of Community Healthcare West also welcomed the collaboration.

“The GAA is so active and respected in communities across the country and appreciates the importance of health and wellbeing for all members of the public,” she said.

Galway GAA chairperson, Paul Bellew said this project builds on the strong relationships that the Association already has with the HSE.

“Our Galway Health and Wellbeing committee have been very active since its establishment promoting wellness, good health and inclusiveness for our clubs and communities and this resource assists them to assist clubs who may be seeking assistance,” he said.