Pat Gavin, Tomás Nally, Caolan Brennan Gavin and Helen MacEvilly from Good 2 Talk enjoying the sunshine on Market Square on Saturday afternoon.

Good2Talk wants support of the TDs

Good2Talk Westmeath Longford celebrated its third birthday on Friday May 13, with a mental health awareness event on Market Square in Mullingar that day and on Saturday.

The sunshine brought an extra feelgood factor and positivity to the event said Pat Gavin, CEO of Good2Talk, who spoke about the encouragement and support received from the local community.

“People wanted to talk about the experiences they and members of their family had with the Good2Talk service,” he said, adding that “the feedback suggests that people appreciate that this service is now available in the area and feel it is accessible and friendly”.

Many volunteers came to help with the street collection on the two days, and with their lime green T-shirts and G2T balloons, the team were easily recognisable.

As part of the celebrations G2T were asking people to sign the declaration of commitment to Positive Mental Health and visit the exhibition of ‘Mental Health Through the lens’ photographs.

The team were delighted with the visit of Niall Horan’s mother and grandmother; historian Ruth Illingworth and Robert Troy, TD, who, with many others, called in to offer support and encouragement to the work of Good2Talk.

Mr Gavin said: “Many people asked about how G2T is funded and if we were supported by government – we received €25,000 in 2015 from the HSE Suicide Prevention Office but Good2Talk depends on the support of local fundraising and client contributions.

“We are hoping to receive a similar fund from the suicide prevention office for 2016 but that has not been confirmed.

“It is now time for our local TDs and senators to get behind Good2Talk,” he said.

“This is one time where less talk is needed and more action is required. We have done our part over the last three years in getting Good2Talk up and going with little or no government support, now we need our government representatives to be more proactive in their support.”

Mr Gavin expressed his appreciation to the volunteers who support G2T fundraising events, also the community for supporting the event financially, and thanked all those who took the trouble to stop and talk and offer their words of encouragement.

“Sometimes we need to hear from the people on the ground to remind us why we do this work,” he said.