Westmeath GAA promotes mental health initiative

(Above) The latter two will conduct some fundraising on the day. Pictured at the local launch of the Together for Mental Health initiative at O’Brien’s Renault, Mullingar were Ciaran O’Brien, Tomás Nally and Gary Gorman (Good2Talk) and Frank Mescal (Health and Wellbeing Officer).

Westmeath GAA is pleased to announce that on Sunday next, 23rd February, the county footballers will carry a special message on their jerseys for the Allianz League Division 2 clash against Armagh in TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar. Together for Mental Health is an initiative involving Pieta House, Athlone and Good2Talk, Mullingar, and supported by the county’s main sponsors, Renault Ireland, through O’Brien’s Renault, Mullingar.

Pieta House provides a free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress, those who engage in self-harm and those bereaved by suicide. Good2Talk offers a counselling and support service for those who present with a range of issues including depression, grief, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation.

The launch of the initiative took place at O’Brien’s Renault garage, Mullingar, on Thursday evening 13th February.

Billy Foley, Westmeath GAA Chairperson said: “We are delighted to partner with Pieta House and Good2Talk for this special day in TEG Cusack Park. We know our patrons will support the initiative and hope that through it at least one person will acknowledge and seek support for their mental health. Our thanks to our players and team management for their unwavering support for this proposal, and thanks also to all in Armagh for their support also”.

Elaine Austin, CEO of Pieta House said: “We are extremely grateful to Westmeath GAA, the players, captains and fans for their kind and generous support of Pieta House through this initiative, Together For Mental Health. With the support of the local community we have been able to help over 600 people in crisis over the past three years from our Athlone centre. The funds received from match day collections will go a long way to helping us provide our nationwide services in 2020 which are free of charge to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self-harm”.

Manager and CEO of Good2Talk, Kathleen Poynton said “We wish to thank Westmeath GAA and Renault Ireland for offering us this opportunity to highlight our services. Good2Talk extends a counselling service which is available to all members of the community and are very well supported and respected locally. We are really pleased to partner with Pieta House for this idea, with our joint slogan Together for Mental Health as an apt statement”.

Ciaran O’Brien, M.D. of O’Brien’s Renault, Mullingar stated: “We, at O’Brien’s and Renault, strongly support the outstanding work of all the counselling staff at Pieta House and Good2Talk and are delighted to give our full support to next Sunday’s event. We thank the Armagh players for their help and are really pleased to support the Together for Mental Health slogan on the Westmeath jerseys for the day”.

The special Westmeath jersey was launched by Ciaran O’Brien, MD O’Brien’s Renault and Frank Mescall, Westmeath GAA Health and Well-being Officer in O’Brien’s on Thursday last with Tomás Nally and Gary Gorman, Good2Talk and Gerard Tiernan, Pieta House.