On October 10th to mark World Mental Health Day, Meath County Council in collaboration with Louth County Council and SOSAD Ireland launched a novel, community driven, positive mental health initiative called Mindful Connect. 

The project will identify many of the groups and organisations offering positive mental health supports in County Meath and compile them in a resource pack that will be readily available to the public on Meath County Councils website and updated regularly. Members of these groups and other local volunteers in Meath will be able to become a Mindful Connect Ambassador. This role will involve undertaking free training both on the resource pack itself and on other skills to support them in their role as an Ambassador. Recruitment of the Ambassadors will commence in October 2023.   

Carol Murphy, General Manager of SOSAD Ireland said “I think we have all come to realise that investing in our positive mental health is what will give us the resources for the low times. I would hope that Mindful Connect will help more people to be able to get the help, support and information they need to enable them to experience better positive mental health. The second phase of the project will be the recruitment of the Ambassadors. The training provided by SOSAD Ireland will provide the Ambassadors with the skills to use their voice and networks to promote positive conversations about positive mental health in their community”.

Aisling O'Donnell, Healthy Ireland Coordinator for Meath said ''In late 2022 after an extensive research, stakeholder and public consultation process, Healthy Meath identified positive mental health as a key area of concern for the population of Meath. Mindful Connect Is just one of the many initiatives being delivered locally to improve the health and wellbeing of the population of County Meath. There has been a great response so far with over 80 community, charity and statutory organisations across Meath already signed up to promote their supports and services and that number is sure to grow as word spreads.''

Speaking at the launch Cathaoirleach Cllr. Tommy Reilly said “World Mental Health Day is about raising awareness of mental health and driving positive change for everyone’s mental health, so it is fitting that this community-based initiative is being launched today”.

Continuing the Cathaoirleach added “I would like to take this opportunity to thank SOSAD Ireland, the local community groups, those involved in local health and wellbeing initiatives and my colleagues in Meath and Louth County Council for all the work they have done to develop Mindful Connect. This is a direct response to the call from communities to bring greater awareness to the excellent opportunities available on our doorstep to support us all to improve our positive mental health.  Although this is just the beginning, I hope that this project grows from strength to strength and becomes an excellent example of community helping community!”. 

The project is being funded by Healthy Ireland and supported by the Department of Health. 

If you would like to learn more or get involved In Mindful Connect you can do so by emailing meathhif@sosadireland.ie  or community@meathcoco.ie.

Pictured L-R:  Finbar Gethins, Senior Executive Officer Louth County Council, Carol Murphy, General Manager SOSAD Ireland, Paula Keenan, Healthy Ireland Coordinator Louth County Council, Councillor Tommy Reilly, Cathaoirleach of Meath County Council, Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council, Aisling O’Donnell, Healthy Ireland Coordinator Meath County Council, Fiona Fallon, Senior Executive Officer Meath County Council