‘At some of the lowest points in my life, a kind gesture made all the difference’

Ambassador for See Change, Ireland’s national mental health stigma reduction partnership, Ashbourne woman Barbara Brennan is encouraging everyone to support Green Ribbon month

An Ashbourne woman is one of the driving forces behind Green Ribbon month which aims to get as many people as possible talking about mental health to help end stigma and discrimination.

Barbara Brennan is an ambassador and co-coordinator for See Change, Ireland’s national mental health stigma reduction partnership, which is funded by the HSE National Office of Suicide Prevention.

She is promoting Green Ribbon month this October encouraging everyone to start a conversation and wear the Green Ribbon to show their support.

“Wearing a small green ribbon doesn't seem like it could really make a difference to anyone. However, if you have ever struggled with anything in your life, and found a supportive ear, you will know the difference a single conversation can have.

“At some of the lowest points in my life, a kind gesture made all the difference and helped me find the will to try again. This campaign is about recognising the struggle of others, and allowing conversations about mental health be part of our regular lives, so that it is not a barrier to seeking help. Wear a Green Ribbon this October to show that you're open to having that conversation.”

Green Ribbon will run virtual events throughout the month of October which will have an array of different speakers focusing on the workplace, the voices of lived experience, and partners of See Change, on the topics of discrimination, behaviour and societal change. You can find out more about these events on the See Change website and social media throughout the month.

Recent research through a collaboration between See Change and the YOULEAD group, based at NUI Galway found one out of five people (22 per cent) would conceal mental ill health from their family.

It also found 78 per cent of people would feel comfortable discussing mental ill health if a friend or family member asked. Over half (59 per cent) would live with someone with a lived experience of a severe and enduring mental illness.

Almost all of the people (94 per cent) would work with someone with a lived experience of a severe and enduring mental illness, while 44 per cent would disclose personal experience of a severe and enduring mental illness to their work colleagues.

Over a third (36 per cent) would disclose personal experience of a severe and enduring mental illness to their human resources department.

While some of these figures show that people are more open to a conversation about mental health than they were ten years ago, the survey also showed that people did not have a real understanding of severe and enduring mental illness.

Barbara Brennan said this year’s Green Ribbon campaign focuses on the importance of sharing how you really feel.

You can order Green Ribbons by emailing admin@seechange.ie with your full name, delivery address (including eircode), contact number, email address and ribbon quantity, or by placing an order directly on the website www.seechange.ie .

Alternatively, you can pick up a Green Ribbon during the campaign at your nearby Boots, AIB or Eir stores as a symbol for starting conversation about mental health.