Simonstown Gaels to tackle mental health issues
Club also backs 'Use your head not your fist' project
GAA club Simonstown Gaels will represent Meath in program aimed at promoting mental health awareness, particularly among young people.
The club are also engaged in doing their bit to promote good behaviour on and off the field of play - a subject that is particularly relevant these days when reports of assult on match official are all-too-frequent.
The club's role in the tackling mental health issues is part of initiative promoted by a well-known name in the retail sector - Lidl.
"Simonstown Gaels GFC are delighted and privileged to have been chosen to represent Meath in this year's Lidl One Good Club program," explained Collette Traynor, the Simonstown Gaels Healthy Club Officer.
Lidl’s One Good Club™ is a five-step youth mental health awareness programme , developed in partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and Jigsaw, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health which aims to raise awareness and improve understanding of mental health while empowering clubs to positively affect their members and communities.
This programme will be run over the next 10 weeks, with every fortnight representing a different theme/stage of Jigsaw’s 5 a Day for Mental Health.
1. Be Active;
2. Take Notice;
3. Connect
4. Give;
5 Keep Learning.
"It is a very exciting opportunity for our club and the community. We have developed a programme for 2023 designed at improving the health and wellbeing of our members and the wider community," added Collette Traynor.
"Our first initiative kicked off on the 6th March '23, "Use Your Brain not your Fist" and was run in conjunction with An Garda Siochana.
"Our official launch night is on Monday the 13th March '23 @ 7 pm. in Simonstown Gaels GFC."
POSITIVE BEHAVIOUR
Simonstown Gaels GFC also promote positive behaviour both on and off the field of play.
The GAA and LGFA have seen an increase in verbal and physical incidents at GAA matches, which has led to an increase in the minimum suspension from 48 to 96 weeks for those who assault match officials.
Last night ( Monday 6th March) Simonstown Gaels GFC hosted a community talk in St Oliver’s Primary School, Blackcastle, Navan on the topic of “Use Your Brain, Not Your Fist.”
This talk was supported by representatives of An Garda Siochana, Sergeant Charlie McNulty, Clarissa Byrne and Patrick Clarke, Simonstown and Meath football stars Sean Tobin, Kelsey Nesbit and Kelly Harris, and Meath GAA referee Garda Frank Scully.
The talk was targeted towards adolescent teenagers, young adults, parents, and those involved in coaching GAA teams, on the consequences of both physical and verbal abuse on and off the field of play.
The talk had a huge response from underage GAA teams and was very well supported by the general public on the night.
#OneGoodClub #Connect #Learning @LadiesFootball @Lidl_Ireland @JigsawYMH #MeathGAA