By Colin Regan, GAA Community & Health Manager

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In recent years many male and female club and county stars have played an important role in destigmatising mental health by talking about their personal experiences of depression, anxiety, and other associated conditions.

Despite such strides and the fact that experiencing a mental health problem can happen to any of us, there remains an unhealthy stigma attached to our emotional wellbeing. To challenge this attitude, the National Stigma Reduction Partnership designated May as Green Ribbon month, a time when everyone was encouraged to talk about mental health and address the stigma associated with mental health problems, one conversation at a time.

The GAA community remains to the fore in driving this healthy conversation, and none more so than in the country’s capital. We all know that when it comes to a bit of banter, the Dubs are hard to beat. Taking their lead from their county’s Health & Wellbeing Committee, a number of the city’s clubs have put their money where their mouths are and have produced inspirational videos that reminds their members that it’s ok not to be ok and that it’s a sign of strength, not a weakness, to talk about mental health problems and to seek help.

Dublin GAA says ‘I Do’

The county’s Health & Wellbeing Committee, under the Chairmanship of Clare O’Sullivan (Naomh Olafs), Michael O’Toole, PRO (Craobh Chiarain) and Stephen Maguire, Secretary (Fingal Ravens), started the conversation when they launched their ‘I do’ campaign last year. It is designed to promote positive mental health awareness at an individual, family, club, and community level across the communities of Dublin City and county and further afield.

When asked “Do you accept that your mental health is an equal challenge to your wellbeing as is your physical health?” Dublin football and hurling managers, Jim Gavin and Ger Cunningham, responded “I do” and came together to show their commitment on video. They are joined by over 20 well known players from Dublin football, hurling, Ladies football and Camogie teams who has put their voices and faces behind this important campaign. Check it out here: http://www.dublingaa.ie/news/dublin-gaa-promoting-positive-mental-health-with-i-do-campaign

Crokes Talks

Taking the ball, and the conversation, and running with it, Kilmacud Crokes, one of 60 clubs across the 32 counties involved in Phase 2 of the award winning ‘Healthy Clubs’ project, have launched their own ‘Crokes Talks’ video. This brilliant piece highlights how health and wellbeing has been integrated into the club’s philosophy and reminds everyone that they contribute to a positive club experience for all members. As one contributor stresses, ‘It’s not all about fixing what’s wrong, it’s about building on what’s strong.’

The 1 minute 30 second video offers a wonderful insight into the full spectrum of life, young old, male female, coming together to ensure that Kilmacud Crokes members talks about more important things that just match results. Check it out here: https://youtu.be/W4Ra0FNbmw0 

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Connacht GAA’s #LittleThings

The club is also a supporter of the HSE’s #LittleThings campaign, an emotional wellbeing campaign developed by the National Office for Suicide Prevention that highlights the little things we can all do to develop, maintain, and support our emotional health and wellbeing. Backed by the GAA at national level, earlier this month the Connacht Council also put their full weight behind the campaign at the launch of their provincial championship.

All county grounds in the province will carry signage promoting the campaign’s messages, while the captains of all teams involved also made themselves available for a photoshoot in the Connacht Centre of Excellence to drive awareness. (Last year all Connacht minor squads wore warm-up jerseys before their championship games signposting their peers and supporters to www.yourmentalhealth.ie , the HSE’s one-stop repository for information and resources.) 

Cuala GAA’s #stopthestigma

Not to be outdone by the Crokes, their southern Dublin neighbours, the Cuala Club in Dalkey, frame their emotional wellbeing conversation around a topic that’s very real and immediate to every athlete: achieving one’s potential and how an injury – be it mental or physical – can hamper your endeavours to do just that. Their short film #StoptheStigma – available to view at https://youtu.be/Xnjz6sMJy18 – reassures any club members experiencing an emotional burden or mental health problem that in the Cuala Club it will considered no different to a torn hamstring or a dead leg. They will support you in your recovery and assist you in accessing whatever help may be required on that journey. In other words, your mental fitness is every bit as important to the club as your physical fitness. The project was supported by some of the young Cuala club members who are participating in the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative.

Tribeswomen Talk for Pieta

Travel across the Shannon once more and the Galway Girls are also doing their bit for emotional wellbeing. Taking a unique approach, the Tribeswomen Senior Ladies football squad have given up their smart phones for the month of June to raise awareness of the potential negative impact excessive social media usage can have on young people’s wellbeing, self-esteem, and even sleeping patterns. They also want to encourage others, and young women especially, to recognise the importance of living in the now and really talking to friends and family rather than always opting for the virtual option on social media.

Their light-hearted video has a serious message and has already racked up 1,334 views on YouTube. (See https://youtu.be/NnZ3nsZLrfI). They also hope to raise €10,000 for their local Pieta House service in Galway (Pieta House is one of the GAA’s official charities for 2016). As squad member Deirdre Brennan, a health promotion student, explains in their video, health is our most important asset, you can’t really put a price on it.

Craobh Chiaráin, Donnycarney

Switching back to the northside of the Liffey, the Craobh Chiaráin Club in Donnycarney, another participant in Phase 2 of the GAA Healthy clubs project, has tapped into the professional expertise that exists in their club to ensure that the emotional health of young members, especially, is supported. Two accredited counsellors, adult members of the club, offer wellbeing matters talks, life-skills workshops, and a fully confidential, free, talk service to any young member in need of emotional support (in consultation with parents/guardians, of course). The club has also signed up to the National Green Ribbon campaign, doing their part to end the stigma associated with mental health. In fact, when their minor hurlers played Kilmacud Crokes in 2015 both sets of team jerseys were adorned by green ribbons to show their solidarity.

‘In my own Words’

The importance of communication and the healing power of conversation is something very personal to young Dublin and Ballyboden St. Enda’s hurler Karl Reddy. In a video produced by his St. Colmcille’s Community School (Knocklyon) friends for the Fresh Film Competition, Ireland’s Young Filmmakers of the Year Awards, the Thin Lizzy fan brilliantly articulates the impact on his emotional wellbeing of growing up with a speech impediment. Unsurprisingly, the piece, entitled ‘In my own Words’, won first place in the senior group category. See why here: https://youtu.be/Ips63DwNpa4

See Change is an alliance of organisations working together through the National Stigma Reduction Partnership to bring about positive change in public attitudes and behaviour towards people with mental health problems. The key message of the Green Ribbon campaign is that you don’t need to be an expert to start talking about mental health or have all the answers. And your club doesn’t need to produce a video to achieve real impact. Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is to let someone know that you are there for them and simply listen. Tips include:

• Talk, but listen too: Simply being there will mean a lot.

• Take your lead from the person: As a first step, ask them how best you can help.

• Avoid the clichés: Phrases like ‘Cheer up’, ‘I’m sure it’ll pass’ and ‘Pull yourself together’ definitely won’t help - Being open minded, non-judgemental and listening will.

• Keep in touch: There are lots of small ways of showing support - Send a text or just ask someone how they are doing.

• Don’t just talk about mental health: Just be yourself, chat about everyday things as well.

To learn more go to www.seechange.ie . To find out more about the GAA Healthy Clubs project and to access some of the mental fitness, emotional health and wellbeing resources available to all GAA clubs, including our innovative Play in my Boots packs, and the GAA’s Mental Health Charter, visit www.gaa.ie/community