A group of inspiring young people are calling on all Northsiders to start 2017 on a positive note by getting involved in a youth-led initiative called LÁMH – Learning About Mental Health that will take place in the Coolock and Kilbarrack areas throughout January and February 2017. The initiative aims to promote positive mental health and wellbeing in the community through a series of events that will include a community seminar on mental health, a wellbeing fun day and smaller events hosted by community groups in their own settings.

The series of events will be organised by graduates of Northside Partnership’s Young Community Leaders (YCL) programme. Speaking at an event to launch the LÁMH initiative, YCL graduate Rachel Batty described how the idea for LÁMH emerged, “Mental health is a topic that is very close to our hearts – we have all come into contact with mental health difficulties whether that is personally, in our family or amongst our friends. We wanted to organise events that would emphasise the importance of lending a helping hand and creating a community where everyone feels respected, valued and supported, especially when they need it most.”

The flagship event for the initiative will be Northside Minds – a community seminar on mental health which takes place on Wednesday, 18th January in Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock Village from 2 – 5pm. Speakers at the seminar will include Freelance Catalyst Carol Conway on the topic of self-awareness, Karl Tooher, Director of Northside Counselling Service on the area of self-injury, Peter Keohane, Principal of the Donahies Community School on mental health and education and local youth Owen Murray who will speak about living with bipolar disorder. The event will also feature a panel discussion on “Volunteering for your wellbeing” hosted by Volunteer Ireland, Acting CEO, Anna Gunning.

Following Northside Minds, the group also plans to host a Well Being Fun day in Kilbarrack on Saturday, 18th February. The fun day will celebrate positive living and feature workshops and activities for all the family that will include boxercise, yoga, mindfulness and much more.

Other groups hosting their own events as part of the LÁMH initiative include Darndale Belcamp Village Centre, the Dales Centre and KCCP.

Community members interested in finding out more about the week can visit www.northsidepartnership.ie/lamh-week. Bookings for the Northside Minds seminar can be made via https://northsideminds.eventbrite.ie or by contacting Northside Partnership Reception on 01-8320995. Group bookings are also welcome and can be made by contacting Roisin Liston at roisin.liston@nspartnership.ie.