A special information evening will be held in Ballygar this week with the aim of setting up local mental health supports in the area.
The idea is being put forward by Louise Holian who has a background in youth and community work, as well as fitness and health promotion.
Louise is presently studying counselling and psychotherapy on a part time basis and says she'd like to see mental health on the agenda all year round instead of just 'once-off' events.
She says that as someone who has lived experience of mental ill health, she's interested in setting up a peer support group in the area where people could help to fill a gap or help direct people to the service they need.
"It's trying to just take the stigma out of it and say that's nit's not about being strong or weak, you're not less of a person because you're finding things tough. Sometimes it can be very hard, even if you do get the courage to ring a councillor, it can very hard because you can be waiting for ages to access something. This is like a stopgap and more like a community first aid response, in the same way we have first aid classes or defibrillator training so this is the same kind of idea, but with mental health".
The information evening about the project will take place in the courthouse in Ballygar on this Thursday evening at 7pm and anyone interested is being invited to attend.
