GAA and Samaritans join forces
LAST year the Cork Samaritans and the GAA joined forces to encourage people to seek support when life is tough.
They have now marked their first year of their partnership and this week, the Cork County Board and Cork Samaritans gathered in Pairc Ui Rinn today supported by Cork Players, Valerie Mulcahy, Brid Stack, Ken O Halloran, Brian Hurley and Alan Cadogan.
The aim of the partnership is to reduce the stigma which surrounds mental ill-health and to promote help for those who see it among GAA members.
Over the past year both organizations have pushed mental health to the top of the agenda and are encouraging GAA members and the wider community to seek support and to talk when life is difficult.
Cork County Board chairman Gerard Lane said: “Raising awareness of mental health is a key aspect of the GAA’s health and wellbeing strategy..”
He said: “Like the GAA, the Samaritans is a long-established volunteer-based body, and have provided a vital, often life-saving service here in Cork for many years.” He said: “We are delighted to work in partnership with them to encourage people who are going through a difficult time to seek help, while also tackling the stigma associated with mental health problems.” Mr Lane pointed out that in recent years, the experiences of many GAA always have somewhere to turn players have highlighted these issues, in difficult times. and working with the Samaritans will Samaritans are now working with help them to ensure that their members Committee and holding talk clinics.