County council leads the way in promoting health and wellbeing

IN an effort to promote physical activity and positive mental health Cork County Council has launched a Physical Activity and Wellbeing for North and West Cork, becoming the first local authority in the country to take such an initiative.

The new office comes at a time when the World Health Organisation estimates that by 2030, Ireland will have the worst obesity problem in Europe with 89% of Irish men and 85% of women expected to fall into the ‘overweight’ category. Ireland also accounts for the highest number of female suicides and the second highest amongst men per capita in the EU.

Over 140 council staff welcomed internationally renowned psychologist Dr. Fergus Heffernan to the Mallow Sports Complex to give a presentation on the associations between physical and mental wellbeing and what steps can be taken to promote better health.

Mayor of Cork County Seamus McGrath opened the event, expressing his belief in the importance of the new office.

“As you are aware, mental health issues touch the lives of families all over this county and it continues to have a devastating impact on our society and I am thrilled that Cork County Council have decided to attempt to... address this hugely important issue,” he said.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey said “this initiative will proactively take a role in the provision and promotion of physical activity and its benefits to health and wellbeing at all ages across Cork County.

Mr. Lucey said that “for too long, citizen wellbeing and quality of life have been deemed the responsibility of the health service. Let’s be clear, the health service treat illness, while local authorities have a responsibility to create conditions for wellbeing,” he said.

Dr. Heffernan said more needs to be done on a wider scale to make progress in these areas. “We can talk about the neighbours, the guy down the road but we as a nation have immense difficulty in talking about ourselves and until we grasp the nettle and look inwardly, take a breath and look at ourselves and our family units, we will just kick the ball down the road,” he said.

Nora McSherry, Bernie Wallace and Mary Murphy, all Cork County Library Service, at the launch of Cork County Council’s Physical Activity & Wellbeing Office.

LEFT: Juliet Lucey and Patricia Noonan, both Cork County Council, at the launch of Cork County Council’s physical activity & wellbeing office in the Northern Division, at Mallow GAA Sports Complex. ABOVE: Maurice Kenneally, Mitchelstown, Joe...

Roisin O’Regan, Mallow and Michelle Fenton and Catherine Price, both Fermoy, at the launch of Cork County Council’s Physical Activity & Wellbeing Office in Mallow GAA Sports Complex.

Cork County Mayor Cllr Seamus McGrath speaking at the launch of Cork County Council’s Physical Activity & Wellbeing Ooffice in the Northern Division, at Mallow GAA Sports Complex.