Mental health can suffer burnout in the hot weather

WITH so many people basking in the sunshine, the good weather, for some, also poses mental health challenges, including anxiety, tiredness and stress.

The mental health charity GROW, which holds free weekly support meetings in Kanturk and north Cork, is reminding people of the importance of being mindful of their mental health and well-being, and to reach out to others who may feel isolated or alone.

Noreen Murphy O’Sullivan, GROW’s area co-ordinator in Kanturk, explained how the good weather can often be associated with added stress and anxiety.

“One in four people in Ireland experience serious mental health difficulties at some stage in their lives, so maintaining positive mental health and well-being is vitally important for us all,” she said.

“When the weather is sunny we can automatically think that it lifts our mood, but sometimes it can bring added stresses such as increased fatigue, sleepless nights, tiredness and associated anxiety.

“Also, if the sun is shining and we are struggling mentally, emotionally or physically, we often tend to blame ourselves for feeling bad. This can be detrimental to our mental health and well-being,” she adds.

GROW is dedicated to promoting positive mental health and has been helping people on the road to mental health recovery for almost 50 years. In fact, the GROW group in Kanturk will shortly be celebrating 25 years in existence, and many people throughout Duhallow have been helped by GROW.

It holds free weekly peer-support meetings in Kanturk and in north Cork all yearround, including the summer months, for anyone aged over 18 who is struggling with any aspect of their mental health.

The Kanturk GROW group meets at Duhallow Resource Centre (at the rear of Kanturk Community Hospital) on Monday nights at 8pm.

The Mallow GROW Group meets at 8pm each Monday at the Le Chéile Family Resource Centre. Meanwhile, a GROW meeting takes place in Macroom on Tuesday nights at 8pm at the Family Resource Centre, Masseytown, Macroom.

For more details, contact (021) 427 7520 or 1890 474 474. Alternatively, email southernregion@grow.ie or visit www.grow