4,000 ‘REACHING OUT’ LEAFLETS DISTRIBUTED
LEAFLET HAS DETAILS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT SERVICES
OVER 4,000 ‘A Community Reaches Out’ leaflets have been distributed around County Wicklow since the project first began in June.
Bus driver and Bray man Dessie O’Toole came up with the idea of putting out a leaflet gathering contact details in one place for all the services.
The main focus is anything to do with depression, mental health and suicide.
‘I wanted people to talk, and know there is nothing to be ashamed of,’ said Des.
He contacted Living Life Counselling Centre and met with Collette Ghith.
As well as mental health services, the leaflet includes information on support groups, cancer support, family support, addiction services, HSE numbers and helplines.
Des said that there has been an excellent uptake. The gardai and fire brigade are using them and they also have a small business card to hand out.
There is also a web page and Facebook page for the project, and Des has handed out leaflets in Bray, Greystones, Wicklow, Arklow and Kilcoole.
‘If I had my way I would ask everyone to hang one on their fridge,’ he said. ‘I want people to know that there are people out there who want to help, and who understand.’
He said that the leaflet will be relaunched every two years and updated all the time to ensure that the details are correct.
‘It’s important that as a community we show that we care,’ said Des.
To find out more, go to community reachesout.ie.