March 2016 Bressie to Speak at Mental Health Forum at NUI Galway

NUI Galway will host a public forum to discuss the current challenges and future of mental health in Ireland on Thursday, 24 March in the O’Flaherty Theatre on the Arts Concourse at 7pm. Special guests will include Niall Breslin, better known as ‘Bressie’, and Dr Paul D’Alton, Clinical Psychologist and former president of The Psychological Society of Ireland and will be chaired by Dr Jonathan Egan from the School of Psychology at NUI Galway.

Both Bressie and Dr D’Alton have spoken frequently on the topic of mental health, and have played an important role in challenging and changing attitudes towards mental health issues in Ireland. Dr D’Alton through his work as a Clinical Psychologist, equality campaigner and advocate of mental health reform, and Bressie through his openness and honesty about his own battle with anxiety and depression and through his website www.alustforlife.com.

In an impassioned address to the Joint Committee on Health and Children about mental health and wellbeing at a meeting of the Oireachtas, Bressie and Dr D’Alton described mental ill-health as the great epidemic of this generation, and emphasised the necessity of a whole society response to the alarming increase in self-harm and consistently high rates of suicide in Ireland. Together they challenged the government and the people of Ireland to ask if we were doing enough. 

Hannah Durand, NUI Galway PhD candidate in Psychology and member of the University’s Psychological Society and Psi Chi Chapter, said: “We are very excited to be able to facilitate this essential discussion around the future of mental health in Ireland. This is an important step towards changing for the better how Irish society responds to and takes care of all people with mental health issues.”

Places are limited and early booking is advised. To register visit https://mentalhealthinireland.eventbrite.com.

This event is facilitated by the University’s School of Psychology at NUI Galway, and students from NUI Galway’s Psychological Society and Psi Chi Chapter. 

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