Mind Yourself Press Release Sept 2010
Mind Yourself: Mental health and well-being: Information and self-help scheme
Mind Yourself! is a scheme to promote mental health and well-being of individuals and families in County Wexford. Popular self-help books ans DVDs in the public libraries help people to help themselves. The scheme was launched on Wednesday, 30th September 2009 and is available from all of County Wexford's public libraries.
Books cover areas such as stress, depression, anxiety and low self-esteem. Parenting difficulties such as sibling rivalry and bullying are covered also. Books for children as well as adults are provided. Borrowing from the library is free. All books and DVDs are recommended by the staff of the HSE's Wexford Psychology Unit.
"The Mind Yourself! scheme is useful to everyone looking for assistance for themselves or a family member, as well as for people working in the community with people in need", said Pauline Bryan from the HSE. "So the number of potential users of the scheme is vast. It also includes doctors, other health professionals, community workers, voluntary groups, teachers, employers and the clergy."
Approximately a quarter of all patient attending GPs' surgeries in Ireland have concerns about emotional or mental health issues, the most prevalent being anxiety and depression. GPs manage the care of many of these patients with limited resources. Even when people are referred, the waiting time to be seen by a psychologist is lengthy. Access to quality self-help materials means that referred individuals can actively engage in improving their mental health during this waiting time.
Also, for all the poeple who have not yet sought help and who are struggling alone with depression, anxiety or other issues covered by the Mind Yourself! scheme, there are now excellent materials available for free from local public libraries.
Wexford Library Service is providing several copies of all the books, and there are over 100 titles recommended.
Launch of County Wexford Storytelling Network website
press release press release press release press release
New Storytelling Website an important tourist resource
Launch in Enniscorthy Library
on Friday 28th August 2009 from 8:00 pm
Cllr. Anna Fenlon, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council, officiating
Wexford’s storytelling website was launched in Enniscorthy library on Friday night. The site, at www.storiesfromthehearth.ie , outlines the model of community house and public library support in Wexford. This is unique in Ireland. Important features in the site are a timetable of forthcoming performances and profiles of Wexford’s eight community storytelling houses. Storytelling is available in Wexford every week. A map and directions to each House is provided. Pod-cast excerpts from performances for each house are included.
The storytelling renaissance in County Wexford has attracted tourist interest for many years. Cllr. Anna Fenlon, Cathaoirleach, Wexford County Council, who launched the site described it as another cultural resource and another tourist product, for which there is a growing demand. She emphasised also the welcoming ethos and said the Houses were important rural development agencies, an alternative to the pub for a night out, hospitable, free and genuinely welcoming to all. “We may take this approach for granted,” said Fenlon, “but it is increasingly rare in modern Ireland and I am delighted to acknowledge and applaud it tonight. The goodwill, neighbourliness and encouragement of the community houses is as powerful as the entertainments they create.”
The crowd proved the point. All the Houses were out in force and game for everything. They were supported by care-workers, teachers, development agencies and other public representatives many of whom had worked with local storytellers in the past. The formalities over, website developer Yvonne Smith guided the interested through the website which was live in the library’s IT suite.
In true storytelling tradition, someone at the back of the room started a singsong and the real business of the evening was begun. A long night and a good one!
Wexford’s Storytelling website was developed with assistance from Wexford County Council and FAS.
For more information contact
- Yvonne Smith : 087 622 8434
- Fionnuala Hanrahan 087 207 0551
Local memories collected for the 11th Storytelling Festival
