‘Changing The Narrative’ Morning In IRD Duhallow Proves A Great Success

By NIAMH BLACKBURN, CE Rehabilitation Scheme Supervisor, IRD Duhallow

The Changing the Narrative Wellness Morning was held on the 10th September in the James O’Keeffe Institute, Newmarket.

The aim of the event was to acknowledge National Recovery Month and World Suicide Day and to provide an outing to those in the local community to spend a morning focusing on taking care of their mental wellbeing. With the event booking out well in advance, there was a large crowd on the day who had gathered to enjoy the wellness morning.

The morning began with everyone receiving a wellness gift bag. The event then kicked off with our first guest speaker Alice O’Brien who is a Cognitive Behavioral Therapist. She gave a fascinating and relatable presentation on the different thinking styles people can have and focused particularly on the effects of worry. Alice highlighted the methods which can support people to manage worry such as mindfulness, breathing exercise and meditations.

Up next was Dawn Holland from Ganapati School of Yoga who led a relaxing half an hour of guided meditation and breathing exercises, followed by some gentle chair yoga and finished with a body scan.

There was then a short interval for all to enjoy a cuppa and a scone. This also gave people a chance to interact with the local services who provided information stands on the day. These services included ALONE, Grow, Coolmine, Eriu, and The Grove.

After the break Dolores Tiernan from The Grove Addiction Treatment Centre provided invaluable information and insights into addiction and treatment.

Dolores gave stories from her own years of professional experiences working with addiction.

The day finished with a free raffle which was generously sponsored by Kiskeam Community Gym and New Leaf Health Store and Wellness Centre, Kanturk.

If anyone would like any further information on any of the topics discussed or services please do not hesitate to contact IRD Duhallow on 029-60633.

Visit our website; irdduhallow.com or social media pages for more upcoming events and classes.

Photos By Tadhg Curtin

IRD Duhallow’s Niamh Blackburn and Elmarie Young with Dolores Tiernan and Alice O’Brien.

Friend of the magazine, Alice O’Brien, was one of the speakers on the day.

Tom Quinlan and Jennifer O’Sullivan from COOLMINE.

Niamh Blackburn with Irene O’Connell from ALONE.

Noreen Murphy and Nora Daly from GROW.

Erin Geraghty from Eriu.

Dawn Holland from Ganapati School of Yoga helped everyone relax.

It was a great turnout on the morning with fantastic information being given. Dolores Tiernan gave a thoughtful insight into addiction.

Nobody went home empty handed. Everyone received a lovely gift bag upon leaving. There were raffles as well. Pictured here are a some of the winners.

Maureen Buckley.

Kay Deady and Laetitia Logan