Welcome to See Change Sessions with Alittlegail! This podcast created by See Change and hosted by Abigail McDonnell, is all about starting the conversation and breaking the stigma surrounding mental health and the difficulties that may come within it.
This week we are joined by Abigail McDonnell our host, as she welcomes John-Paul Collins, an Irish Traveller and mental health & suicide prevention worker at Exchange House and David Collins who is also is an Irish Traveller, a poet and is involved in the Exchange House Ireland National Traveller Services Creative Arts Group. In this episode, we hear first hand experience of the discrimination Travellers face daily and the impact this has had on Traveller mental health.
For the month of July we will be joined by our partner organisations and supporters in order to share the voices of the Traveller community with members of the Traveller community joining us later in the month.
For more information, visit seechange.ie for more information on mental health stigma.
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Traveller Support and information:
All Ireland Traveller Health Study: A 2010 report on the current status of Traveller health in Ireland
Text PAVEE to 50808 is a free, 24/7, national, anonymous mental health support text line for young Travellers in Ireland.
Exchange House Ireland’s National Travellers Service is an organisation of Traveller and non-Travellers and leading provider of front line and support services Phone: 01 8721094 (Monday – Friday between the hours of 9AM – 5PM, 4PM on Fridays) Email: info@exchangehouse.ie
Pavee Point Traveller & Roma Centre is a national non-governmental organisation comprised of Travellers, Roma and members of the majority population working in partnership at national, regional, local and international levels.
To watch “It Doesn’t Matter”, a short film that aims to raise awareness about suicide in the Traveller Community, end the stigma associated with suicide and promote mental health services equipped to help, click here.
Helplines:
Call 999 or 112 if you or someone you know is about to harm themselves.
Samaritans Free 24 hour listening service for anyone in distress. FreePhone: 116 123 Email: jo@samaritans.org.
For free 24/7 support in a crisis, free-text HELLO to 50808.
To avail of Shine Services contact phil@shine.ie or call 01 541 3715