Community Healthcare Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo
Traveller organisations in HSE Community Healthcare, Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, Sligo (CH CDLMS) hosted a conference in Sligo titled ‘Traveller Youth Mental Health and Education’ on October 10th 2023.
The event was funded and supported by HSE Mental Health Services and was held on World Mental Health Day.
A large crowd attended the conference, which sought to address some of the trends and challenges facing young people in the Traveller community in terms of mental health while also putting a focus on some of the positive initiatives currently taking place in the areas of education and existing support services.
The day included a range of contributions from a number of organisations including the MSLETB, Connecting For Life, HSE Mental Health Services and Mental Health First Aid Ireland as well as personal contributions from young people from the Traveller community. There was also information available from numerous organisations.
Speakers included:
- Latisha McCrudden, who is involved with numerous organisations including Irish Traveller Movement , Mincéirs Whiden, National Youth Assembly of Ireland, National Women's Council of Ireland, and Spunout.
- Tony McCusker, a General Manager in the HSE National Mental Health Office.
- Tomas Murphy
Area Director of Nursing for Sligo/Leitrim/South Donegal/West Cavan Mental Health Services and Chair of the Regional Suicide Reduction forum-Connecting for Life..
Manager of Sligo Traveller Support Group and a member of a number of national committees including the National Traveller Health Implementation Group and the National Traveller Health Advisory Forum.
A Programme Manager in the HSE Mental Health Engagement and Recovery national office.
- Lee Anna Ward, Coordinator from the Galway Traveller Movement, Traveller Activist and Director of Youth Work, Ireland.
- Donal Scanlan
Mental Health First Aid Ireland Manager.
A round table panel discussion with young Traveller persons also took place on the day.
Sligo Traveller Support Group manager Bernadette Maughan said “The issue of poor mental health is one that impacts all communities, including the Traveller community. Unfortunately we are a community that is disproportionately impacted by it and we are facing a major challenge in trying to protect the wellbeing of our families, friends and our young people. While things can be difficult at times and we have to face up to the challenges in front of us, it’s important that we also focus on some of the positive strategies, interventions, and supports that are available. Education is an important element of that and that’s why we placed it as a central theme of our conference.”
Third level student and advocate Latisha McCrudden said “As someone that has experienced numerous personal challenges in my life I was delighted to be a part of this conference. We have to shine a light on both the difficulties our community faces in terms of mental health but also the proactive and positive ways in which we can bring about change. Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter. I want to be one of the voices for the voiceless.”
Ita Madden, HSE CDLMS Regional Mental Health Service Coordinator – Travellers said “This is a follow on from our conference in October last year which created a space to ‘hear the unheard voices of Travellers’. Participants on the day agreed there is a need to focus on Education from a number of different perspectives; one of which was the positive impact education can have on Traveller youth mental health into the future”.
Last updated on: 16 / 10 / 2023
