Almost one in four people will experience mental health difficulties in their lifetime; it’s something that can touch us all.

Little Things is a positive mental health campaign created by the HSE’s Mental Health and Communications Divisions and 32 partner organisations. It was designed to help answer two key questions around looking after our own mental health, and supporting others: ‘What can I do?’ and ‘Where can I go?’ It’s an evidence-based initiative with simple and powerful steps to protect mental health and support others too.

It’s already having a positive impact

Since the start of the campaign, yourmentalhealth.ie has had more than 280,000 visitors and there’s been at 20% increase in calls to the Samaritans, with almost 40% of people saying that they made a change with the intention of looking after their mental health.

The #littlethings campaign highlights that we all experience difficult times in our lives, and that when we do; there are evidence-based things that can make a big difference to how we can protect our own mental health, and support the people we care about. People are encouraged to eat and sleep well, take regular exercise, talk about their problems, drink less alcohol and stay in touch and spend time with others – all proven to improve mental health.

Working with partners

The #littlethings campaign continues to spread awareness nationwide through partnership activity. In August 2016 the GAA chose to promote #littlethings at their Health & Wellbeing theme day, during the All Ireland Football Semi-Final in Croke Park. The event provided a highly visible and exciting way to encourage and normalise discussion around mental health and fitness using the strap line “Little Things can improve your game”. Both organisations are keen to increase their efforts to normalise the conversation around mental health. The GAA and the HSE are continuing to work in partnership to bring the messages of protection, resilience and support for mental wellness to local communities.

Anne O’Connor, HSE National Director, Mental Health Division says: “One of our priorities in the HSE Mental Health Division is to promote positive mental health and to reduce self-harm and the loss of life. The #littlethings campaign aims to change attitudes and behaviour with regard to mental health by using evidence-based and practical support to help people to be better able to look after their own mental health. I want to thank the GAA for working with us to help spread this important message - ‘Little Things can improve your game’- to players, families, supporters and local communities throughout the country”.