Ennis Mental Health Association are hosting a special online talk with guest speaker Dr. Tony Bates on ‘Why Talking Matters’ as part of their virtual seminar series.
The registered charity, which has been in existence for over 30 years is comprised of a variety of volunteers with history in the mental health service industry and people that simply want to help. The community organisation, which is not a service provider focuses on mental health issues and promoting positive mental wellbeing. They provide inputs such as lectures, activities, applications and signposting for a number of service providers that people can reach out to.
Since November, they have had to forego their lease at the Solas Centre on Chapel Lane, a space which they shared with Willow Counselling and New Horizons. Their lecture series has now had to transition online, and their next talk hosted by clinical psychologist Dr. Tony Bates is due to take place on Thursday May 13, 2021. Dr. Bates, who founded youth mental health organisation Jigsaw in 2006, was Head of Psychology for 30 years in St. James’s Hospital in Dublin.
On the theme of the talk, Why Talking Helps, he stated: “These days we hear every day that we should talk about our troubles, but how does talking help? It doesn’t make our problems go away. Sometimes talking can make us very upset. And yet talking is what we human beings have been doing since time began to help us manage our lives.”
Each seminar facilitated by Ennis Mental Health Association broaches a different topic, each of which will help provide different coping mechanisms, told EMHA Spokesperson Sharon Maxwell. “It’s all about showing people the journey’s that other people have had. We have had wonderful feedback on some of our talks from people reaching out. They said that it really resonated with them or with people in their lives. What we say here is that mental health is about more than the absence of mental ill health. You don’t wait until you are sick to start taking your vitamins.”
Dr. Tony Bates talk will take place on Thursday May 13, 2021 at 8pm over Zoom. To reserve your space, email: ennismha@mentalhealthireland.ie.
If you or anyone you know are struggling with their mental health, visit ennismha.com for a list of links and numbers to service providers.
