MENTAL HEALTH
and implementing various Wellbeing and Wellness programmes, initially to CIF member companies,” he explained. “I’m also engaging with the Lighthouse Construction Industry charity’s FREE 24/7 Helpline just launched at the start of June, and a Wellbeing App. Currently, access to an EAP is only available for those with a company EAP in place. The main benefit of all of this is that ALL construction workers will have a basic safety net to rely on 24/7, offering support when they need it.” Derek recalls attending Aware Ireland meetings with his father, having been introduced to Dr Patrick McKeon’s organisation back in 2000. “Without the services of Aware, I truly believe my father would not have recovered from his darkest period. I learned a lot from these meetings and talking to my father and have taken a keen interest in mental health awareness issues ever since. Through my involvement in attending mental health events and fundraisers, I reconnected with a past neighbour who’d lost their partner to suicide on New Years Eve. Like me, she was passionate about tackling the stigma around mental health and I joined her charity, ‘The Andy Morgan Foundation’ and soon become a committee member.” Just a week prior to our telephone conversation, Derek Murphy’s father, Francy, passed away in the Fairview
Community Unit of Dublin’s Mater Hospital. For the two weeks since his transfer from The Mater no-one had been permitted to visit inside, communication confined to hand gestures and raised voices through a pane of glass. COVID-19 robbed the family of valuable time together, and then twisted the knife. “What people have gone through with restricted funerals and burials in the past few weeks is horrendous,” Derek said from experience. “All people want to do is go along and pay their respects, they want to give you a hug and say sorry. And yet, they can’t.” It’s been a particularly tough time, even for those experienced at the mental health coalface. But people like Derek Murphy don’t stay down for long. He will use this latest test to make himself stronger. It will renew his desire to change the way we think about mental health, and to bring about a time when all feel free to ask for help.
Need advice?
Some resources in Ireland and Northern Ireland if you are struggling and need someone to speak to: Ireland
www.pieta.ie www.aware.ie www.grow.ie Northern Ireland www.aware-ni.org www.mindwisenv.org www.amh.org.uk General www.talktofrank.com www.mind.org.uk www.lifelinehelpline.info or call 0808 808 8000
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