10 October 2018.
#WorldMentalHealthDay2018
10 October marks the annual World Mental Health Day, when people and organisations everywhere raise awareness, show support and encourage others to take time to look after their mental wellbeing.
With a constant drip feed of news about the effects of loneliness and isolation on mental health – and ultimately physical health too – we are all more aware than ever of this unseen epidemic. Many also recognise that loneliness and isolation can affect any of us at any time.
We’re trying to help address the problem in Coventry through Connecting for Good – a movement of people who are or have been affected by social isolation in a myriad of different ways. The single parent, the refugee, the job seeker, the person with a disability or long term health condition, the new mother, the university student… The list has no limitations. None of us are immune.
So today on World Mental Health Day, we’re telling Cathleen’s story. Please take a couple of minutes to read it (thank you to Cathleen for sharing) and then perhaps contact our team. Their details are below and they’d love to hear from you!
“Often people pass you by like you’re just a shadow.
“If only they’d smile and say hello, you could smile back and give a moment.”
Cathleen is 87 and lives in rural Ireland. However, she is no stranger to Coventry. In fact, she moved here with her family in the 1950s at the age of 21, leaving her home in Dublin behind.
Having raised her family while Coventry was rebuilt from the ashes of the Second World War, Cathleen moved once again – this time to Northern Ireland in the 1990s to help her son care for two of her grandchildren.
The children grew up and then Cathleen’s husband passed away in 2015, leaving her living in the sleepy coastal town of Ballycastle with no real sense of purpose to each new day.
From head of the household with four children – all grown up now with jobs as social workers, a nurse and a head teacher – Cathleen faces life with six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren living nearly 300 miles away in Coventry and the long distance lines of communication that come with it.
Her granddaughter Jo says: “Gran is not from the North… she is a Dubliner. She is a Catholic but surrounded by Protestant towns. She has no roots or connections in Ballycastle. She has her sewing group and my uncle does what he can but it breaks my heart to know she’s largely on her own.”
Although Cathleen is not in Coventry, Connecting for Good will still offer as much support as it can. Could you do the same closer to home for others like Cathleen? Or do you recognise yourself, a neighbour or relative in her story? If so, get in touch today:
Jess – jknight@grapevinecovandwarks.org / 07776 509204
Alice – agroux@grapevinecovandwarks.org / 07776 509206
Mel – msmith@grapevinecovandwarks.org / 02476 631040
For tips on everyday living and staying well, visit www.mind.org.uk/get-involved/world-mental-health-day
The #HelloYellow campaign also supports children and young people’s mental health on 10 October – for more information on this click here.
Connecting for Good is funded by the Big Lottery Fund.
(Pictures are stock images, not of Cathleen or her home).