The Policing and Drugs subgroup of Drogheda Implementation Board, led by members of An Garda Síochana and HSE Mental Health Services, are delivering a campaign throughout the month of September, which is suicide prevention and awareness month. The campaign seeks to enhance community awareness of resources available to support those experiencing mental health difficulties and reduce the stigma associated with this and is in response to action 2.8 of the Drogheda Report Implementation Plan.
A key element of their campaign is to encourage everyone in Drogheda to get behind the See Change Green Ribbon campaign during September. Shine’s annual Green Ribbon campaign aims to spread awareness about all mental health difficulties to help end mental health stigma.
The Green Ribbon campaign asks us all to
· Support inclusion and understanding by wearing a green ribbon
· Empower yourself with the knowledge to challenge stereotypes about mental illness
· Encourage others to become part of the social movement
= CHANGE
Your business can support this year’s Green Ribbon Campaign by
· Wearing free Green Ribbons in your business and having supplies of Green Ribbons available. Order supplies of Green Ribbons here
· Lighting up your buildings/offices in green for the duration, or part of, the campaign in September. For example, Louth County Council are turning their buildings green on 10th September to mark World Suicide Prevention Day.
· Hosting a Green Ribbon event within your organisation – such as holding a coffee morning; getting out for a walk as a team; having a ‘wear green day’.
Make sure to take photos and share on social media tagging See Change and Drogheda Implementation Board and using the hashtag #GreenRibbonIRL.
In the longer term you might also consider engaging with a mental health workplace wellbeing initiative such as the See Change workplace pledge.
If your business is hosting any workplace mental health wellbeing initiatives during the month of September and are open to these being showcased as part of the Drogheda campaign please feel free to share these with implementationboard@lmetb.ie.
The Drogheda campaign is being delivered in partnership with and supported by the HSE Louth Meath Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention; Love Drogheda BIDs; Drogheda Chamber; Louth County Council; and Drogheda United, amongst others. Further details on the campaign are available here.
