Patsy O'Brien works in Limerick as a development officer with Mental Health Ireland, a national voluntary organisation
My work revolves around promoting positive mental health and supporting people who experience mental health difficulties. I also liaise and work with the statutory mental health services and other organisations in the community and voluntary sector.
My job includes supporting the mental health association volunteers in their work by researching new ideas and managing projects; providing training to organisations and community groups; working with third-level educational institutions on mental health programmes for students and supporting Mental Health Ireland national projects in post-primary schools.
A major part of my work is to educate people about mental health and its relevance to everyone. People tend to confuse mental health with mental illness equating it with depression and schizophrenia.
Mental health is about achieving a balance in your life; it's about feeling good about yourself and others and coping with everyday demands. Our mental health is a resource that we need to look after and often people don't know that taking exercise and talking about things on a regular basis can make a real difference to your mental health.
Last October we held the first mental health week in Limerick on the theme of Laughter - promoting the link between physical and mental health.
We wanted to show people that physical activity like laughter and exercise can help reduce stress and help with coping. The workshops and seminars were aimed at everyone and the response was overwhelmingly positive. This year our theme will be based on mindfulness - paying attention and living in the now.
We have established in Limerick a centre for people who are experiencing difficulty coping. The centre is called Le Chéile and it focuses on people's capacity to reconnect with others through the creative arts and social activities. The programme includes activities such as drum and percussion workshops, creative writing and salsa dancing. I believe creativity is very important for good mental health.
Isolation is one of the biggest problems that people with mental health difficulties can face, eroding self-esteem and self-confidence. Le Chéile has made a very real difference to people's lives allowing the individual to be seen as a person first, not an illness, not a label.
I like my job. The work is varied and has allowed me to develop with the mental health association initiatives, which are necessary and innovative. The work can also be very demanding and involves working unsocial hours.
I sometimes struggle with maintaining the balance myself but I think if you are aware of the warning signals and can say no to others, you are well on the way to maintaining the equilibrium.
(In conversation with Ali Bracken)