[dropcap]The[/dropcap] Dublin North East “Recovery College” was launched in DCU in celebration of World Mental Health Day last Monday.
The recovery colleges programme run by the HSE, aims to educate people on how to recover from mental health problems.
The programme encourages young students to focus on recovery and to take the initiative to help themselves or those around them with the recovery process.
Mental health professionals are working with recovery colleges to create and deliver services for the people who use the HSE mental health services and those who support them.
They provide a space where people who suffer from mental health problems are comfortable and they focus on promoting mental health recovery. The student can chose the courses that they attend, allowing them to choose the method of recovery that suits them best.
There are currently over 40 different recovery colleges around the world today.
During the launch at DCU, a segment called ‘Heroes Journey’ allowed people to share their own recovery stories and their thoughts on recovery and mental health. The event lasted from 6:00pm to 8:30pm.
World Mental Health Day occurs every year on October 10th and has a different theme each year. This year the theme is ‘psychological first aid’ which focuses on encouraging people to learn how to talk and comfort people that are suffering with mental health problems.
Psychological first aid also provides a recovery process for people who have suffered from a traumatic event. This year they want to encourage professionals who help with people that have suffered from traumatic events to talk correctly and to show them how to provide the correct help. It encourages both social and psychological support.
Last year the World Mental Health Day theme was dignity in mental health. Its main focus was to encourage people to talk about their mental health and to ensure that people who are living with mental health problems have the dignity that they deserve.
Aine Conaty
Image credit: campus.ie
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