July 2023 Newsletter – Friendship

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JULY 2023 NEWSLETTER
July is here, though summer seems to be taking its own holiday. This month, we are talking about FRIENDSHIP at Grow Mental Health. We celebrate the friendships that have sustained us through the difficult times and those who are waiting for us as we journey into our next chapter. 'Friendship is the special key to mental health' (Grow Program, p21) and as such gets special focus in our groups. July 31st is International Friendship Day, so why not reach out to that important friend or make a new friend this month? 

As always, we would love to hear from you. You can reach us on our social media platforms and by emailing newsletter@grow.ie

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FRIENDSHIP
by Jonathan, Grow Member Eastern Region  

I’m not going to talk about all the benefits of friendship. They are so many. Love, empathy, and laughter among many qualities. Friendship makes our souls rich. In this vast and mostly empty universe is it not love and friendship that makes it good? And it’s a wonder that the universe produced friendship!

I’m going back in time to the summer of '95 when I was 25. I was in St. Pat’s Hospital. I was in for depression then elation. I met another man, Michael, the same age as me. He was in for schizophrenia. We jelled, we laughed.

I got to know Michael over that hot summer in the garden of Pat’s. He told me stories, stories that he wrote. One was of a man marooned on a cold planet far far from the sun and another of an old man with regrets that walked into the sea in the late evening holding a red balloon. In the morning a mysterious child is found on the beach holding a red balloon. I could see where he was coming from. But what really cemented our friendship was when he trusted me with his life’s story. Michael was good at stories.

It was after tea and as the hot evening drew on, we sat on the dry grass under a tree. Michael began to talk. He told of his childhood. He was close to his mother, but she died of cancer. He was not close to his father or sisters. He was bullied. He won a writing competition for one of his stories. He got a girlfriend when he left school and felt like a winner for the first time! He was good at flirting. He was not able to hold down work. He Was Afraid. I was silent and listened intently. It was getting dark as he finished. It was a beautiful summer's dusk. I shared too, over the days. But not as well as Michael. We now had an understanding. A bond. I got him, and him me. We were buddies.

Coming to Grow drove home the power of sharing our stories. It can draw us together and become the start of beautiful friendships.

 

CLARIE'S STORY
Grow Online Group Member

I started having mental health difficulties at around 7/8 after suffering many panic attacks and anxiety. I was diagnosed at that age with OCD, depression, and anxiety. I was always a very anxious child even before then. I went weekly for child counselling sessions until I was 18 and was then moved on to adult services. I stopped eating when I was 12, just before I was going into secondary school. I spent the summer really weak and not in a good place. I couldn’t even function and after that really hated summers, even now. I only found out recently it was an eating disorder. I remember endless days of crying and sadness and not seeing people. Definitely not what a child should experience when they should be out with friends etc. I went for acupuncture to help me and it did and after that summer I was eating ok again.

Understandably,  the underlying stuff was still there. So I started secondary school and went back for counselling. I was trying the deal with everything that comes with secondary school. Then in 2nd year I started getting severe panic attacks in school and felt like I wasn’t there at all sometimes. I was so zoned out. One day it got so bad I refused to go to school - which caused friction at home. There wasn't an understanding of what was going on. I was home-schooled from then on.

I stayed in bed everyday, unable to even go to counselling. At one point the counsellor even came to me as the OCD had gotten so bad I couldn’t leave the house and if I did go out it could take me up to 2 hours to come in again as I was doing ocd rituals. Things weren’t improving and It was a small bit away from my 16th birthday when I was admitted to a mental health facility. I had to leave home for the first time in about 2 days. It was quite far away from my home so I cried a lot because I couldn’t handle it. I was terrified because I had never experienced anything like it before. I was put on medication and started getting side effects in hospital. I saw my family every weekend. I did my junior cert. study there and came out for a week to do the junior cert. and went back in. I stayed there for three months until just a week before my 16th birthday.

After the summer I started 4th year and managed to stay in school up until the middle of 5th year. Then everything got overwhelmingly difficult again and I left school for good this time, being homeschooled from then until my leaving cert. I did the leaving cert. in a room on my own and was in such a bad place I didn’t even make it to the graduation. I missed out on things like the Debs, everything meant to be a significant moment for me. This was really difficult and I still think about it sometimes, wishing things had turned out differently. I lost virtually all of my friends as I didn’t go places. I then started a college course and lasted one day before things were going downhill again. I proceeded to go to a counsellor for a few months in the adult services, which wasn’t helping. Then I heard about a psychotherapist and started going for sessions, which I still go to now. I was diagnosed with complex post-traumatic stress disorder, and it made sense as everything that was under the surface wasn’t being dealt with. We’ve been working really hard to build a life for me and deal with issues from the past that were always there.

I have had a lot of ups and downs and sometimes feel like when I take one step forward I take 5 backward. My therapist recommend I start support meetings online to meet people and to get support from a group. I started Grow meetings and really feel a positive change starting. I do these while going for weekly therapy sessions and am really feeling the benefit.  I also started singing again as it’s something I’ve always loved and joined a school and have sung for events etc. It’s been hard work trying to get well and it’s been a long road but I feel I’ve come a long way. I also feel sorry for my younger self as there was a lot to deal with. I’m acknowledging my past in order to move forward, which can be really hard. I have to move on from it in order to get the happy life that I have looked for all this time and the happy life my younger self deserved.

Thank you to Claire for this generous act of sharing your story. If you've been inspired by Claire and want to share your experience so that others can learn from your journey or feel less alone, reach out to your Area Coordinator or newsletter@grow.ie.

 

YELLOWWALK 2023
By Jenny, Communications Team, Grow Mental Health

From Donegal to Sherkin Island to Trinity - we walked and connected all over Ireland on June 21st to raise funds and

awareness for Grow Mental Health. Thank you to every single person who contributed to making our 2023 YELLOWWALK the most successful yet. Thanks especially to Expressway Ireland and the Community Guards for supporting us on the day. Thanks to those who walked, wore yellow, organised, and donated. We are already looking forward to YELLOWWALK 2024!

Click the image below to see the highlights from our 2023 YELLOWWALK.

YELLOWWALK 2023 HIGHLIGHTS
YW video holder
 
 
YELLOWWALK IN FITZGEARLD’S PARK, CORK
By Finola O'Callaghan, Grow Area Coordinator, Southern Region


The second of the Grow Cork City Yellow Walks took place in the stunning surroundings of Fitzgerald’s Park on June 21st. This was run in parallel with the Bus Eireann Walk at Parnell Place.





Members of Cork City, County and Online Groups came together in the glorious sunshine to participate in the Summer Solstice Yellow Walk, taking in the beautiful sights of Fitzgerald’s Park on the 30 minute ramble. A photo opportunity beside the striking yellow roses provided the perfect back-drop to the matching Grow Yellow walk T-shirts gathered together beside the beautiful blooms.

Afterwards, all enjoyed a refreshing cuppa in the shade of the magnificent trees in Fitzgerald’s Park, which will also play host to the upcoming ‘Joy in the Park' Mental Health Carnival on July 23rd.

One of the many other events taking place in the park on the Yellow Walk Summer Solstice Day was the Family Fun Day for Traveller Pride. This family-friendly day invited the people of Cork to learn about Traveller culture and traditions. This included an adorable animal petting zoo, where Grow Yellow Walkers had the opportunity to meet with a variety of domestic animals including miniature ponies, goats, piglets, poultry, pet rabbits and guinea pigs. This was the perfect therapeutic activity to round up a fun-filled morning - bonding with the cuddly pets, whilst raising awareness and funds for Grow Mental Health.
 
 
NATIONAL WEEKEND 2023
OCTOBER 6 - 8, 2023, THE KILLESHIN HOTEL, PORTLAOISE

We are delighted to announce that our first 3 Day National Weekend Event since Carlow in 2019 will take place later this year from Friday October 6th until Sunday October 8th.

Following the success and positive feedback from all our recent regional days and weekends we are so looking forward to this year’s national gathering. The location for the event will be The Killeshin Hotel in Portlaoise.

The theme this year will be our collective Grow Mental Health Vision - An Ireland where no one needs to navigate mental health challenges or life’s struggles alone. The weekend will be jam packed with presentations, workshops activities and a banquet, aiming to focus our collective energy into working to achieve this vision through a refocus on the value of peer support and our 12-step programme.

Being mindful of the current cost of living situation, the Board have decided that the subsidy for this year’s weekend will be significantly higher than that of previous years with a 40% discount off the original price

 - Grow Member cost of a twin room €150 per person sharing
  - Grow Member cost of a single room will be €200

The online booking link for the event is https://buytickets.at/grow22/960637 and tickets will go on sale at 10am on Thursday July 27th. Tickets will be allocated on a first come first served basis to make attendance at the event as fair as possible.

We are also announcing the pricing, weekend agenda, and ticket release details in advance of our ticket release date to allow Grow members who may need assistance with the purchase of their online tickets, time to liaise with their Area Co-ordinators or a helpful family member or friend.

We look forward to seeing as many of you as possible in October for what we know will be a wonderful gathering of Grow friends.

NATIONAL WEEKEND AGENDA

Friday, October 6th
3:00pm: Registration
5:00pm: AGM 
6:00pm: Welcome Room for first-time attendees 
7:00pm:  Dinner 
8:30pm:     Mindfulness meditation and Table Quiz 

Saturday, October 7th
9:30am Opening Address
9:45am: Personal Story 
10:30am: Peer Support by Paul Clabby
10:50am: Launch of Progress Journal
11:15am: Break
11:30am: Guest Speaker – Elaine Browne
12:45pm: Lunch

3pm -4:30pm: Workshops:
   Drumming
   Chair Yoga/Mindful Movement
   Crafting – Make and Take
   Grow Online: The New Frontier, Navigating the Journy Together with Colette Flannery
7:30pm: Gala Dinner
9:30pm: Music and Dancing and Sound Meditation

Sunday, October 8th
10:30am: Introducing the New Head of Program Services 
11:00am: Sharing the Grow Message Workshop including Personal Story/ Podcast/ Panel Discussion    
1:00pm:  Lunch    
2:00pm:  Home

 
 
WHEN TRAGEDY INSPIRES GENEROSITY
By Mary Purcell, Regional Manager, Grow Mental Health

Out of tragedy and heartbreak comes incredible generosity……..

On the morning of August 21st, 2022, the heart-breaking news began to break in the East Limerick parish of Cappamore that Donnacha Ryan had died in an accident. Donnacha was just barely 18, having celebrated his birthday a few days earlier, he had finished his Leaving Cert. and enjoyed his first mate's holiday abroad. His life was, in a lot of ways, just beginning and he was about to embark on an apprenticeship to be a mechanic, doing what he loved.

Donnacha’s family, his beloved parents Mikey and Nicola, his adored younger sister, Aisling, his lovely girlfriend, Mary, his much-loved grandparents, Shelia, Kathleen, and Mike (and previously deceased, Jimmy), his aunts, uncles, cousins, and many many friends, young and old, lost a part of themselves that fateful morning and life changed in an instant in such a cruel and unexpected way. The outpouring of grief and support for his family was a testament to the love for Donnacha and the esteem in which the Ryan (Luke) family is held by us all in the county and beyond.

As Donnacha’s family attempted to keep going and live their daily lives, it would have been completely understandable if they looked inwards only and put all their energy into just surviving but instead, they did the opposite. The family began to plan the Donnacha Ryan Luke Memorial Truck and Tractor Run for Sunday, April 30th, 2023, an event to be held in his memory and raise funds for local charities.

If I was to write forever, I could not capture the essence of that day and that event. 100s of tractors, trucks, and vintage cars took part in the run from Tipperary Town, through Cappamore and on to Doon Village, where a barbeque, entertainment and an unforgettable night of music and enjoyment took place with the fun-loving, warm and friendly spirit of the young man that Donnacha was felt present by us all that day.

Nicola, who I am proud to be related to, had phoned me in advance of the event, to say they wanted to donate some of the money to the work of Grow Mental Health in the Midwest. Nicola had heard about the work of Grow and had looked at our website and liked what she saw. In his young life, Donnacha had experienced bullying but had managed to turn it around and become a champion for those who may be having a tough time. My daughter, who was a classmate of Donnacha’s often told me how he stood up for anyone being bullied.


The event ran in memory of this lovely young man raised a staggering €129,000, showing the esteem in which Donnacha and his family are held, the power of community and volunteerism, and the generosity of so many both locally and all over the country.
€30,000 of that went to cover the costs of the day, €20, 000 is being retained by the Committee to run the event again next year and the remainder has been distributed among a number of local Charities.

On the evening of June 26th, I was privileged to meet with Mikey, Nicola, Aisling, Shelia, and some of the amazing Committee that worked on this event outside Doon Community Centre in Co. Limerick to accept on behalf of Grow Midwest a cheque for the incredible amount of €10, 000 (pictured above).


Donnacha who, in the words of his mother, at his funeral Mass, was a “pure rogue”, definitely had a laugh at us that evening. As we put the Grow pop-ups in place for the photograph and we all positioned ourselves, a heavy shower of rain appeared to ensure we made quick work of the photo!!


This money is so appreciated by us in the Region and with it we hope to start a new group in Limerick in September as all of our Limerick-based groups now have numbers of 10 or over. We also hope to run Community Education Programmes in the county and in these times of soaring costs everywhere, the money will help to ensure we can keep the lights and heat on.


The Ryan Luke family is inspirational and has really proven the Grow wisdom “to have a friend, be a friend”. As we thank them for their generosity, their energy, and passion in a time of heartbreak, and their resilience in turning a tragedy into something so positive and beautiful, we assure them that Donnacha’s name will not be forgotten in Grow Mental Health and offer them our support in any way we can going forward.

Rest in Peace Donnacha.

WESTERN REGION ANNUAL WEEKEND
By Alan Keaveney, Area Coordinator, Grow Western Region

After more than 15 years of hosting Western Regional Weekends in Esker Retreat Centre in Athenry, this year the Western Region had to find a new location. Our priority was to find a peaceful place that was also very cost-effective. We discovered that St. Mary’s Accommodation in Knock, Co. Mayo had a large quantity of en-suite rooms at a very competitive price. Then we found out that the St. John’s Day Centre across the road had a beautiful meeting room big enough for 50+ attendees. To make things even better, there was a huge performance area with a great sound system for our entertainment on both nights.

Thanks to the Western Region Administrator, Patricia Steinegger, we successfully obtained National Lottery funding which covered the subsidy for almost half of our 50 attendees.

On Friday evening, Growers arrived from Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon. After supper, we had a short talk from Elaine Browne - Peer Specialist https://www.perspectiveireland.ie/about-perspective/. Then Edward, our Western Regional Team Treasurer gave a personal story. Our Grow members were delighted that Fr. Stan could join us for the full weekend and he had inspiring input into many parts of the weekend.

The entertainment was mighty. On Friday night there was a Grow Talent Show facilitated by Louise and Denis. On Saturday night we had our regular and much-loved band, “The Man in Black”.

Other input to the weekend came from Síle Tracey - Grow Communications and Fundraising Manager, Mary Walsh - Grow National Volunteer Coordination, John O’Donnell - Acting Grow Chairperson, Mike Watts - facilitating Stories and Writing in Grow, and John Hoey - Mental Health Research (see John's reflections on the weekend below).

We are very thankful to Karen McHale for standing in last minute to cover the keynote address on Recovery. Karen is the Peer Educator of Mayo Recovery College https://www.recoverycollegewest.ie/mayo/

We are lucky to have found this location and already our plans for next year are beginning!

A REFLECTION ON THE GROW WESTERN REGION RETREAT
By John Hoey, Mental Health Researcher and Guest Speaker

Yesterday I was invited to attend a Grow annual retreat in Knock. Having arrived early, I noted that no one had arrived in the room yet so | just got stuck in and began to tidy up glasses and cups, and rearrange chairs. Soon, Alan came along (Grow Area Co-ordinator) followed by Mike Watts. People began to arrive steadily and became a bit curious about my presence. They had all been bonding for the last two days. I said 'hello' to as many people as I could although the room was very full of people.

Mike began a session called ‘Personal Stories and Writing in Grow’ where everyone was invited to think of someone who has been significant in their recovery or growth and to write tabout them in a letter. People were invited to share their letters which were deeply personal to them so I felt a little uneasy being there in that moment as a researcher. Some even read their story from the ‘Stories of Hope and Recovery' book that I had just read. The atmosphere in the room at that moment is quite difficult to describe: authentic, supportive, real, human. It was an experience that will always be etched on my mind.

When the time came for me to give my talk and introduce PSI-STAR, I did something that just felt right in that moment. I had written a letter during Mike’s session to a therapist at Pieta House who helped me through a very dark time in 2017. She encouraged me to return to study as a means of recovery. It was due to this that I ended up in psychology, and ultimately on the PSI-STAR project. I read the letter to the group, who probably weren’t expecting it. I felt the same support in the room, and the session then became very interactive as people really understood the ethos of PSI-STAR. We are not detached researchers, we are people from all walks of life who are just passionate about improving the lives of people who experience psychotic symptoms. (It is worth noting here that not everyone in the room had these experiences, although many did). There was an open discussion about experiences of stigma, and I felt validated when I explained the theoretical framework I was using, as people understood why from their perspective and experiences of multiple, intersecting stigmas. I talk a lot about my positionality within the research, and this is why I feel that it is important. The line between researcher and person with lived experience is blurred.

I also used the opportunity to ask people how they would like to see the studies develop. There was important feedback about their concerns surrounding medicalised language and how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders can contribute to stigma. There were experiences of misdiagnosis, again something that I have experienced, so I understood and related to the distress of that. There were personal stories of trauma when being detained involuntarily, so I listened and talked about Dearbhla’s project and what she hopes to achieve. It felt so uplifting to have the opportunity to have these genuine discussions with people in a safe space and to put the PSI-STAR study in real context. I also understand that there will be challenges ahead, however, I feel supported by my supervisors and the PPI team and I feel reassured that their clinical and personal experience will be available should I need help or advice at any time.

The discussions lasted for about 30 minutes. When I sat back down, a young lad came over. He didn’t speak, or look at me, he just wanted to sit with me. That was a profound moment. I made sure to be near him during lunch, and he began to open up about his experiences of hallucinations and hearing voices. I actively listened for a long time. We were the last to leave.

Thank you, Mike (Watts), for the incredible opportunity to have been a part of this. You are a powerhouse. Thank you to Alan and everyone at Grow for the warm welcome.

 
GROW IN THE COMMUNITY
Donegal Awareness
Jean and Caroline, Grow group members from the Northwest Region, and Marian Maguire, Area Coordinator, hosted and Information Stand at the recent Finn Valley Health & Wellness Event in the Sports Complex, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal. Attendance was phenomenal, in excess 
 
of 600 people visited the various Exhibits.  Considerable interest was shown in the Grow Stand thus providing an awareness of the services provided by Grow on the wider region of Donegal.
 
 
Men's Mental Health Week in Claremorris
By Cecelia Trench, Grow Area Coordinator, Western Region

As part of Men's Mental Health Week, and in conjunction with the Claremorris Family Resource Center, Co-Mayo, an event was held in the Square Claremorris on June 14th, titled "Men on a Mission". I was asked by the FRC to attend this event and promote Grow Mental Health. I asked one of the members of the Claremorris group if they would like to join me for this event. I had the pleasure 
of the lovely Lucy, who is only 5 weeks with Grow. We both set up the stand with various posters, leaflets, and cards. The event was covered by the local community radio. They approached me and Lucy to ask if I would be interested in doing a weekly piece on radio around mental health challenges for people, as part of their weekly health show. This would be a great opportunity to promote the work of Grow, locally, so I accepted and this should hopefully be up and running in the next few weeks. Stay tuned!
 
 

Letterkenny Outreach 
Jean, a Grow group member from the Northwest, Paul Gibson, and Marian Maguire, Grow Area Coordinators in Donegal, hosted an Information Stand recently at a wellness event in the Silver Tassie, Letterkenny.  The event was organized by Claire Coughlan and her aim was to gather together people from local services to highlight the various types of help that is available in our own
county. This event took place on a Sunday afternoon and was very well attended. It provided a perfect opportunity to promote the Grow Program as well as raise awareness of the services we provide. Considerable interest was shown in our stand and our literature.
 
 

HOW DO YOU EAT AN ELEPHANT?
By John Madden, Grow Area Coordinator, Midlands Region

Is life more stressful in the modern era? Have we always been chasing our tails wishing for an extra hour in the day? Rushing to get places, meeting deadlines, worrying about bills, our health, how are the kids doing in school? Can I afford x, y, or z? It is all a bit much and the current issues around inflation and even post-Covid anxiety are rife across the country.

In the midlands, Stress Management Workshops are underway. A very successful one was run recently with the Longford/Westmeath ETB in Athlone. It was very well-attended and participants spoke highly of the experience afterward - a great start to the summer roll-out. Hopefully, we can mirror that success in the coming weeks.

Stress has always been part of society but the antecedents change, and it is becoming clear that there are many in the 2020s. A certain amount of it we do have control over, or maybe to say it better, we do have control over our reaction to it. So, what’s this elephant title about exactly? I ask it at the beginning of the Stress Management Workshop, a random and strange one you might think. We’ll come back to the answer towards the end of this.

In the workshop, a lot of key pieces of information are broached in an hour as we examine:
 - What is Stress?
 - What is causing it?
 - What the heck is it doing to us in a holistic sense?

Participants of the workshop are often very intrigued to uncover what it is doing to them not just emotionally, but physically as well. Ultimately, many mental ill-health issues have a beginning, and it is clear that stress is certainly one of those catalysts. With that in mind, imagine a world where we were able to mitigate this type of trigger from the beginning rather than let it evolve into something far more complex. That’s one aim of the workshop; that we become more alert to it in ourselves and others around us, especially for the ducks out there. Another animal reference, where’s this going you might ask? We haven’t even answered the elephant question yet!

When talking of stress, we know only too well that many of us have an uncanny ability to hide behind a perceived façade of stoicism. We don’t always see it, people are like ducks – on the surface, bobbing along, often against the current and owe believe they have it all under control. The thing is, we don’t see them paddling wildly beneath the surface. They too need our attention. We don’t need to be forceful and confrontational, it could be something as arbitrary as inviting them for a tea and chat, the Irish way – “Put on the kettle, I have news!”.

So back to the elephant...of course, stress can be the elephant in the room. Anybody can say “Don’t worry” or “No need to get stressed about it” but that is as effective as me saying to you right now – DON’T THINK OF AN ELEPHANT. Let me guess, you just pictured an elephant. My point is simple – we tend to bundle a lot of stressful issues together and it becomes this amorphous blob of problems. The trick here is to untangle the threads and split them into smaller, bitesize chunks that you can work through, much like eating an elephant... one bite at a time. Always remember, you alone can do it, but you don’t have to do it alone.

Disclaimer: Grow does not endorse the consumption of elephants. So don’t do that. Please. 😉

 
 

SEAMUS 'SHARKEY' KELLY TAKES A STEP BACK FROM GROW
By Mary Walsh, Grow National Volunteer Coordinator

Seamus has taken a step back from his different roles in Grow. He wanted us to say goodbye and thanks to each and every one of you. From my interaction


with Seamus over the last few years – I want to say a heartfelt THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, SEAMUS!

Seamus served as a valued member of he Midlands Regional Team for many years. He was instrumental in Town Hall Events which ran on Zoom during Covid. I know members really appreciated these events and the possibility to meet up with Grow friends. At the National events since Covid, he not only entertained us all with music during the evenings but was was the first to offer help with sound and technical support. Seamus brought his laptop full of backing tracks and facilitated Grow members getting up and performing a song or two at the 2022 Western Regional Weekend in Esker. On Saturday afternoon, Seamus also took a large group of attendees on a lovely mindful walk in the surrounds of Esker.

Seamus contributed his poetry, images, and thoughts regularly to this newsletter and will always be a part of the fabric of Grow Mental Health.

Seamus sent a lovely farewell message, ending with:

May your journey be blessed with all that is beautiful in life, and never forget this.
That even in the darkest of places. 
One can still find light.

Thank you, Seamus, and wherever you chose to shine your light next will be better for it.

SPECIAL NOTICES
WELCOME TO GROW!

Welcome to Lindsay O Donoghue, our new Monitoring, Recording, and Evaluation Officer. Lindsay started with Grow on the 27 of June and is finding her feet as we speak. We wish Lindsay every success in her role with Grow and offer her our support as she settles in.

Welcome to Cara Clinch, our new Head of National Programmes. Cara stats with Grow on July 11th and will be working directly with the CEO (Interim), the National Programme Committee, and other members of the Regional and National support teams on delivering our strategic goals. Cara has already completed her program training with Grow in advance of her start and will be reaching out to meet with people once she starts. We wish Cara every success in her role with Grow Mental Health and offer our support as she settles in.

Welcome to Mary Butler, our new Finance Assistant, working closely with Aisling Cassin. Mary starts on the 18th of July and we would like to welcome her to Grow and wish her every success in her role. We also offer Mary our support as she settles into her role.

We are pleased that our Cavan/Monaghan A/C, Eileen Clevenger will be stepping in to serve as an interim link in the North East & North West Regions until Martin Cadden (Regional Manager) is back with us. Eileen will be providing support to staff and regional teams in the NE/NW region and acting as communication link between Cara Clinch (Head of National Programmes), Regional Teams, and Staff. We would like to wish Eileen well in her new interim role and offer her our support.

From the 21 August, Helena Kilduff will be taking on the role of Administrator initially for North East and West and eventually for areas A and F as we move towards the new HSE area. We would like to wish Helena every success in her new role as a regional administrator and congratulate her on this change in role.

RECRUITING
Grow Mental Health are currently seeking to recruit a Part-Time Administrator. 10 Hours per week, Based in our Kilkenny Office. Closing date for applications is Sunday 23rd July 2023. Click here for the full role description.

DAYS OF SIGNIFICANCE IN JULY
July 1st - International Joke Day
July 7th - Global Forgiveness Day
July 18th - World Listening Day
July 30th - International Friendship Day

STAFF GROW GROUP

Open to all staff members. (Attendance to be in your own time) weekly on Mondays @ 2 PM Contact Mary Walsh for the link: marywalsh@grow.ie

GROW OPEN GROUP

Online Grow Group meeting every Friday at 2 PM for any Grow member who might have missed their weekly Group, is looking for some extra support between meetings or would like to offer support to others. Contact Felicia: feliciablack@grow.ie

GROW SIX-WEEK INTRODUCTORY PROGRAM (four-week?)
Ask Eimear!
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Information Line: 0 818 474 474
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