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Mental Health Programme

The Pavee Point Mental Health Programme, which is an initiative by the Traveller Health Unit in the Eastern Region, works at a local, regional and national level to progress equality of access, participation and outcomes for Travellers in mainstream mental health services.

In working towards addressing mental health inequalities experienced by Travellers the Mental Health Initiative prioritises:

  • Maintaining and promoting positive mental health and wellbeing for Travellers
  • Creating and developing Traveller access and outcomes from mainstream mental health services
  • Development of culturally competent, accessible and appropriate mental health services
  • Impacting on policy and research. See our project Unpacking Traveller Mental Health
Launch of Young Pavees ‘Mind Your Nuck’ website by Minister for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD. Here L to R, Martina Queally, Chief Officer, CH East & Eastern Region, THU Chairperson, Winnie McDonagh, Traveller Primary Health Care worker, Minister Mary Butler TD, Patrick Reilly Eastern Region Traveller Health Unit and Linda Moore Head of Service, Mental Health, CH East HSE. Photo by Derek Speirs

What we do

Working from a social determinants perspective of mental health, and embedding community development principles in our work, we adopt a two pronged approach and  work in partnership with both Traveller organisations and statutory representatives.

We work alongside Traveller organisations to:

  • develop a collective analysis of impacts on Traveller mental health
  • provide support with responding to mental health inequalities within the Traveller community
  • develop targeted responses to Traveller mental health information and signposting needs.
Launch of Young Pavees ‘Mind Your Nuck’ website by Minister for Mental Health & Older People, Mary Butler TD. Here with Minister Mary Butler TD, Cathy McCarthy, Sophia Ward and Chantel Ward from Offaly Traveller Movement. Photo by Derek Speirs

Work with Service Providers

We also work in partnership with statutory representatives and mental health service providers to:

  • Inform their analysis of Traveller mental health inequalities through advocacy work
  • develop their capacity to effectively engage with Travellers accessing and utilising mental health services through providing training on models of best practice
  • to promote and develop innovative, appropriate responses that ensure equality of access, participation and outcomes for all Travellers

Policy and Advocacy

We engage in policy and advocacy work to ensure that mental health strategies and policies are inclusive of, and responsive to, Traveller and Roma mental health inequalities.

Contact the mental health team:

  • Patrick Reilly (Traveller Mental Health Joint Co ordinator) patrick.reilly@pavee.ie
  • Geraldine McDonnell (Traveller Community Development Mental Health Worker) geraldine.mcdonnell@pavee.ie

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