Finding positivity in a time of crisis
A unique collaborative response between Roscommon County Council’s Healthy Roscommon initiative and members of the local community affected by major flooding at Lough Funshinagh has been recognised in this year’s Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) awards, which take place in Cork, later in February.
The initiative is one of five nominees shortlisted for the awards which take place in Rochestown Park Hotel in Cork on Saturday, February 22. Among the nominees is the Lough Funshinagh Rise and Thrive Project in the Best Mental Health category.
The initiative emerged as a mental health and well-being response supporting members of the local community who have endured significant flooding of their homes, lands and other local infrastructure.
The programme facilitator was Laura Tully, otherwise known as the ‘Movement Mentor’ and facilitator of the county’s innovative ‘Fit Farmers Programme’.
The impact of the flooding and the wait for a resolution led to growing concern for the mental health and wellbeing of the community. Issues affecting many residents included anxiety, sleep deprivation and chronic stress affecting both individual physical and mental health.
The aim of the ‘Rise and Thrive’ programme was to provide a rapid response with supportive tools to reduce and manage stress, sign post support services, explore psychological first aid and give lifestyle education to promote positive health and wellbeing to the community around Lough Funshinagh.
The initiative engaged through local elected representative Cllr Laurence Fallon and the local Flood Relief Committee to offer support in enhancing the wellbeing of the community. Healthy County Coordinator Aisling Dunne in turn built on these connections.
The programme was broken into a workshop and workout format delivered across two hours on four consecutive weeks. Week one was an introductory session which also signposted service referral pathways.
The second week focused on the theme of resilience and the vital role of nutrition, stress management and strategies to thrive while week three looked at the importance of managing and maintaining well-being such as good sleeping patterns.
The final week focused on renewal and the pathways from stress to strength and endurance, supporting recovery for people’s mental health and wellbeing as well as the importance of maintaining community connections and the value of Social Prescribing in supporting Strength and Recovery
Sleep and stress management techniques and the mental health support package helped residents to cope with the psychological impacts of flooding.
Through the programme, there is a strong emphasis on supporting the community to move from ‘survive’ to ‘thrive’ mode through continuing liaison with the Healthy County Coordinator in developing ongoing interventions beyond the programme into the future.
Healthy Roscommon Co-Ordinator Aisling Dunne says the community’s openness and willing to learn and support each other was key to the success of the programme: “The programme not only supported participants, but it also created a sense of togetherness and trust between people.
“All of the community affected by Funshinagh are to be commended for their courage, immense dignity and willingness to support each other. I’d also like to pay tribute to the HSE and other stakeholders whose support ensured the delivery of this very successful initiative”, said Ms. Dunne.
Among the county’s remaining nominees for this year’s awards are Roscommon Community Transport in the Best Community Transport section and the Roscommon Public Realm Enhancement Programme. In the Best Town or Village Regeneration category.
The two remaining nominees are Bernie Kearney from Four-Mile-House whose lifetime record of community engagement is been recognised in the Community Volunteer of the Year category, while Castlerea’s An Chistin Food Hub is shortlisted for the Best Enterprise and Start-Up Hub awards.