What is a Trialogue Meeting?
– It’s an open conversation about mental health
– It’s a meeting where everybody is equal, and everybody’s opinion matters
– It’s a space to share experiences, questions and stories
– It’s what we make it!
Who Comes to a Trialogue?
– Everybody is welcome.
– People who have mental health difficulties;
– Their friends, family and neighbours;
– People who work in mental health…
– Everyone who cares about positive mental health in St James community
Why Come to a Trialogue?
– Because it’s our community and mental health affects us all
– Because 1 in 4 of us will have a mental health problem in our lives
– Because there is no health without mental health
– Because it’s good to talk
What Do We Talk About?
– Issues in mental health that are important to our community
For example…
– Recovery and Mental Health
– The Importance of Hope
– Stigma & Community responsibility
– The Role of Medication (or not)
Dates & Times:
Wednesdays @ 7pm on these dates:
9th March
6th April
11th May
Place:
The Basin Club, (former convent chapel beside the Mater Dei NS), Basin Street, James St Parish, D.8. See www.frg.ie for directions
Facilitators:
Paddy McGowan, Expert by Experience in Mental Health and/or Líam MacGabhan, DCU Lecturer in Mental Health
Contact:
Lorna Ní Chéirín, Project Coordinator on 087-7722217 or see www.mhtni.com for info
PRESS RELEASE
25/02/11
An exciting initiative called ‘Mental Health Trialogue Meetings’ is about to commence in seven locations around Ireland, including two Dublin areas, St James, Dublin 8 and Tallaght, Dublin 24.
The Trialogue is a facilitated circle of conversations that offers people unique opportunities to freely and safely share their own experiences, stories or questions about mental health. The open dialogue approach also offers people the opportunity to deeply listen and to gain insight into the lived, personal experience of others.
A diverse array of people attend Trialogue Meetings including people who use the mental health services, people who provide professional mental health services, people who are relations or who support those with mental health distress, people who have never engaged with mental health services, and people from the local community who are interested in understanding more about mental health.
A whole range of suggestions, ideas, connections and understandings arise from sharing experiences and concerns in this way that may contribute to better approaches to supporting mental health in the community.
If you are interested in understanding more about other people’s experiences and perceptions about mental health, and willing to respectfully listen to all as equals, then please come along to the Trialogue meetings where there is much honesty, laughter and potential for change.
Paddy McGowan, Expert by Experience in Mental Health and/or Líam MacGabhan, DCU Lecturer in Mental Health, will initially facilitate the Trialogue meetings.
The St James Trialogue Meetings will be held on Wednesdays from 7pm -9pm on the following dates: 9th March, 6th April, 11th May, 8th June, 6th July, 7th September. They will take place in the Basin Club (which is the former convent chapel beside the Mater Dei National School) on Basin Street in James Street, Dublin 8. See www.frg.ie for directions.
The Tallaght Trialogue Meetings will be held on Tuesdays from 7pm-9pm on the following dates: 8th March, 6th April, 11th May, 8th June, 6th July and 7th September.
For further information, please contact Lorna Ní Chéirín, Project Coordinator on 087-7722217, email lorna.nicheirin@dcu.ie or see www.mhtni.com
What is a Trialogue Meeting?
It’s an open discussion meeting where everybody interested in mental health is welcome. Everyone is equal, respected and has the opportunity to share their experience, opinions and questions about mental health.
What are the topics for discussion at the Trialogue meetings?
9th March: What is our understanding of mental health & mental distress?
6th April: How do we respond to and cope with mental health distress
11th May: What is good and bad about mental health services in our community?
8th June: Do people with mental health issues experience stigma & discrmination in the community?
6th July: Who has responsibility for mental health in our community?
7th September: How can we promote mental health in our community?
Where is the Trialogue Meeting on?
It’s on the in Basin Club (the former convent chapel beside the Mater Dei National school) on Basin Street, near Echlin Street in St James community.
It starts at 7pm on Wednesday 9th March and will finish at 9pm.
Where can I get more info?
Contact: Lorna Ní Chéirín, Project Coordinator on 087-7722217 or see www.mhtni.com for info.
This article was originally published in:
Fountain News Digital – March 2011 (Issue 3)
We are re-publishing all articles from our past newsletter, Fountain News Digital, and you can view all completed newsletters here. There were nine issues published in total between 2010 and 2012.