Community mental health matters, says Lisheens

BY EMMA CONNOLLY 

SKIBBEREEN-based suicide prevention charity, Lisheens House, has undergone a rebranding to make more people aware of its free services and supports. 

Run by Noreen Murphy and Mick Kearns, Lisheens House was set up in 2014 and will mark its fifth anniversary on October 31st. 

Mick explained how in recent years they felt people with mental health challenges, and their families, could potentially get lost ‘in a maze of information’.

‘We wanted them to know that there’s a solution for them right here on their doorstep in West Cork,’ he said. 

Having commissioned Southern Star Creative to redesign their logo, this week they will launch Lisheens House new brand identity with a key message of: ‘Community Mental Health Matters.’

‘We want to break things down into a simple process and help people realise that the first step is to pick up the phone to us and have a chat and to see where they can go from there. We want them to know that in 90% of cases there is a solution and that the solution is right here in the community,’ he said. 

The charity was set up by Noreen,who lost her husband to suicide, which made her realise the importance of community-based mental health services. 

Lisheens House offers free one-on-one counselling in their Skibbereen headquarters, as well as having a panel of counsellors in Ballincollig, Bantry, Dunmanway, Clonakilty and the city centre. 

The charity also provides suicide prevention training, a range of complementary activities and support services, and have a book and music library where visitors can spend time and relax. 

‘At Lisheens House we believe everyone experiencing mental health crisis should receive the help they need when they need it and neither pocket nor postcode should mitigate against them getting that help,’ said Noreen.