IACP Launch Look After Yourself Campaign with Artist Joe Caslin and Ambassadors Shane Carthy and Philly McMahon
Photo: Julien Behal
The IACP unveiled a Joe Caslin mural on 7th July, Dublin with the aim to normalise therapy within the demographic of males aged 25 - 34. In attendance were IACP Chair Ray Henry, Vice-Chair Bernie Hackett, and CEO Lisa Molloy.
The mural was created by well-known Irish Illustrator and Street Artist, Joe Caslin who said, “The figures that populate my murals are ordinary people, that in turn become spokespeople for their own experiences. The ‘Look After Yourself’ campaign is all about ordinary young males and encouraging them to be vulnerable and speak to a therapist. It isn’t something they should be ashamed of or see it as a sign of weakness; it’s actually a sign of huge strength.”
A recent survey carried out by the Irish Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (IACP), it revealed that only 3 in 10 Irish men said they would attend counselling/psychotherapy.
The startling finding is compared to that of 2 in 5 women saying they would be 'very likely' to attend if struggling in some way with their mental health. The IACP hopes to their latest campaign “Look After Yourself” will encourage young men to attend therapy.
The survey also found that men are less likely than women to have personally attended a counsellor/psychotherapist - 1 in 9 men have attended compared with 1 in 7 women.
Lisa Molloy, CEO of the IACP said “These figures show that young men need to be encouraged to look after their mental health. Our hope with this campaign is that it will motivate them to start talking and asking for help. We want to show them that attending therapy is normal and a safe space for them to be themselves”.
The IACP also welcome Philly McMahon and Shane Carthy as ambassadors to push this messaging among this demographic and show them that being vulnerable is not a sign of weakness.
GAA star and founder of the charity Half Time Talk, Philly McMahon, added, “Your mental game is just as important as your physical game and the younger generation need to learn this from an early age, that looking after your mental health is key to your overall health. There is no failure in going to see a therapist.”
Fellow ambassador and former GAA Dublin Player Shane Carthy said, “We need to take the stigma from attending therapy. I myself have attended therapy and found it hugely beneficial. I would recommend all young men who feel like they need to get something off their chest to have a chat with a therapist and look after yourself.”
The IACP encourages young males to see therapy as normal and not something that "has to be done" but rather something you do for yourself.
Additional Reporting:
Philly McMahon speaks about Look After Yourself Launch on Joe.ie
Artist Joe Caslin speaks about Look After Yourself Launch on KFM Radio
Look After Yourself Launch in the Irish Examiner
Look After Yourself Launch on Irish News
Philly McMahon on SportsJoe.ie
Look After Yourself Launch on KildareNationalist.ie
Look After Yourself Launch on WesternPeople.ie
Look After Yourself Launch on CarlowNationalist.ie
Look After Yourself Launch in MeathChronicle.ie
Look After Yourself Launch on Laois Nationalist.ie
Look After Yourself Launch on OffalyExpress.ie
Joe Caslin Interview on OffalyIndependent.ie
Radio:
FM 104 - 07/07/20 - 16:01:00 - 16:02:00
98 FM - 07/07/20 - 15:02:00 - 15:02:00
Midlands 103 FM - 07/07/20 - 15:01:00 - 15:02:00
Spin FM - 07/07/20 - 15:01:00 - 15:01:00
Galway Bay FM - 07/07/20 - 13:12:00 - 13:13:00
Tipp FM - 07/07/20 - 13:07:00 - 13:08:00
Limerick 95 FM - 07/07/20 - 13:06:00 - 13:07:00
Today FM - 07/07/20 - 13:01:00 - 13:02:00
Physical Media:
Irish Dail Mail - 08/07/20 - P.16
Irish Examiner - 08/07/20 - P.6
Daily Mirror - Features - 08/7/20 - P.6
Irish News - 08/07/20 - P.62
This website uses strictly necessary session cookies only. Session cookies are requred to ensure members can access the members area and associated functions reliably. Session cookies expire automatically upon exit.