Turning tragedy into positive response over mental health

 By Julianne Clarke

A retired teacher who lost her daughter in tragic circumstances almost a decade ago has channelled her energies ever since into promoting positive mental health.

Violet Gavin admits there was two ways she could go after losing her daughter, Annemarie, at the age of 29 around Christmas 2004.

“I could either get under the covers and not get up – become a couch potato, watch television all day long – which I would not do; so I decided to do something else,” she says.

That led her to establish the Galway-based Positive Mental Health Charity, because Violet particularly wanted to do something for teenagers in the area of mental health.

The death of her daughter was not the only reason Violet set up the charity; she firmly believes there are a lot of alcohol related problems and a multitude of problems which originate at a young age. She set up Positive Mental Health with eight others in March 2005, after they held their first meeting in her kitchen – and now over 2000 students from Galway city and county and beyond have benefited from the programme.

The charity is hosting its mental health conference next Wednesday, April 17, in Galway’s Ardilaun Hotel. The themes of the conference include early diagnosis of mental health issues, sport and activity, substance abuse, parenting, cyber-bullying and prevention of teenage problems.

Violet has met with over 500 “wonderful” volunteers since the start of the charity. NUI Galway sends students on work placement to the charity every year.

Positive Mental Health relies on fundraising events organised by volunteers and donations from businesses and friends in Galway. They also get a small amount of funding from the National Lottery and the County Council.

Their mission is “to implement health promotion as early as possible in school through training and education and thus reduce the stigma attached to mental health issues.”

The Positive Mental Health Programme, which is delivered by specially trained volunteers, consists of modules on perceptions of mental health; feelings and emotions; friendships and relationships; lifestyle – peer pressure and self-esteem – bullying; grief and loss, and happiness…on demand.

The charity operates in what might be termed organised chaos out of a box room in Violet’s home, armed with just one old computer, a phone and a part-time secretary – the secretary is funded by the charity as Violet herself cannot use a computer.

But there is unanimous acclaim for her drive and determination from all of those who have come to work alongside her.

Ros na Rún star and Galway native Anne Marie Horan – a volunteer with Positive Mental Health – describes Violet as a ‘very energetic, dedicated and tireless worker on behalf of positive mental health issues in this country’.

Another volunteer Dee Baker sums up Violet: “This woman has more energy in her little finger than anyone.”

For more, read this week's Galway City Tribune.