Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I ask for a debate on the steps we are taking regarding mental health. May is mental health awareness month and mental health affects all of us. There are lots of events across the country to encourage us all to talk more openly about our mental health struggles and experiences. Pieta House's Darkness into Light 2018 initiative, created by our colleague, Senator Joan Freeman, will take place on Saturday, 12 May at 4.15 a.m. across Ireland. Last year, 180,000 people walked to promote suicide prevention and to tackle the stigma that leads people to the doors of Pieta House centres. This year marks the ninth year of the event, which is growing every year. I will join my family and friends to talk and walk from the dark of night into the morning light to raise awareness.

Tomorrow, 10 May, in my own county we will celebrate Hello Carlow Day, when the Carlow Mental Health Association and local business and community groups are encouraging everyone to ask "How are you?" Little things such as these can really effect change. Someone asked me recently what mental health was to me. To me, mental health is in my head. If I feel I have a conversation with the voice in my head I know I can get through the day. The days when I cannot talk to that voice and discuss my worries, air my fears and review my emotions, are the days I feel really alone and I worry about my mental health. That is why I place so much importance on talking. Maybe it will not be enough but maybe it will be. Maybe just one conversation will save someone so it is never a bad idea to talk about what is inside one's head and I encourage everybody to support our local events to raise awareness of mental health struggles across society. I encourage all of us to check in on one another to ask how we are, because that conversation could be the one that changes the course of our day.