Launch of new Online Programme for Young Men's Mental...
10 October 2012
As you are no doubt aware, today is World Mental Health Day. To mark this important occasion, a new interactive online programme called ‘WorkOut’ has been launched today. This is designed to help young men on the island of Ireland to improve their ‘mental fitness’. This website is the result of a partnership between Inspire Ireland, the HSE’s National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) and the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland. It is one element of a bigger all-island initiative called the ‘Young Men and Suicide Project’.
Inspire Ireland has launched ‘WorkOut’ - an online tool which has been designed to improve the mental fitness of young men in Ireland. The application, which was developed by Inspire in collaboration with the Men’s Health Forum in Ireland and the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention, gives users a series of ‘missions’ to undertake over a period of time which will help to improve their mental fitness.
The new website (www.workoutapp.ie) has been designed so that men can access it in their own time, and engage with it on their own terms; choosing as many or as few interactions as they want. The application allows the user to undertake and track a series of activities which provide an indication of their mental wellness. The actions are based upon the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, and are centred upon four core areas: confidence, practicality, control, and being a team player.
Commenting on the launch, Elaine Geraghty, CEO of Inspire Ireland, said that the availability of online resources has become increasingly important, as more young men and women go online initially when they need support or information on mental wellness:
"We are delighted to be able to launch WorkOut and to provide this much needed
resource for young men. Through our ongoing engagement with young people, we
are aware that the Internet is the first point of contact when they need either support
or more information about mental wellness. Inspire is working to provide this via
online technology and engagement, and the launch of WorkOut is a key part of our
programme. WorkOut aims to promote mental health literacy with this specific age
group, and it challenges the stereotypical attitudes to mental health.”"
Inspire Ireland is encouraging health professionals to check out WorkOut as something that they may wish to refer people to as an additional form of support.
Susan Kenny, Training and Information Officer with the HSE’s National Office of Suicide Prevention. commented:
"The HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) is delighted to provide
funding to Inspire Ireland for their work, and to be involved in this innovative project.
The development and use of online and interactive tools such as workoutapp.ie is
an important investment by the NOSP. "Reach Out‟", the national suicide prevention
strategy for Ireland, recommends the development of services and initiatives to
assist young men, and this tool, which promotes mental fitness, is a welcome
addition to the supports and services available. The partnership approach of the
Men‟s Health Forum in Ireland, the HSE National Office for Suicide Prevention and
Inspire Ireland - which has led to the development of the application - is a good
demonstration of organisations working together to promote mental health.”"
The WorkOut mental fitness application is modelled on an application originally developed by the Inspire Foundation Australia.
Inspire Ireland’s flagship service is www.reachout.com, an online mental health service to help young people to get through tough times.
Related Page
For further information please contact:
E-Mail: info@inspireireland.ie OR press@hse.ie
Web: www.workoutapp.ie OR www.reachout.com
