'We like to call it mental fitness': GAA project helps young people talk about suicide and self-harm

Every November, the Movember charities call on men to grow a moustache and open a conversation about mental health and other issues. 

The close friendships forged in GAA clubs has been the inspiration for a project that has helped almost 20,000 mainly young people talk about suicide or self-harm in a safe environment.

This mental health partnership between the GAA, Gaelic Players Association, and the men’s health charity, Movember, has already reached 475 clubs across all codes.

Kieran Lillis played Gaelic football for 15 years with Laois and is one of 35 past or present inter-county footballers, hurlers, and camogie players delivering the programme.

“When I was 19, a very close senior footballing member died by suicide in Portlaoise. He would have been someone I looked up to,” he said.

“When we open the workshops it’s always coming back to the ‘why’. It comes back to him for me. Younger Kieran definitely could have benefited from the programme. It was a difficult time.

"It rocked us all, and at the time there was stigma about not talking about it, not processing it much. He was four years older than me; when I look back there were numerous signs and we skirted around it rather than asking questions.” 

Mr Lillis works as a performance mindset and wellbeing coach, with a background in primary school teaching and bar work. He is very aware of challenges facing young people.

The players deliver sessions in pairs. One slide shows six athletes.

“The thing about all those six is they were top sports stars and struggled with different areas of their mental health,” he said. 

But the most important thing is they took time away, they got help and they came back better and stronger.

He described feedback from parents showing many young people were more likely to chat with someone like him in this relaxed club-house environment about questions they are unwilling to ask otherwise.

“Even though you’re talking about something that can be very serious, it can light you up,” he said. 

“It really fills my cup and I get great joy out of being part of the Movember crew. There is value in what we’re doing as well, that’s clear to see.”

About 18,600 young players, their parents and coaches have taken part so far.

Brian Curtin is programme implementation manager with Movember and played GAA as a child with the Valentia Young Islanders club.

“We like to call it mental fitness because it’s being delivered in a sports setting,” he said.

“It tries to teach about the signs and symptoms of mental health issues, whether that’s anxiety or depression and how to talk about things like suicidal ideation.” 

Separate sessions are held for teenage teams (boys and girls) and adults, with the former called "help out a team-mate".

“A lot of young people and parents don’t have the vocabulary or know how to sit down with a 15-year old and say ‘are you OK, have you ever hurt yourself, are you struggling’,” he said.

Every November, the Movember charities call on men to grow a moustache and open a conversation about mental health and other issues. 

More information on the GAA website titled: Movember Ahead of the Game.