North Cork rural charity sets up mental health support project to combat isolation

Closures of rural pubs and changing agricultural practices leaving people feeling socially isolated, according to rural charitable development company IRD Duhallow

Shane McHugh, a rural community health worker with IRD Duhallow, said social isolation could be a big problem in rural areas such as Duhallow, where people could live a long way from services.

The increasing closures of rural pubs and changes in agricultural practices which see more older farmers facing isolation has been the motivation for the first project of its type which is being set up in the South-West region to tackle mental health issues.

The Wellbeing and Recovery College will be launched by rural charitable development company IRD Duhallow on September 18 at its headquarters at the James O’Keeffe Memorial Centre in Newmarket, Co Cork.