Critical incidents’ put mental health in spotlight

The GAA dealt with what it deemed were 26 “critical incidents” relating to mental health last year that clubs themselves felt unable to respond to across issues such as death by suicide, problems with addiction and Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS).

The Association yesterday announced a partnership with the Samaritans aimed at making 24-hour, 365-day emotional support structures available to every community in Ireland.

GAA president Liam O’Neill, who launched the initiative, believes the GAA has been “fragmented” for too long in trying to bring togetherdifferent groups to work as onecohesive unit in dealing with mental health problems of members.