The Lord Mayor, Councillor Colm Kelleher launched “You and Your Mental Health” booklet in City Hall. This booklet includes tips on minding our mental health and wellbeing together with an up to date list of supports and services. This is a result of collaborative workings between Cork Healthy Cities, Health Promotion and Office of Suicide Prevention.
Mental health is about how we feel, think and behave in the world, the booklet aims to support us all to care for our mental health and wellbeing in our day-to-day lives and is available to view and download here.
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Cork City Council’s Welfare team are here to support our hard-working staff. If you need to contact us please email welfare@corkcity.ie or telephone our dedicated Staff Helpline on 021-4924098 from 9am to 5 pm weekdays. We hope you find the information in these pages beneficial.
Wishing you and yours all the best at this time,
The Welfare Team
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*staff member's immediate family over the age of 18 years and in full-time education
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Below are some ways in which we celebrated National Workplace Wellbeing Day 2021
Bernadette Palmer, Staff Officer, People and Organisation Development Directorate
What have you found most difficult about the previous 12 months?
Not being able to connect with family and friends in person, especially missing my only Sister who I have not seen in almost two years. Working from home is not without its challenges either. Staying active, healthy and motivated and watching my roots growing, who’s with me.
What strategies have you used to help you cope with the situation?
We created a family WhatsApp group where we share pictures and have the chats. I also use WhatsApp to speak with my Sister on a regular basis our weekend chats are the best and I look forward to them which keeps me going during the week.
In relation to working from home structure is the key to staying motivated I have a daily plan which is not so far removed from the structure of my day before Covid. I live by the Sea, I know how lucky I am every morning I am on the beach at 6am regardless of the weather and I walk for almost an hour with my furball who is a Maltese called Harley.
I am also studying which keeps the boredom from setting in I thought there was no better time to upskill seeing as there was little else to do I believe in focusing on what you can do rather than dwelling on what you can’t do.
What are your book/ movie / TV show recommendations at the moment?
‘The Choice’ by Edith Edgar – “Even in hell, hope can flower”. We all experience our own personal hell sometimes and we all have the power of choice. We can choose to live in it or we can fight to get out of it.
‘The Bold Type’ on Netflix, it’s a modern day Sex in the City with all the elements required to take you out of your head and distract from the day to day. It is totally a holiday for your brain.
As restrictions are now lifting and we are allowed to travel within our county, where in Cork would you recommend people visit?
Youghal, Ballycotton, Old head of Kinsale Loop, Mount Hillary Loop, Ballycotton Cliff Walk, Ballincollig Gunpowder Trails, Courtmacsherry to Ballinglanna: Seven Heads Peninsula Walk, Carrigaline-to-Crosshaven.
What are you most looking forward to when restriction lift?
Being able to see family and friends and for someone else to cook my dinner preferably Jamie Oliver 😊
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Niamh Fitzgerald, Administrative Officer, Community Culture and Placemaking Directorate
What have you found most difficult about the previous 12 months?
The most difficult thing for me has been not being able to see family members in person. While we are very lucky to live in an age where technology allows us to communicate very easily across counties, countries and continents, there is nothing like spending quality time, in person, with those you care about.
What strategies have you used to help you cope with the situation?
There’s nothing like getting out in the fresh air, be it for a walk, a run, or a cycle, to clear your head and reset. My poor dog has endured some very long walks over the past year!
What are your book/ movie / TV show recommendations at the moment?
Over this past lockdown I got really into podcasts. My favourite at the moment is the Tommy, Hector and Laurita podcast.
In terms of tv shows, I’m currently hooked on Line of Duty – will we ever find out who “H” is?!
Next on my list of books to read is “A Time to Risk All” by Clodagh Finn which tells the story of how Mary Elmes (she who the bridge is named after) saved the lives of hundreds of people bound for Nazi concentration camps.
As restrictions are now lifting and we are allowed to travel within our county, where in Cork would you recommend people visit?
We are very fortunate in Cork to live in such a wonderful county. From the gems within our City, the Marina, Blarney House & Gardens, or Ballincollig Regional Park, to Doneraile Park in North Cork or the beautiful Lough Hyne in West Cork, a walk in the fabulous Glengarriff Nature Reserve, or a day out in Fota Wildlife Park, we are truly spoilt for choice!
However, for me there’s no place like home and my favourite place, Crosshaven! With river walks, cliff walks and beaches all within close proximity, there’s always somewhere to ramble to. I love to take a walk along “the point”, taking in the views of Currabinny Woods across the river, followed by a short climb up “The Grassy” to Camden Fort Meagher, where you are treated to a view over Cork Harbour, from the lighthouse at Roches Point, to the Cathedral in Cobh, and Spike Island.
What are you most looking forward to when restriction lift?
Meeting up with my sisters and nieces.
Tadhg O'Mahony, Sub-Station Officer, Cork City Fire Brigade
What have you found most difficult about the previous 12 months?
What I have found most difficult in the previous 12 months is responding to emergencies with the added worry about contracting Covid-19 and possibly spreading it to my family and vulnerable parents. My workplace in the Fire Brigade also changed, as a result I found my location changed and my workforce reduced to a bubble in a separated fire station. This took a bit of getting used to as I was in charge and responsible for developing and implementing and maintaining Covid-19 safety policies. This at times became difficult especially when restrictions were lifted after the first wave.
What strategies have you used to help you cope with the situation?
Strategies that I have used to cope with the situation were as follows: Maintaining a strict social restriction with contacts. Maintaining strict sanitisation within my home and work which gives reassurance. Restricting my exposure to news stations who only reported negatively. Making sure of the accuracy of news sources and looking on the positive side by examining hospital discharges as well as admissions. Not dwelling on the negative. Making the most of the time that I found I had to spare. I read books, decorated my home, built garden furniture. I kept myself busy and also improved my physical fitness. I have upskilled myself in other areas outside of my profession. Basically I have used the lock down to achieve something positive.
What are your book/ movie / TV show recommendations at the moment?
Recommended movies/series- This is us, Ozark, 7500, Poldark, The Virtues, Baptiste, Little Fires Everywhere, Big little lies. Books- The Beekeeper of Aleppo(Christy Lefteri), Never Mind the B#ll#cks, Here’s the Science(Prof Luke O Neil), The Olive Branch (Jo Thomas), The Fourth Estate(Jefferey Archer).
As restrictions are now lifting and we are allowed to travel within our county, where in Cork would you recommend people visit?
I would highly recommend Ballycotton Cliff Walk, Sheeps Head Walk.
What are you most looking forward to when restriction lift?
Foreign travel to celebrate a double 50th for my wife and I.
What have you found most difficult about the previous 12 months?
I found not being able to spend time with my family and friends difficult. The worry about family members who are most at risk of covid 19. The uncertainty of the restrictions and will there be another lock down in the future.
What strategies have you used to help you cope with the situation?
Keeping in contact with family and friends by phone or zoom, checking in and making sure that they are ok. Taking care of my mind and body since the gyms are closed, I have invested in some home gym equipment and I try to stick to a routine. Taking up a new hobby such as gardening. I do not think there is any spot left in the garden to plant another flower. I have now moved on to hanging baskets.
What are your book/ movie / TV show recommendations at the moment?
Books I would recommend Silent Patient, What a complete Aisling series.
TV Series; Your honour, Ozark, Line of Duty and Schitts Creek
Movies; Penguin Bloom, War Horse, Hacksaw Ridge and 21 Jump Street
As restrictions are now lifting and we are allowed to travel within our county, where in Cork would you recommend people visit?
I would highly recommend Rosscarbery as a family we spent many summers heading down to Ross plenty of activities, places to eat and it is a beautiful part of West Cork
What are you most looking forward to when restriction lift?
I am looking forward to a nice meal out with family and friends and having a few laughs. Taking the suitcase down from the attic, giving it a good dusting and booking a holiday!!!
What have you found most difficult about the previous 12 months?
That is an easy question – I missed the team of people I work with and the public. Our role is so much one where we link with people that when that is removed it takes the soul out of what we do. I missed the opportunity to socialise and to meet friends and family as did most people. We take those opportunities for granted but the links we have, both personal and professional, were so valuable in getting us through Covid. We need to keep building those links and I missed that interaction.
What strategies have you used to help you cope with the situation?
I quickly adopted Zoom and Teams and used WhatsApp and other platforms to stay in touch. Keeping connected was important but so too was a positive attitude, regular exercise and a commitment to stay mentally and physically active. My dog was a godsend and she has never been walked so much but loves it!
What are your book/ movie / TV show recommendations at the moment?
I’m currently reading (or rather dipping into) “Never Mind the B#oll*ocks, Here’s the Science” by Luke O’Neill. I listen to audio books as a great way to relax and I'm currently listening to a series of titles by Matt Dawson featuring anti hero John Milton – the current title on my player is “100 Yards”. Favourite TV show at the moment has to be “Line of Duty”.
As restrictions are now lifting and we are allowed to travel within our county, where in Cork would you recommend people visit?
It may sound glib but we have such a great county and city with loads to see and do. I will be headed to West Cork to the beaches to walk them – with the Warren in Rosscarbery a particular favourite. A day trip to Gouganebarra with picnic in tow is another great tip. Don’t miss out on a trip to Spike Island what a treat and it should be on anyone’s to do list as should Camden Fort in Crosshaven.
What are you most looking forward to when restrictions lift?
Meeting family and friends I have not seen in an age, eating out and going on Classic Car runs with my local club on sunny weekend evenings.
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A new video-based mental wellbeing programme called Minding Your Wellbeing is now freely accessible.
Brought to you by HSE Health and Wellbeing, this evidence-based programme provides a unique opportunity for people to learn more about mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience.
As we continue to adapt our lifestyles to deal with COVID-19 and are faced with different challenges, Minding Your Wellbeing aims to provide simple tools and guidance to develop and maintain a positive outlook by looking after our mental health and wellbeing.
This programme focuses on the promotion of mental wellbeing, and has been adapted from a face-to-face programme into a series of short online videos for the public at this time. It’s free to access anytime so why not try one of the videos and go from there.
What does the programme consist of?
The programme consists of 5 video sessions (of about 20 minutes each) which you can visit below.
Maggie O'Brien, LGMA, has kindly shared her wonderfully informative presentation on Resilience, Mental Health and Wellbeing with Cork City Council. Please click on the link below to view.
