Hello, How Are You? campaign comes to Balbriggan and Fingal on April 7th

Fingal County Council Community Office in association with Thrive Balbriggan and Mental Health Ireland are supporting the local community in Balbriggan to come together for ‘Hello, how are you’ day on the 7th of April 2022.

Hello, How Are You? is a campaign about connection and engaging in open conversations about mental health. The campaign asks individuals, communities, workplaces, friends & family to say Hello and ask the question ‘How Are You?’ in a meaningful way. Asking this small question and having one conversation can make a real difference in someone’s life. Creating, maintaining and staying connected with others helps tackle loneliness, creates a sense of belonging and purpose and builds relationships.

Thrive Balbriggan is a mental health movement which involves communities, services and agencies working together collaboratively and in a co-productive way to generate ideas. It aims to build understanding and awareness of mental health and well-being in order to create a mental health friendly community for all.  

The event will begin at 10am with the group handing out conversation cards in Balbriggan. Flemington Community Centre will be hosting an information forum at 11.30 with tea and conversations as we ask each other in a meaningful way ‘Hello, how are you?’.   Conversation Cards and support services will be handed out through the day and have been translated into a number of languages including Ukrainian which can be accessed through the Flemington and Castleland community centre website.  Empower will be leading ‘Hello, how are you’ walk and talk with community and there will be a gathering in the square where the Mayor of Fingal will offer a few words of inspiration. There will be presence in Balbriggan of the Thrive Group promoting the campaign throughout the day including a showcase from Men’s Shed and Ardgillan College Choir performing for the community in the Square at 1PM. The day will close with Balbriggan Gospel Choir preforming in the Millfield Shopping Centre at 3.30pm, where there will also be an information display all day.

Fingal Libraries are also supporting the Hello, How are you? Campaign on Thursday the 7th of April. Each library will have a selection of books on display from the Healthy Ireland at your Library collection, friendly staff and conversation cards with helpful information. These Conversation Cards can connect people to supports that are available, if needed. There will be events happening in Swords and Blanchardstown Libraries. There will be an Art and Mindfulness Session in Swords Library from 3.30-4.30 for 8to 12 year olds, book at the Library 01 8905582. Blanchardstown Library will host Self-Care with Orlaith for adults at 10am-11am. Come and discover in a creative way how to better look after yourself. Simply call the Blanchardstown Library at 018905560.

For further information on the Hello How Are You Campaign see https://hellohowareyou.info/ Contact Leah Walshe regarding Balbriggan events at [email protected]

Flemington Community Centre https://www.flemingtoncc.ie/  Castleland Community Centre https://castlelandcc.ie/  The timetable for the day can be downloaded here https://balbriggan.ie/hello-how-are-you/