Waterford is proud to announce the launch of an empowering mental health awareness campaign – the Elephant in the Room Initiative.
This initiative aims to create robust discussions about mental health, helping to break down barriers and reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues.
The Elephant in the Room is a movement, founded by Brent Pope, that fosters understanding, compassion, and open dialogue about mental health.
The initiative seeks to cultivate a supportive community that encourages everyone to acknowledge and address mental health needs, effectively making a positive difference in everyone's mental health journey.
“I am asking every organisation, business & individual in Ireland to help raise mental health awareness, while at the same time supporting charities that are literally saving lives. Let’s not be ashamed to address the ‘Elephant in the Room’ anymore, and together we will start the conversation on mental health from the school room to the board room", said Brent Pope.
This campaign in Waterford is a collaboration amongst the business community and the support has been overwhelming. It is important to recognise and the organisers wish to thank the following companies:
Bausch & Lomb, Dawn Meats, Eirgen, EY, Fewer Harrington & Partners, GIY, Mulligans Pharmacy Group, Sun Life, UPMC, WLR FM, Worklab and Waterford Chamber of Commerce.
By bringing the Elephant in the Room Initiative to Waterford, those involved hope to create a healthier, more understanding atmosphere for discussing mental health. The belief is that the first step to tackling the stigma is to talk about it openly, and we're committed to facilitating those conversations in our community.
“We are delighted to introduce Ellie, Waterford’s very own Elephant. We’re proud to put mental health at the forefront of our priorities, contributing to the essential mission of reducing stigma and encouraging healing. Let's stand together and address the ‘elephant in the room", said Brian Devereux, Executive Director, EY Waterford.
Unveiled at EY’s Waterford office on the 5th of January, Ellie was joined by Brent Pope and Dave Southern (Elephant in the Room), Ms. Mary Butler (TD and Minister for Mental Health and Older People), Dr. Mark Rowe (MD, Author, TedX Speaker and Expert in Burnout Prevention & Lifestyle Medicine), along with representatives from all the supporting companies.
Standing 4 feet tall and full of colourful representations of Waterford, Ellie has been designed by Caoilfhionn Hanton, an amazing young artist.
Ellie will travel around Waterford throughout 2024, spending a month at each of our supporting companies, initiating conversations, and encouraging everyone to begin a conversation on mental health. Ellie is incredibly excited to start its journey at WLR FM today.
For more information or to get involved in the Elephant in the Room initiative, please reach out to: [email protected] and/or [email protected]
For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.
