HEADSUP Kildare is an interagency programme managed in by County Kildare Leader Partnership. Originally a pilot project focusing on Kildare town, it was established as a county wide programme in June 2016 as recommended by an external evaluation.
HEADSUP is an evidence-based mental health education and training programme for people who are finding life stressful, have issues with unemployment, feel isolated or lonely and wish to explore and learn positive ways of managing and improving their overall wellbeing. This group programme aims to encourage participants to make positive changes to their lives, develop resilience and offers support to access local services and supports.
HEADSUP gives people an opportunity to build on their mental and physical fitness while developing an ability to make connections, set goals and develop a life plan to ‘get back on-track’.
The programme covers 4 elements:
1. Wellbeing and Resilience – supports men who have been experiencing adversity to gain an understanding of mental health recovery & wellness so that they can build their resilience and respond positively to stress and stressful situations. Over the duration of the programme, participants learn to recognise the signs of stress and distress and, in turn, are supported to identify and choose more positive responses.
2. Life Planning – enables men to find their ‘mojo – participants are supported to identify and achieve their personal goals and to access the supports and services available to them.
3. Physical Wellbeing – recognising the strong correlation between good physical and mental health, participants are encouraged to move more and build on their physical fitness
4. Positive Social Support – encourages men to get to know others, develop connections and supports networking
Programmes are provided right across the county including Kildare town, Newbridge, Athy, Allenwood, Celbridge, Clane, Maynooth and Naas.
What's happening in HEADSUP Kildare
HEADSUP Kildare are delighted to announce that we will be running an 8-week evidence-based skills programme for men in Clane and surrounding areas, commencing January 2025 and another 10-week programme in Naas in May 2025.
For more information on our programme, contact Deirdre 085 1068305 or Lorna 085 8421347 to register your interest.
During 2023 HEADSUP Kildare ran its first ever women's programme which was a wonderful success.
"· The programme was very beneficial for my mental health, everyone was so encouraging and helpful"
· " I would highly recommend the programme"
· "The facilitators of the course were amazing, they made the content come alive and showed how applicable what we learned is to all areas of life"
· " I have learned from this programme the work that I need to do on myself and would highly recommend it"
·"The best course I've done to date on mental health, thoroughly enjoyed it despite finding it hard at times"
HEADSUP Kildare have teamed up with Healthy Ireland Kildare to run a series of workshops - WRAP in the community.
Keep an eye on our social media pages for locations in 2024.
David HamillHEADSUP South Dublin
South Dublin County Partnership.
4th Floor, County Hall, Belgard Square North,
Tallaght,
Dublin 24
D24 A3XC
Tom Conroy
HEADSUP Dublin 8-10-12Ballyfermot/Chapelizod Partnership,
4 Drumfinn Park,
Ballyfermot,
Dublin 10
D10 AY66
Deirdre Bigley
HEADSUP Kildare,
County Kildare Leader Partnership
Kildare Community Development Centre
Meadow Road, Kildare,
Co. Kildare.
R51 RF88
If you, or someone you know is in crisis and needs support, please call or access the following link for helplines:
Mental health supports and helplines during Covid19
Due to Covid19 safety measures we have adapted our way of supporting to keep people safe and well. As such, we are presently delivering the Heads Up programme via Zoom and are offering psychosocial support over the phone when required. We look forward to meeting up again in person as soon as it is safe to do so until then please contact us for further information about upcoming programmes online.
Take care.”
Mental Health Ireland – 5 ways to well being