Connecting for Life - Kildare and West Wicklow
Post Birth Wellbeing Plan
The Post Birth Wellbeing Plan (PDF) has been developed to support the mental health and wellbeing of women in the perinatal period (pregnancy and up to one year after birth) who are living in Kildare and West Wicklow.
The Post Birth Wellbeing Plan is a workbook that encourages women to think about and identify supports that can help them adjust to their role as a new mother after the birth of their baby.
For hard copies please contact Niamh Crudden on 086 253 5529.
#HereForYou - Bereavement Support Campaign Kildare West Wicklow
A 10-week online information campaign was launched with the aim of profiling and raising awareness of bereavement supports and services that are available to people living in Kildare and West Wicklow.
The #HereForYou campaign has been funded by the HSE under Connecting for Life Kildare and West Wicklow and has been developed by an inter-agency group comprising the HSE, Kildare Youth Services, Kildare CYPSC, Irish Hospice Foundation and the Irish Childhood Bereavement Network.
- Understanding and coping with grief and loss (PDF)
- What is bereavement care? Information for professionals (PDF)
- Young people and grief: How counselling can help (PDF)
- Suicide bereavement (PDF)
- Supporting bereaved parents (PDF)
- Supporting families and communities (PDF)
- Children's grief (PDF)
- Suicide bereavement: talking to others (PDF)
- Teenage grief (PDF)
- Talking to your child about suicide (PDF)
In 2018 two new Connecting for Life Local Action Plans for the HSE Community Healthcare Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow area, were launched.
Pictured at the launch were, from left to right: John Meehan, Kevin Brady, Frances Fitzgerald TD & David Walsh.
Speakers at the launch were Catherine Byrne TD (Minister of State at the Department of Health with responsibility for Health Promotion and the National Drugs Strategy), Kevin Brady (Head of Mental Health Community Healthcare Dublin South Kildare and West Wicklow), John Meehan (HSE Assistant National Director with responsibility for Mental Health Strategy and Planning and the National Office for Suicide Prevention), Margaret Duggan (Area Lead for Mental Health Engagement) and David Walsh (Chief Officer Community Healthcare Dublin South Kildare and West Wicklow).
At the launch, Mr David Walsh thanked Suicide Resource Officers Ms Emma Freeman (Dublin South), Niamh Crudden and Mr David Gray (Kildare West Wicklow) for the hard work and dedication displayed in their approach to the development of the Connecting for Life Suicide Prevention Action Plans for the area. He thanked the staff in the National Office for Suicide Prevention, the HSE Mental Health Division and the members of Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow Suicide Prevention Groups for their support and guidance in the development of the Action Plans.
Mr Walsh acknowledged the organisations and individuals in Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow area who took the time to share their views on suicide prevention and mental health during the public consultation process.
“Connecting for Life represents a local articulation of the National Connecting for Life strategy, it is a locally-based, multiagency response to self-harm and suicide in the communities of Dublin South, Kildare & West Wicklow. These action plans represent an honest and intentional effort by local stakeholders to target both resources and actions towards the prevention of suicide in this catchment area.”
Pictured at the launch were, from left to right: Martin Heydon TD, John Meehan, David Walsh, Catherine Byrne TD, Kevin Brady, Emma Freeman, Kevin Brady & David Gray.
Connecting for Life Kildare, West Wicklow is based on the same vision, goals, objectives and measurable outcomes as outlined in the national strategy, Connecting for Life, Ireland’s National Strategy to Reduce Suicide 2015-2020. Connecting for Life, sets out a vision where fewer lives are lost through suicide, and where communities and individuals are empowered to improve their mental health and wellbeing.
This vision is to be realised through seven goals:
- Better understanding of suicidal behaviour
- Supporting communities to prevent and respond to suicidal behaviour
- Targeted approaches for those vulnerable to suicide
- Improved access, consistency and integration of services
- Safe and high-quality services
- Reduce access to means
- Better data and research
Connecting for Life builds on previous work and contributes key elements to moving forward. It is based on extensive consultation, a global knowledge base and defined commitments across government departments and key statutory and non-statutory agencies in Ireland. The Dublin South local Action Plan is grounded in this approach which recognises the contributions that can be made across all sectors of our community with the aim of reducing suicide. The plan lays out very specific steps to deliver the actions that are relevant to the needs of people in this area.
Minding Me - Supporting New and Expecting Mothers In Kildare West Wicklow
Looking after your Mental Health during Pregnancy and Beyond is a booklet providing advice and support information for expectant and new mothers, anyone planning a pregnancy or partners, grandparents, family and friends that may be supporting someone who is expecting or has a baby.
Minding Me also held a week of online FREE workshops to support new and expectant others, in October 2020.
For more information on Connecting for Life Kildare, West Wicklow or Minding Me, contact:
Niamh Crudden (Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE Community Healthcare Dublin South, Kildare and West Wicklow): niamh.crudden@hse.ie
This page was last updated on 27th January 2022.
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