Late Offaly mental health campaigner to be remembered in walk

THIS year's month-long green ribbon campaign for mental health awareness will conclude with a walk in memory of Accessible Counselling Tullamore (ACT) founder, the late James O'Connor.

The organising committee is asking the public to 'go green' in September by wearing the ribbon and help end the stigma around mental health.

The Tullamore Goes Green initiative was started by ACT founder, local businessman and See Change ambassador James O’Connor who sadly passed away in March of this year.

In memory of the mental health awareness campaigner, people are being asked to end the month by going to the Tullamore Harriers on Friday, October 6, any time between 5pm and midnight for the James O’Connor Memorial Walk.

Funds donated will go directly to ACT to enable them to continue to providing accessible, affordable and timely counselling to people over the age of 14 from all across the Midlands.

Tullamore Goes Green runs in support of the national Green Ribbon campaign which is spearheaded by See Change, the national stigma reduction programme.

The aim of the campaign is to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health issues and to encourage everyone to talk, listen and help people feel less alone and to seek support.
This year's Tullamore Goes Green was launched this week in Millennium Square with members of the committee and representatives from Offaly County Council and other community organisations.
The committee aim to distribute over 10,000 free green ribbons to local businesses, community groups and sporting organisations throughout the coming weeks and ACT is asking that people support the campaign by asking their team members to wear a green ribbon for the month of September and to post a picture on social media using the hashtags #TullamoreGoesGreen and #GreenRibbonIRL

A statement from the committee said: “In memory of James, we are asking that all businesses make an extra effort to 'Go Green' by dressing their windows green or displaying one of the large green ribbons that have become synonymous with the initiative.”

Free green ribbons can be ordered by contacting lisa@fititout.ie or through TullamoreGoesGreen on Facebook (or 086 3933378).

People can wear a green ribbon or start a conversation with colleagues, friends of family about mental health.

James, along with his wife Lisa, set up ACT in January 2020 and since then the centre has seen over 1,700 clients and has provided over 8,500 counselling sessions.

Clients range in age from 14 to 88 and come to ACT from all walks of life and attend for a variety of issues - anxiety, grief, being overwhelmed and much more. Clients come from all across the Midlands area - Offaly, Laois, Westmeath, Tipperary and Longford.

“James has left the people of the Midlands with a vital service and it is up to all of us to ensure we can continue this great legacy that he has left behind,” the committee statement said.
Online registration for the walk will open in the coming weeks or participants can pay on the night.

The cost to walk is €20 per adult and €5 per child (under 16).