Stories of Hope and Recovery go on tour at Waterford Bus Station

  • Photo exhibition from Grow Mental Health features stories of recovery and hope
  • Exhibition on display at Waterford Bus Station for two weeks

Felicia Black, Grow Mental Health, South-Eastern representative and Aled Williams, Regional Operations Manager, South

Expressway, Ireland’s premium inter-regional coach service has partnered up with Grow Mental Health to raise awareness of mental health issues. Customers will see a photo exhibition with stories of recovery and hope in Bus Éireann Waterford. The display started in early October in Busáras and has recently moved to Waterford and Cork Bus Stations and other regional locations over the coming weeks. This partnership initiative is to promote positive mental health and raise vital funds for Grow Mental Health, the non-profit group.

As one of Ireland’s longest standing mental health charities, empowering and supporting over 1,000 people weekly, Grow Mental Health which was set up in 1969, has recorded a 400% year on year increase in demand for services since the pandemic began. Delivering a national unique peer-to-peer support to local communities through a tailored 12-Step Recovery and Growth program, the group is delighted with the launch of this exhibition, documenting its members’ stories, of hope and recovery.

Proudly supported by Expressway, the initiative will be promoted right across the bus stations and through Expressway social media channels over the coming weeks, with the public asked to read the stories of recovery and hope around mental health and to donate to Grow Mental Health – these donations will help people who are struggling at this difficult time.

Felicia Black, Grow Mental Health, South-Eastern representative said: “We hear each week in our groups, new people saying they wish they had found a Grow peer support group earlier.  We hope this exhibition may inspire some people who are struggling to think, if Grow Mental Health can work for others, maybe it can work for me too.”  Felicia went on to say “No one should feel alone in their struggle, as mental health difficulties unfortunately are a part of life for so many of us. Our brave members hope that by sharing their stories, others will be reminded that they are not alone. Sometimes talking to someone who understands can be the first step to feeling better.”

Aled Williams, Bus Éireann Regional Operations Manager, South, said; “We are extremely proud to partner up with Grow Mental Health and show their members stories of recovery and hope in our Bus Station in Waterford. We would encourage our Waterford customers to take a minute and read these stories of recovery and hope in our bus stations over the coming weeks. The photo exhibition started in Busáras in Dublin and has now moved to Waterford and Cork for two weeks and then it will move to Limerick and other bus locations over the coming weeks. We are hoping to create wide-spread awareness of the campaign messaging across our bus stations and social media channels and raise much needed funds for our partners in Grow Mental Health.”

For further information about the partnership or the services provided by Grow Mental Health visit www.grow.ie. 

Grow Mental Health Infoline is 0818 474 474.

Friday, 5th November, 2021