Stories of Hope and Recovery go on tour at Parnell Place, Bus Station, Cork

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

Finola O’Callaghan of Grow Mental Health, Cork and Aled Williams, Regional Operations Manager, South

Expressway, Ireland’s premium inter-regional coach service have 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 our bus stations nationwide. The exhibition started in early October in Busáras and has recently moved to Parnell Place in Cork 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 to be celebrating this exhibition, documenting our 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 over 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.

Finola O’Callaghan of Grow Mental Health, Cork said “During the pandemic Grow ‘s nationwide network of weekly peer support meetings had to move to online but now with the easing of restrictions we are getting to reconnect both in person and online. We see in our support groups every day how the sharing of a story of recovery can inspire hope and have a transformative effect on someone struggling with mental health challenges. Sometimes talking to someone who understands and can personally relate to how you feel, can be the first step to feeling better.”

Aled Williams, 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 Parnell Place in Cork. We would encourage our Cork 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 Cork and Waterford for two weeks and then it will move to Limerick and other 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

Wednesday, 10th November, 2021