ONE has run a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) course in Stephens Barracks, Kilkenny on Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th of February.

The course was attended by serving personnel, and veterans, including members of IUNVA and ONE, members of the Civil Defence and family members of serving personnel – who are always welcome on these courses. Defence Forces Chaplain Fr Dave Murphy was also a participant.

The course facilitators were Oliver Barbour, former Director of the Defence Forces Personnel Support Services (PSS) and board member of ONE, along with Des Macauley, ONE’s Veteran Support Officer for South Leinster, who served in Stephens Barracks as part of the PSS team.

MHFA training provides individuals, organisations and workplaces with the skills and confidence to help and support those who are developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis in an empathic way. Participants learn a framework for communications, how to offer and provide initial help and how to guide a person towards appropriate professional help, and other supports, in an understanding and empathetic way. Course participants receive a copy of the MHFA manual and a Certificate of completion – check out www.mhfaireland.ie

ONE CEO Cormac Kirwan visited the course to thank them for their participation and gave a brief on ONE’s professional services which are available to ALL Veterans of the Defence Forces. Another visitor included the Mayor of Kilkenny Cllr Joe Malone, who is a Defence Forces Veteran and also served in Stephens Barracks. Many thanks to Michelle Coakley of Kilkenny Civil Defence Unit, and our sincere thanks to OC Stephens Barracks and the 3 Infantry Battalion for the excellent facilities and support. Thank you to the local veterans ONE Branch Chairperson Bobby Kearny and branch member John Gus Hennessy for participating, along with IUNVA member Larry Scanlon.

ONE’s primary objective is to support the needs of Irish veterans by the provision of accommodation to homeless and other veterans in need of such domestic accommodation in its Veterans’ Homes and the provision of other advice and support to veterans, in particular Mental Health advice, through its nationwide network of Branches and Veterans’ Support Centres. Visit ONE-Veterans.Org for more info.

#DefenceForces #Veterans #Charity #SCAR #Support #Comradeship #Advocacy #Remembrance #NoIrishVeteranLeftBehind #Veteran #VeteransAffairs #Volunteering #TeamWork #Military #Membership #Community #ONEVeterans #Donation #MilitaryNetwork #MilitaryFamily #DefenceCommunity #MentalHealth #MentalHealthFirstAid