First Fortnight Festival Aims To Get Us Talking About Our Mental Health

It's important to remember that this time of year can be quite difficult for many, and there could be a lot of people you know trying to cope in silence with mental health problems. First Fortnight wants to create a conversation around mental health, and end the stigma of struggling with conditions like anxiety, depression and bipolar disorder. Ireland's only mental health arts festival gets underway on New Year's Day with a special event in Christchurch, Dublin.  Eoghan McDermott, Aine Stapleton, Chris Donoghue, Camille Lucy Ross. Eoghan McDermott said of the festival: “I’m delighted to be an ambassador for First Fortnight. First Fortnight’s call to challenge mental health stigma is something that really resonates with me. Like many people, there have been times in the past when I’ve been depressed and unsure how to get better or who to turn to.' Proclamation - a unique evening of talk and music – will also feature a number of other well-known Irish faces as they proclaim what they would like to be see done for our collective wellbeing in this historic year of reflection and celebration. The event is being staged in partnership with Mental Health Ireland and in association with New Year’s Festival Dublin. It will mark the start of two weeks of First Fortnight events in Dublin and select venues nationwide. Other guests include British Snooker legend Willie Thorne, broadcaster John Bowman, Olympic star Kenneth Egan, former Dublin GAA star John Leonard, and acclaimed musicians Jennifer Evans, Anderson, King Kong Company and Spies. More information on the festival can be found here. Lead Image courtesy of First Fortnight: featuring Eoghan McDermott, dancer and filmmaker Aine Stapleton, Newstalk Breakfast’s Chris Donoghue, and actress and playwright Camille Lucy Ross.