Press release
Taoiseach launches #InThisTogether campaign for people to Stay Connected, Stay Active and Stay Mentally Well during COVID-19
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Taoiseach
Published on
Last updated on
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has today launched a new Campaign - In This Together - which aims to help everyone in Ireland to Stay Connected, Stay Active, and look after their Mental Wellbeing throughout the Covid-19 Emergency.
The Campaign - which starts today - encourages everyone to pick a new activity which could help them to feel a little healthier or a little better as we deal with Covid-19.
The Taoiseach was joined at the launch by Minister for Health Simon Harris and Minister for Children & Youth Affairs Katherine Zappone.
And it signposts useful advice to help people of every age group to cope with the ongoing restrictions, whether they are looking after children, dealing with self-isolation, preparing for the Leaving Cert, or coping with cabin fever.
In This Together will offer regular videos, ideas and activities for people of all ages throughout the Emergency, over social media, through our partners in the media and promoted by the Community Call Forums which have been set up across Ireland.
All this information is being made available on gov.ie/Together, on your local authority website, on social media, television, radio and newspapers throughout the Emergency and you can find details of local initiatives on your local authority website.
Speaking at the launch, the Taoiseach said:
“The impact of Covid-19 has been dramatic. As a country we have come together to try to protect ourselves and to save others. We have all played our part. We have pulled together in the most remarkable way. And it is starting to work.
“I understand that people are anxious and they are worried. Above all, we all need to look after ourselves, whether you’re an older person cocooning at home, working at home or laid off during the Emergency.
“We all need to stay physically active, stay connected with friends and family, and look after our mental health. So we are launching In This Together to encourage everyone to look after themselves. We’re in this together and we will come out of it together too. So let’s set ourselves the target to do something each day to make us feel a little healthier and a little happier.”
In This Together draws together a huge range of activities that you can pursue in your home or your locality, by yourself or with family members or with friends online. There are ideas and activities for people of all ages. Just some highlights include:
In This Together also draws together the huge range of advice and support that’s available online for people of all ages, including:
Minister Harris said:
“Our wellbeing goes beyond our physical health. Now more than ever, we need to be there for each other. Whether that be through group exercise classes, or through educational supports, video calling your family, we must do everything we can to protect our health - mental and physical. Supports are available and our health service is there for you.”
The campaign also includes a new suite of resources for children and parents. Minister for Children & Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone said:
“At this challenging time it can be difficult for parents to know where to easily access trusted information and support. Parents Centre contains information for parents and provides links to a wide range of many trusted and high quality online resources including learning, parenting and information on supports for parents. Let’s Play Ireland is designed to remind us all, young and old, of the fundamental importance of play.
“Playing is central to children’s physical, mental, social and emotional health and wellbeing. Children learn through play while developing resilience, flexibility and understanding of their world. Play in families enriches childhood and, right now, in the midst of these uncertain and troubling times, play is more important than ever.”
The initiative brings together National Government, Government Agencies, Local Government, Media, community and voluntary sectors, and the Community Call Forums around the country.
Wellbeing initiatives right across Government are being collated so that information can be easily found, either on Gov.ie or the relevant Local Authority websites.
Further examples of wellbeing initiatives are set out in the attached Appendix.
Ends
Please see below for a list of current and upcoming resources to help you mind your mental health, stay active and stay connected. Be sure to check in with gov.ie/together for more detail
The Gov.ie/together campaign has advice on Mental wellbeing, parenting, relationships, coping and creating daily routines, keeping active, eating well, cocooning, helping in your community, play for kids and a link to the work local authorities are doing across the country.
Local Authorities around the country are moving services online, producing mental health materials and reaching out to local communities to help maintain positive mental health. Initiatives include:
Over April and May Creative Ireland will be promoting creating at home on social media (incorporating mental health benefits messaging). A selection of free creative online resources across Ireland to help people #CreateAtHome. The Design & Crafts Council is part of this with their #GetIrelandMaking.
While our National Parks and Reserves remain accessible to locals (within 2km) most of our heritage sites are closed. Much work is underway to provide virtual access through digital tours, drone footage, online history guides, puzzles, drawing competitions including:
Many Local Authority Community Call helplines are maintaining contact with those who have phoned, or are buddying them up with volunteers who can check in with them and have a chat over the phone or online.
Other local initiatives include:
Gov.ie/together: Cocooning: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/d56870-cocooning/
Cocooning can feel unnatural and a little unsettling, so we’ve put together some advice to try to make it a little easier.
Gov.ie/together
Our routines are affected by the COVID-19 outbreak in different ways. During difficult times like this, it’s more important than ever to look after our general health and eating well and staying active are huge parts of that.
We have advice on
For Healthy Eating we have advice on
Sport Ireland has created a number of resources to promote responsible physical activity, and is supporting the Local Sports Partnerships (LSPs), National Governing Bodies, Athletes and the general public to get and stay active, following government guidelines, and is also working with Age & Opportunity for older adults and CARA for people with a disability.
A number of local authorities have been working with their local Sports Partnerships to post home exercise and keep fit videos for all ages, including those cocooning or in self-isolation.
Examples include:
Other ways to stay active:
Activities for children:
There are many platforms for interacting with and learning the Irish language online: