Synopsis

The Regional Communications group in HSE West Northwest identified the need to develop a project group to address the mental health literacy challenges faced within the Traveller community. This project group aimed to co-produce an initiative to empower the Traveller community to improve their mental health literacy thereby strengthening their ability to navigate and engage with the Mental Health Services.
A Steering Group was set up and all relevant stakeholders including Traveller reps from each Traveller organisation were invited to ensure the Traveller voice was heard. However, no Traveller reps came forward and we had to go back to the drawing board.
The phrase “Nothing About Us Without Us”—often adapted in healthcare as “Nothing About Me Without Me”—originated as a rallying cry in the disability rights movement of the 1980s and 1990s, though its roots trace back to 16th-century Polish politics. Following further engagement with the Travellers and Traveller organisations it was agreed what was really needed was a safe space to discuss mental health challenges within the community whilst also incorporating a solution focused approach. The Connect Café model developed by Mental Health Ireland was used to meet with Travellers to discuss the strengths in their community, the challenges with regards mental health and proposed solutions for change. The sessions were facilitated by HSE staff and Peer educators from the Recovery colleges.