KERRY Mental Health Association is to host a Virtual Connect Café to promote positive mental wellbeing during the Christmas season and into 2021.

While we may have to keep our distance from family and friends, it is still possible to connect and share a conversation from afar, not only during the festive season but all year round.

The Virtual Christmas Connect Café will come in the form of a radio programme to be broadcast during Radio Kerry’s Saturday Supplement from 9am to 11am on Saturday 19th December.

Recorded on Zoom, it will also be available to view online and on social media from the 19th of December.

Joe McGill will hear from some well-known Kerry people who will discuss how they look after their mental wellbeing while discussing their own Christmas memories accompanied by music and song.

The General Manager of Kerry Mental Health Association, John Drummey, said: “Research shows there are simple things we can do as part of our daily life to protect our mental health. Connecting is one of the ways we can do this. Our Virtual Christmas Connect Café will hopefully provide some inspiration to those who need a lift at what can be a challenging and lonely time of year. The goal is to open-up conversations about how we connect, how we can strengthen connections with ourselves, with others and with our community. The Virtual Christmas Connect Café is supported through funding from Mental Health Ireland, for which we are most grateful.”

Unfortunately, due to Covid-19, Kerry Mental Health Association’s fundraising and befriending activities were seriously curtailed and the Branches were unable to hold their annual church gate collections or flag day events.

The nine Branches which make up Kerry Mental Health Association pursue befriending and support activities to enrich the lives of neighbours and friends who are living with mental illness.

The Management, Directors and Volunteers at Kerry Mental Health Association wish everyone a Happy Christmas and good health for 2021.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a personal crisis, is unable to cope and needs support, text HELLO to 50808. If your life is in imminent risk, call 112 or 999 for emergency help.