Be Summer Ready 2022 - Minister Butler

Speaking Note for Minister Butler – Launch of “Be Summer Ready” Campaign

Good afternoon everybody. I am delighted to be here today to support the launch of the “Be Summer Ready” campaign and booklet, with positive mental health being the overarching theme of the campaign.

Mental wellbeing is a key element of our overall health, and the impact of Covid-19 has brought a sharp focus on how we need to promote and protect our mental health.

At a European level there is a call to prioritise mental health promotion in response to the impact of Covid-19, and to have it included as a core component of the recovery plan.

Healthy Ireland, A Framework for Improved Health and Wellbeing 2013-2025, launched in March 2013, is our national framework for action to improve the health and wellbeing of the country over the coming generation.

Since last year, it is further supported by the Healthy Ireland Strategic Action Plan, which provides a roadmap for Healthy Ireland implementation from 2021-2015.

A key Healthy Ireland goal is to increase the proportion of people who are healthy at all stages of life; prevention and early intervention are key pillars to achieving this.

In the context of mental health and wellbeing, there is a growing body of international evidence regarding the benefits to both individuals and to society at large, when positive mental health is promoted and integrated across all life stages.

Mental health promotion focusses on strengthening protective factors for good mental health and enabling access to skills, resources, and supportive environments that enhance equity, and keep individuals and populations mentally healthy.

Last year’s Healthy Ireland Survey presented key findings on social connectedness and mental health, in the context of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Needless to say, the necessary Covid-19 restrictions undoubtedly saved many lives and controlled the spread of the virus prior to widespread vaccination.

However, social interaction is integral to our general well being; inevitably, there was a negative impact on some people’s mental well-being as a result of reduced social interactions and the stress accompanying the pandemic.

Over 80% of Survey respondents reported that they were less socially connected as a result of the restrictions. Almost a third of respondents reported that their mental health has worsened since the start of the public health restrictions.

This brought a sense of urgency and commitment in my department to development of a National Mental Health Promotion Plan, which commenced in late 2021 with a stakeholder consultation and review of the evidence.

This National Plan will have a key focus on a whole of Government approach to promoting positive mental health and will provide strategic direction in line with international best practice.

The HSE are launching their first Mental Health Promotion Plan later this week, which is a five-year plan that includes action areas focused on promoting positive mental health across the population and among Health Service Executive (HSE) staff. This focus on promoting positive mental health will ensure that it becomes a core element of health and wellbeing across all of society.

The theme of this ‘Be Summer Ready’ booklet is timely, and I would urge everyone to become aware of how they can support their own wellbeing as we approach the summer.

Keeping active, eating a balanced diet, getting outdoors and building social connections can all enhance our overall wellbeing. It really is the simple things, that can be so effective in a positive way.

One of the key priorities of the Healthy Ireland Framework is the promotion of physical activity. Get Ireland Active - the National Physical Activity Plan, which was published in 2016, contains 60 actions intended to promote increased physical activity levels across the population.

Presentations at last year’s Irish Physical Activity Research Collaboration conference, made clear that regular physical activity can be effective in reducing the severity of symptoms associated with anxiety and depression.

Research carried out by DCU regarding the Department of Education’s Active School Flag programme, which is co-sponsored by Healthy Ireland, indicates very positive effects on school activity levels, but also on attendance, behaviour and learning outcomes.

Keeping active can help protect both your physical and mental health, and summer is a great time to try something new. Outdoor activities are very safe in the context of Covid; making the most of the good weather and longer evenings is so valuable.

It's great to be able to meet up with a friend for a walk, get out on the bike and explore a new area, or try an activity that’s new to you, such as swimming. Activities like writing, singing, music, or gardening, painting or photography can also help to improve mood, and give a little lift in spirit, especially if feeling anxious or low.

For anyone looking for supports, the yourmentalhealth.ie website provides information on mental health supports and services available both nationally and locally, provided by the HSE and partners.

While the summer months will hopefully give us plenty of opportunities for physical activity, and for getting outdoors in the fresh air, another very important part of staying safe during this time is skin protection.

Skin Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in Ireland with nearly 13,000 new cases a year, and this number is increasing. The good news is that by taking some simple key steps to protect your and your family’s skin, the majority of cases can be prevented.

Here in Ireland, many of us have fair skin, which burns easily and tans poorly. Children are particularly vulnerable and we know that sunburn in childhood significantly increases the risk of developing skin cancer later in life.

This is why it is so important to spread awareness of the harmful effects of UV and to educate ourselves on issues like the UV index, and to get into the habit of protecting our skin every day, even on cloudy days.

Can I just once again thank everyone involved in developing this very comprehensive and helpful campaign and booklet, which will support so many of us in preparing for a happy, and above all, safe summer, with positive outcomes

Thank you.

ENDS