The Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People Helen McEntee TD officially opened the new REGARI Recovery College in Roscommon town yesterday.
REGARI, which stands for Roscommon/East Galway Advancing Recovery in Ireland, offers courses, workshops, seminars and groupwork on mental health issues and associated areas. These include understanding mental health issues and its treatment, mindfulness, depression, understanding medication and rebuilding life and self-esteem.
The College is based at “The Lodge” on the grounds of Roscommon Hospital (next the Cemetery) and is run by a Peer Educator, Ailish Connaughton. Alongside the Peer Educator are Peer Trainers, Mental Health Professional Trainers and others. All Students have the option of completing an Individual Learning Plan with the support of the Peer Educator. This structure aims to support students in setting recovery goals and identifying the steps needed to reach these goals.
Speaking ahead of the launch Ailish Connaughton, Peer Educator at REGARI Recovery College said “I am delighted that following on from the success of our taster sessions in Spring/Summer 16 that we are now preparing to roll out our first official term in both Roscommon and East Galway. The feedback from these taster sessions highlighted the level of understanding, respect, hope and openness present in each session coming both from our co-facilitators and students alike. I have no doubt this will continue as we move forward together and I am sure people will find something here that excites them. We now have 10 courses that have been co-produced by people with lived experience of mental health challenges including family members and carers along with people working in the area of mental health. These courses are designed to promote mental health, wellbeing and recovery.”
Courses
Student Registration, for the Autumn/Winter Term, will take place on September 7th and 8th in The Lodge, Roscommon and further details are below
