FREE HUGS for Positive Mental Health

West Tipperary MHA latest campaign

West Tipperary Mental Health Association commenced with Free Hugs promoting Positive Mental Health following the launch of the See Change Partners on the Ground on the 17th of June 2010 at the Mansion House Dublin  (www.seechange.ie).  See Change has been endorsed by Minister John Moloney (Appointed Minister for Equality,Disability and Mental Health) who also participated in our Free Hugs Campaign. Following the Mansion House we took to the streets of Dublin and also stopped on our journey home offering free hugs... The entire experience has been very moving and indeed very uplifting for us.

One individual told the story that they had not been hugged for over 30 years since a family relative died. In other areas especially with groups of young people they wanted to know why we were doing it and wanted to engage in conversation regarding positive mental health. They asked specifically that we take the Campaign to some areas where they felt that people had been forgotten and we have agreed  do this ...so our journey is just beginning. Many people wished to be hugged but did not wish to be filmed and this was respected.

We would be very grateful if you could forward the link to everyone you know and we also encourage people to post a comment or rate the video.

Tell family, friends and colleagues to log onto you tube and key in : Free hugs Tipperary/cashel/ Clonmel and also Free Hugs for Mental Health Dublin. Or see videos above and below.

Hug someone today and  you will see it costs nothing and can make a difference ...if only in some small way.

For more information on the Free Hugs Campaign:

This Campaign was started by  Australian Juan Mann in 2004. At this time he had been living in London and returned to Australia following a break in his mental health where he had become depressed and lonely as a result of numerous personal difficulties at the time.

The Campaign became famous internationally in 2006. Free hugs is a social movement involving the offer of a free hugs to strangers in public places. Log on to www.freehugscampaign.org for more info.