While many of us look forward to Christmas as a time of cheer and celebrations, for some the festive period can be challenging and can escalate feelings of loneliness and isolation. 2020 has heightened these challenges with international border closures preventing the usual tips home or visitors from Ireland.

That is why the ISA, in collaboration with other Irish community groups, have been working hard to pull together a huge line up of events to bing us together over the festive period. Baile as Baile (home away from home) kicks off at the end of November and features lots of in person and online events, including our final Irish 30 webinar of the year.

For this session we will be joined by Lochlann Scott, founder and CEO of Helplink Mental Health and member of the Board of Trustees for Mental Health Reform Ireland. Helplink is an Irish based charity that provides mental health services for children, young people and adults, locally in the West of Ireland, nationally and internationally. The organisation established the world’s first global online counselling service to the Irish abroad and the returning Irish for free in 2016 - a vital service, providing culturally sensitive support to those far away from home.

In this session we will be acknowledging the challenges this Christmas will being for many, and provide some practical tips on how to look after your wellbeing over the festive period.

Join via zoom through The Irish 30 page.