March 2024

March 2024 has been a month of remarkable progress and celebration for our embedded mental health first aid programme. We are delighted to announce that an additional seven courses took place this month, resulting in 125 more Garda personnel completing the programme. This brings our impressive total to 360 certified mental health first aiders within the Garda community.

The increasing number of certified personnel is a testament to our commitment to mental health awareness and support. Each new mental health first aider is now empowered with the knowledge and skills to provide crucial support to their colleagues, contributing to a healthier and more supportive work environment.

In addition to the successful completion of these courses, March also marked a significant milestone as we celebrated the graduation of our first cohort of facilitators at Garda Headquarters. These dedicated individuals have worked tirelessly to become fully accredited mental health first aid facilitators. Their graduation is not only a personal achievement but also a vital step in expanding our programme's reach and impact.

As these facilitators prepare to lead future courses, we are excited to see how their expertise will further enhance our mental health first aid initiative. Their leadership will help ensure that more Garda personnel can access this essential training, fostering a culture of wellbeing and support across our organisation.

At the Garda National Wellbeing Office, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to all the participants and facilitators for their hard work and dedication. Your collective efforts are instrumental in promoting mental health awareness, and we look forward to the continued success of our programme in the coming months.

Thank you for being a part of this important journey towards better mental health support for all.