MIC and the Leadership for INClusion in the Early Years (LINC) Programme are proud to continue their support for the See Change Green Ribbon Campaign, an initiative dedicated to raising awareness and fostering open conversations about mental health across Ireland.
Now in its 13th year, the See Change Green Ribbon Campaign is focused on raising awareness about mental health, aiming to end stigma and discrimination. To mark the launch of this year’s campaign, MIC illuminated the TARA Building on its Limerick campus and the main building on its Thurles campus in green on Sunday, 1 September. This powerful gesture underscores the College’s deep commitment to mental health awareness and its dedication to eliminating the stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
As part of this year’s campaign, MIC and the LINC Programme will host an online event on Thursday, 26 September at 7pm, featuring See Change Ambassador Anthony O’Reardon, who will share his experiences and thoughts on the evolving landscape of mental health awareness. Students, faculty, staff, and the wider community are invited to attend this free online event. You can register by clicking here.
Reflecting on the significance of MIC and the LINC Programme’s involvement, O'Reardon expressed his gratitude, noting: “The support of MIC and the LINC Programme is greatly appreciated and is a huge help in raising awareness and supporting the Green Ribbon Campaign. Thankfully, society’s attitude towards mental health is changing, evolving from previous generations' negative attitudes. Programmes like LINC, which directly influence those in contact with our next generation, can help fight stigma and create a future where mental health conversations become the norm. In the words of the Greek philosopher Marcus Tullius Cicero, 'What society does to its children, so will its children do to society.'"
Prof Emer Ring, Dean of Education at MIC, commended the LINC Programme for its leadership in promoting the Green Ribbon Campaign.
“The LINC Programme has been instrumental in highlighting the importance of the See Change Green Ribbon Campaign, which encourages open and honest conversations about mental health across workplaces, university campuses, and the broader public. With the support of MISU, MIC has actively participated in the Green Ribbon Campaign for the past three years. While the campaign is prominent in September, our goal is to foster a positive and inclusive environment at MIC throughout the year, where everyone feels they belong, and mental health stigma and discrimination are eradicated.”
Prof Ring urged the MIC community to engage fully with the campaign and proudly wear a green ribbon as a symbol of their support. “'Ar scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine’ is an Irish proverb that reminds us of the importance of being there for each other, and the Green Ribbon Campaign enables us to do just that,” she concluded.
Aisling Knox, President of MISU, echoed this enthusiasm, stating, “We welcome the See Change Green Ribbon Campaign to our Limerick and Thurles campuses. As a strong advocate for mental health awareness, Mary I Students' Union is delighted to support MIC in this initiative. The Green Ribbon Campaign aims to spark vital conversations around mental health and break down the stigma associated with it. I encourage everyone to get involved with this fantastic campaign and demonstrate their support for an open and honest approach to mental health.”
There are several ways you can support this year’s campaign including wearing a green ribbon, the international symbol for mental health awareness, by downloading the supporters pack by clicking here and adding the Green Ribbon banners to your email/social media platforms, in addition to spreading awareness using the hashtags #GreenRibbonIRL and #EndTheStigma.
More information on how to become involved can be found here.
