healthcare

A new report putting a spotlight on the community services available nationwide for people with neurological conditions was launched yesterday by Minister for Disability Anne Rabbitte. The Neuro-Mapping Project Report describes the range of community services across the country that people with neurological conditions can access from voluntary organisations, and identifies a number of joint service initiatives between voluntary organisations and the HSE.

“I can’t go to any bar. They hear my accent, look at my appearance and they think I’m violent, it’s that negative stereotype," - Martin Mongan, Donegal Travellers Project A major study of Travellers’ lives in Dublin published in mid-February pointed to racism and discrimination for directly leading to many Traveller suicides. Research among a smaller group, focused specifically on Traveller men’s mental health, came to the same conclusion. This study was launched in December in Donegal and it marked the first time that Travellers themselves conducted all the research. Facilitated by David Friel, the first Traveller in the North West to be educated to Masters level, the research paints a picture of the daily lives of 12 Traveller men living in Donegal.

The drive to volunteer can come from anywhere. For Larry Masterson, it was something he was already committed to, but his volunteering took him in a new direction after he suffered a stroke.