Deputy Mayor of County Cork Cllr Deirdre O’Brien proudly launches a new 3-year Rural Community Health Worker project in North Cork at an event held in The Mercy Centre Mallow on Tuesday 27th September. 

The project is a collaboration between Cork Kerry Community Healthcare, HSE with IRD Duhallow, Avondhu Blackwater and Ballyhoura Development CLG. 

A team of 3 Rural Community Health Workers are now in place since January 2022 and a dedicated cross sectoral team is supporting the work which encompassing HSE Community Workers, Regional Suicide Resource Officer and reps from each development company involved. 

Rural Community Health Workers will focus on improving the health, lifestyle and over wellness of communities across North Cork by developing a health and wellness programme with the community. 

The primary focus of the role will be dedicated to resourcing communities by addressing suicide prevention, intervention and postvention work. This will be achieved with the provision of a coordinated programme of training and support work across North Cork, which has already begun. 

The primary focus however to the role of Rural Community Health Worker will be dedicated to informing and empowering communities and individuals in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention work initiatives. This will be achieved with the provision of a coordinated programme of training and support work across North Cork which has already been in existence for many years but will now be keenly targeted at the rural community particularly. 

Back Row (L-R): Joanne McNamara (Community Work, HSE), Brendan Scahill (Community Work, HSE), Sorcha Ni Chrualaoich (Principal Community Worker, Community Work Department, HSE), Mary Cleary (Community Work, HSE), Gillian Deasy (HSE), Helena Coogan (Regional Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention, HSE). Front Row (L-R): Jacki Hehir(North Cork Rural Community Health Worker, Ballyhoura Development CLG, ), Majella Canty (North Cork Rural Community Health Worker, IRD Duhallow, ), Cllr Deirdre O Brien (Deputy Mayor of the Cork County Council), Lorna Hurley (North Cork Rural Community Health Worker Avondhu Blackwater)

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Cork Kerry Community Healthcare’s Regional Resource Officer for Suicide Prevention Helena Cogan cited that "the provision of FREE training in suicide prevention has been available throughout Cork and Kerry for almost 20 years. With the introduction of the Rural Community Health Worker project for the North Cork area, it will ensure that the increased and enhanced availability of information on supports to those at risk and those affected by suicide is promoted and supported to an even greater degree. The core aspect of the Rural Community Health Worker project will be to ensure that the promotion and facilitation of the suite of FREE training programmes related to suicide prevention/intervention are made widely available to the rural sector of North Cork."

These Programmes include: 

• START (90 minute online suicide alertness training), 
• SafeTALK (half-day suicide alertness for everyone training) 
• 2 day ASIST (Applied Suicide Alertness Skills Training) 
• 1 day Understanding Self-harm Training across the North Cork area 

"A series of networks will also be established to support the area of postvention work when needed in collaboration with the Suicide Bereavement Liasion Service, local partnerships, the community and CKCH HSE representatives". said Ms Cogan.

Speaking at the launch event Principal Community Worker, HSE Sorcha Ni Chrualaoich welcomed the project and commented that "Rural Community Health Workers would be soon be ready to promote and deliver a HSE developed programme entitled Minding Your Wellbeing which looks at mindfulness, gratitude, self-care and resilience". 

Eileen O'Keeffe (Development Manager, Ballyhoura Development CLG), Cllr Deirdre O Brien (Deputy Mayor of the Cork County Council), Jacki Hehir (North Cork Rural Community Health Worker, Ballyhoura Development CLG)

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Rural Community Health Workers will be highlighting their projects and activities across North Cork to Community Healthcare Networks and are happy to engage with healthcare professionals, community organisations and individuals. 

Each local development partnership commented on the level of interest and community engagement already in the work of the Rural Community Health Workers. 

Rural Community Health Workers: 

Jacki Hehir – Ballyhoura Development CLG - 087-1840938 

Majella Canty – IRD Duhallow CLG - 086-2191548 

Lorna Hurley – Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership CLG - 086-4404050 

Jacki Hehir, Ballyhoura Development CLG Rural Community Health Worker, speaking on her work at the launch of the North Cork Rural Community Health Project.

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To find out more about the project, contact the Ballyhoura Development Rural Community Health worker Jacki Hehir at [email protected].

The North Cork Rural Community Health project