Olympic grant for mental health centre
A Cork-based mental health service has received an international Olympic grant.
The MyMind Centre for Mental Wellbeing was recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC), as part of the Athletes for Good programme.
Having been nominated for the grant by Irish skeleton racer Brendan Doyle, the centre is set to receive $25,000 (€21,985) to support its efforts in providing affordable and accessible mental health support services in Cork and elsewhere. The grant will be used to offset costs of counselling sessions for those most in need.
Doyle is one of 16 international athletes from nine different countries to have been recognised for their accomplishments and charitable endeavours outside their respective sports, with an equal share of $400,000 going towards their nominated organisations. The Athletes for Good programme is a joint initiative of the IOC, the IPC and Worldwide Olympic Partner, Procter and Gamble, established ahead of the Tokyo 2020 games, with the latest awardees announced alongside the staging of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
Among the other organisations set to benefit from the programme are groups based in Canada, the US, Finland, Spain, Nigeria and New Zealand, working in areas such as climate change and LGBTQ+ community welfare.
A former member of An Garda Síochána, Dubliner Doyle was injured in the line of duty and subsequently battled depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, to the point where he considered suicide. Thankfully, Doyle was able to fight back from the brink, and turned his efforts towards qualifying for the Winter Olympic Games this year.
Doyle narrowly missed out on qualifying for the 2018 games in Pyeongchang, Korea, and again fell agonisingly short in his quest to make it to Beijing only last month, after spending the last four years in intensive training.
Taking to social media, Doyle wrote: “Everyone needs a cheering section, a support network, a helping hand. As a part of my whole sporting career, it’s been my goal to be an example of how there is always hope, you’ve more inner strength than you think and that hardships can make you stronger.
“Sport saved me when I was at my lowest and it fills me with such pride to be able to give back in hope that others get the help they need.” Also speaking after the announcement of the grant awardees, MyMind Founder and CEO, Krystian Fikert paid thanks to Doyle and described him as an inspiration. “We are absolutely delighted to be named as one of the awardees in the Athletes for Good programme. Brendan has been such a fantastic ambassador for MyMind over the last number of years and we are extremely grateful for his ongoing support.
“Brendan has come such a long way since he first made contact with MyMind and the determination and dedication he has shown on his journey is an inspiration to so many people.”
The news follows the announcement earlier this month by Minister Mary Butler, of €1 million from the Department of Health to fund free counselling sessions for those impacted by Covid-19.
Anyone looking to avail of MyMind services is encouraged to visit mymind.org.