National mental health campaign "Hello How Are You" launched in Mayo

The "The Hello, How Are You?" National mental health campaign came to life last week through vibrant, community-led events across Mayo. Midwest Radio broadcasted live from Pearse Street in Ballina which was in partnership with Mayo Mental Health Association. 

The event was part of a nationwide initiative led by Mental Health Ireland, focused on encouraging people to ask, and truly listen to the simple but powerful question “Hello how are you?”. Using a simple five-step hello framework, it promotes everyday conversations as a vital part of mental health recovery and community connection. 

Broadcasting live from 9am–11am on The Tommy Marren Show, the campaign featured powerful interviews from individuals with lived experience, community leaders, clinicians and Creatives.

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Notable guests included Dr Pat Bracken, who discussed the importance of recognising recovery as a social and community-based journey, and Professor Brendan Kelly, who explored how wellbeing is rooted in relationships, purpose and belonging.

Live interviews included Lianne McManamon and Jenna Walsh, on the role Mayo Mental Health Association play within the post-primary schools and wider communities of Mayo.

Maureen Nalubego, former IPA representative with the Refugee Council in Uganda, also shared reflections on resilience, displacement, and connection.

Jacqui Lodge, "Hello, How Are You?" Café volunteer in Ballina, spoke about setting up a one-hour weekly Hello Café in coffee shops across Ballina starting with Costa next week.

Young volunteers including Anna Cunningham, Sienna Keane and Leah Gallagher were also part of the conversation, highlighting how mental health messaging resonates with younger generations.

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Across Mayo and throughout the month of May, the community embraced the campaign with over 30 events which were hosted by community organisations, statutory bodies, employers, staff and volunteers. The variety of events ranged from quiet chats to larger wellbeing initiatives in schools, workplaces and community centres. 

More than 20 volunteers supported the local Outside Broadcast effort, engaging the public on Pearse Street and distributing over 400 conversation cards. The team facilitated countless meaningful conversations, transforming the simple act of saying “Hello” into opportunities for connection, empathy, and support. 

“This campaign continues to prove that connection matters,” said Teresa Keane from Mental Health Ireland. “We saw conversations happening between strangers, colleagues, students and neighbours and it reminded us that checking in, asking that one question, can truly change someone’s day, or life.”

Lianne McManamon from Mayo Mental Health Association echoed this sentiment, “Hello How Are You is a phrase that rolls off the tongue on the daily for the majority of us and we never truly wait for the answer or acknowledge the weight that such a simple phrase can have. This campaign reminds us all, that small conversations when you take the time to truly listen, can often make the biggest difference”.

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The campaign is backed by compelling data: 29 percent of participants last year said they would seek further support after engaging in Hello events up from 6 percent in 2022 showing the real-world impact of these grassroots conversations.

For more information or to access resources visit: www.hellohowareyou.info