CAIRDE

21/12/2025

Wishing you happy and healthy holidays from all of us at Cairde.

As we move through the holiday season, we are wishing you moments of rest, connection and care, for yourself and for each other. The holidays can bring mixed feelings, and that’s okay.

If you or someone you care about needs support, you can find clear, trusted information on health and mental health services on HealthConnect.ie.

And as shared in our recent posts, small steps can really help: taking breaks, staying connected, being kind to yourself, and reaching out when you need to. Please take a look at our earlier posts for practical mental health tips and supports available over the holidays.

Take care, and remember: support is always there if you need it.

18/12/2025

With Christmas around the corner, the festive period can be joyful for some, but it can also feel overwhelming, lonely or difficult for others, especially young people.

This simple, young-person-friendly leaflet from Child and Family Agency - Tusla, yourmentalhealth.ie, HSE Ireland and Fingal CYPSC, shares practical tips for looking after mental health over Christmas and clearly highlights that mental health support is available 24/7 throughout Christmas and New Year.

Please take a moment to read, share, and pass this on to young people you work with, support or care about, as well as parents and carers. It may be especially helpful for anyone finding the holidays challenging or isolating.

Support is always available. You don’t have to go through it alone.

17/12/2025

Wrapping up strong! Today we held the final Transnational Project Meeting of the Erasmus+ Roma Influencers Network. Partners from Cairde (Ireland), Klimaka (Greece), Sastipen - Centrul Romilor pentru Politici de Sanatate (Romania), and Cesis - Centro de Estudos para a Intervenção Social & COOPERACTIVA (Portugal) shared updates on our documentary filming and awareness-raising visits in Roma communities across Ireland, Greece, Romania, and Portugal.

We have closed out the year with real momentum, and we are excited to carry it into 2026, with screenings, community actions, and the network growing stronger. Thank you to every Roma woman and girl, ally and partner who made this possible.

Happy Christmas — Καλά Χριστούγεννα — Crăciun fericit — Feliz Natal!

17/12/2025

Just being heard can make a real difference.

Recently, Cairde Peer Support staff met with Samaritans Ireland to learn more about their service. If you speak English, Samaritans offer emotional support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to anyone who is in distress, feeling lonely, struggling to cope, or feeling suicidal. You don’t need to share your name, address, or any personal details. You can simply call to talk to someone who will listen. The service is free, available around the clock, and provided by a trained team.

We all experience mental health challenges at different times. It’s part of everyday life. We were reminded how important it is to look after ourselves, including by:

- Taking care of yourself
- Giving yourself time to rest and do things that make you happy
- Eating healthy food
- Getting enough sleep
- Talking about what you’re going through

You can also contact Cairde support staff:

-> English & Arabic: 083 313 3566, Wafa’a Abusharekh – Peer Support
-> Roma Infoline: 087 126 4606
-> Cairde (for all other health service-related issues): 01 855 2111
________

مجرد أن يتم الاستماع إليك يمكن أن يُحدث فرقًا

التقى موظفو دعم الأقران في منظمة Cairde مع منظمة Samaritans للتعرّف على خدماتهم.

إذا كنت تتحدث اللغة الإنجليزية، فإن منظمة Samaritans توفّر دعمًا عاطفيًا على مدار 24 ساعة يوميًا، 365 يومًا في السنة، لأي شخص يعاني من ضيق نفسي، أو شعور بالوحدة، أو صعوبة في التكيّف، أو أفكار انتحارية.
لا يُطلب من الشخص الذي يسعى للحصول على المساعدة تقديم اسمه أو عنوانه أو أي تفاصيل شخصية. يمكن طلب الدعم ببساطة من خلال التحدث إلى شخص يتم الاستماع إليه، وذلك عبر خط هاتفي مجاني يعمل على مدار الساعة.
تُقدَّم هذه الخدمة من قِبل فريق مُدرَّب.

نمرّ جميعًا بتحديات تتعلّق بالصحة النفسية، فهي جزء من حياتنا اليومية.

وقد تعلّمنا أهمية العناية بأنفسنا من خلال التركيز على ما يلي:

1. الاعتناء بنفسك.
2. منح نفسك وقتًا للراحة والقيام بالأشياء التي تجعلك سعيدًا.
3. تناول طعام صحي.
4. الحصول على قسط كافٍ من النوم.
5. التحدث عن مشاكلك وعدم كبتها.

ارجو انت تعود هذه المعلومات لكم بالفائدة والمساهمة في نشر هذه المعلومات للغير أيضا من معارفك حتى تعم الفائدة على الجميع وشكرا .

يمكنك أيضًا التواصل مع موظفي الدعم في Cairde:

الدعم باللغة الإنجليزية والعربية:
083 313 3566
Wafa'a Abusharekh

خط معلومات روما (Roma Infoline):
087 126 4606

12/12/2025

(Arabic version below)
Some migrants and ethnic minorities face racism and discrimination in Ireland. It’s important to know how to deal with the emotional and psychological impact of racism and discrimination and how to keep your power in your own hands.

That’s why last week Cairde’s Roma and Arab/Muslim peer support staff invited Black Therapists Ireland to discuss this important topic.

Here are our insights:
• Take good care of yourself
• Choose your own path
• Give yourself value
• Respect yourself
• Love yourself
• Make your own decisions
• You don’t need others to do everything for you
• Stand up for yourself, so you can become better
• Take action – report racism (see: INAR - Irish Network Against Racism, their iReport and Responding to Racism Guide on their website).

We hope this information will be beneficial for you, and if you need any assistance, you can contact Cairde:
- Roma Infoline: 087 126 4606
- Peer Support Team: 083 313 3566 (Wafa'a)
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في الأسبوع الماضي كان لنا فرصة المشاركة مع المعالجين السود في
ايرلندا اللذين مهتمين في الفئة المهمشة من اللاجئين والمهاجرين حول تأثير العنصرية والتميز في إيرلندا ومن خلال النقاش قد استنفدنا من المعلومات التي تم طرحها ويمكن حصرها في كيفية التعامل مع التميز والعنصرية وإن تكون القوة في يديك:
١_ الاعتناء بنفسك جيدا
٢-اختار طريقك
٣_أعطي لنفسك قيمة
٤_احترم نفسك

٥-حب نفس
٦_اتخذ قرارتك
٧_اعتني بنفسك جيدا
٨_لا تحتاج احد يعمل لك اشياء دائما
٩_دافع عن نفسك حتى تصبح احسن

أرجو أن تكون هذه المعلومات تعود عليك بالفائدة واذا احتجتم اي مساعدة ممكن الرجوع إلى المنشور وشكرا .
يمكنكم الاتصال على رقم الهاتف التالية:
083 313 3566. Wafa'a, Peer Support Worker at Caride

25/11/2025

Winter viruses aren’t waiting around this year.

The Irish Times reports that countries in the southern hemisphere have already seen record levels of flu, and experts like Dr Muiris Houston are warning that we could be heading into an early, and potentially severe, flu season: https://bit.ly/44pFakD

Now is a good time to check your winter vaccine options for flu and COVID-19, especially if you’re older, pregnant, have a long-term health condition, or live with someone who does.

👉 Learn more about winter vaccines, who’s eligible, and where to book on HealthConnect. (link in comments)

Have you had your vaccine? You really should

25/11/2025

Are you living with Type 2 diabetes? Small daily choices can make a big difference in managing it and, at the same time, improve how you feel overall. Here is what you can do:
🍎 Eat healthy foods
🏃 Stay physically active
💺 Avoid sitting for long periods
⚖️ Reach a healthy weight
💊 Take medications if prescribed
🚭 Quit smoking and limit alcohol.

Learn more about living well with diabetes on HealthConnect.ie: https://bit.ly/CHCDiabetes

Diabetes Services About Diabetes Diabetes is a condition that causes a person’s blood sugar level to become too high. There are different types of diabetes. The most common are Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Women can sometimes get diabetes in pregnancy. This is called gestational diabetes. ...

24/11/2025

Lovely to see such energy and connection at the Cairde Balbriggan Open Day last week, which was a part of . Huge thanks to everyone who came along, exhibited, and to the Fingal Community Development Office for their support.

11/11/2025

Last week, we had a wonderful time at Cairde for our Migrant and Ethnic Minority Mental Health Engagement Meet-Up. We celebrated the achievements of the women who completed the Mental Health Engagement training - their journeys, commitment, and determination are truly inspiring.

We discussed the findings of the research conducted with DCU CHUMS (Cultural Humility in Mental Health Services), drawing on focus groups with 33 migrant and ethnic minority women. The study explored women’s views on barriers, facilitators, and ways to strengthen mental health engagement to better support ethnic minority communities.

We have some exciting updates, as we started planning the official launch of our new Migrant & Ethnic Minority Mental Health Engagement Forum with key stakeholders, during which we will outline our vision for meaningful mental health engagement.

If you are a migrant and you have used mental health services in Ireland and would like to join the Forum, please get in touch with us - contact details are at the last photo.

07/11/2025

Best of luck to Thrive Balbriggan, which Cairde Balbriggan is part of, working Towards Happier & Healthier Lives for All. Our colleague Sarah Duku is part of the Thrive representation at the Pride of Place Awards 2025 ceremony.