Sunday, 28 August 2016 will be remembered by many for the GAA Football All-

Ireland Championship Semi-Final between Dublin and Kerry which took place in

front of a sell-out crowd in Croke Park. However football wasn’t the only event

happening in the Stadium that day.

The final Sunday in August also marked the GAA’s Health & Well-being Theme Day, which

saw the GAA and the HSE join forces to bring positive messaging of protection, resilience and

support for mental wellness to local communities.

GAA Youth Reps, a group of six young GAA players aged between 16-21 year olds from the

four corners of Ireland, came together after the 2015 #GAAyouth forum with an aim to act and

speak on behalf of all young people in the Association. In their role, the Youth Reps were tasked

with presenting at Congress, reviewing the Forum and carrying out a number of projects.

Mental Health was a reoccurring topic at the 2014 GAA Youth Consultation Day and is

effecting many people in society in everyday life– particularly young people. In light of this, the

GAA Youth Reps decided to raise awareness and aimed to decrease the stigma around Mental

Health for GAA members with a particular focus on young people.

With the help of the GAA’s Community and Health Department and in partnership with the

HSE, the GAA Youth Reps carried out their first project, ‘It’s about the little things in life.’ On

August 28, the Youth Reps took to the ground in Croke Park to ask and capture fans’ responses

to one simple question, ‘What is the one Little Thing that puts you in a good mood?’

The aim was to raise awareness of the HSE’s #LittleThings Campaign while also reminding fans

that, ‘#LittleThings can improve your game’.

Supporters shared their #LittleThings which included keeping active, eating well and strength

in numbers. (‘Ní neart go cur le chéile’ is the GAA motto). The Youth Reps have since continued

this discussion with an exhibition stand at the 2016 #GAAyouth Forum on October 29. There

they set about encouraging a discussion about Mental Health among GAA members through

the #LittleThings campaign.

Furthermore, they highlighted the simple steps to increase the wellbeing of themselves and/
or others. In addition to this they showed youth delegates the video highlighting how the
#LittleThings can change their game.
The Youth Reps are now aiming to increase the number of GAA clubs/members using the
existing resources provided by the GAA, which are available at gaa.ie/community
Everyone should think about the #LittleThings that can change their game. Find the
#LittleThings that work for you at yourmentalhealth.ie
If you are effected by mental health in any way contact the Samaritans on 116 123.