25 February, 2020

‘Our Heads Matter’, a mental wellbeing seminar organised by Da Silly Heads, took place on the 18th February 2020 in The Rory Gallagher Theatre in CIT.

Da Silly Heads is a new project, specialising in the design and delivery of high impact, engaging and quirky wellbeing events. Da Silly Heads brand is centred around empowering mental health advocacy, encouraging discussion and creating inclusive environments. 

The project began in 2018 when two CIT mature students, Daniel O’Mahony and Michal Sikora wanted to share their personal experience with mental health.

Both founders, currently in their fourth year Business Degree (Hons) at CIT, have completed the Student Inc. Programme at The Rubicon Centre, developing the foundations for Da Silly Heads to become a social enterprise in the summer of 2020.

Da Silly Head founders L-R: Michal Sikora and Daniel O’Mahony 

The Seminar

The ‘Our Heads Matter’ seminar aimed to further Da Silly Head’s goal of creating an environment of advocacy, empathy, and inclusivity on CIT campus. They invited four guest speakers; Trisha Lewis, Dan McSweeney, Conor O’ Keeffe and Joe O’Brien who each had something unique to add to the topic of mental health.

L-R: Conor O’Keeffe, Dan McSweeney,Trisha Lewis and Joe O’Brien 

Trisha Lewis, Executive Head Chef at Jacobs On the Mall Cork City studied Culinary Arts in CIT. She runs the Instagram page @triashas.transformation which has accumulated 94,000 followers. Trisha has appeared on the Late Late Show encouraging her ‘Transformers’ to ‘beat the bulge’. Most recently, she has published her first book which includes recipes and stories about her journey. In February 2018, Trisha weighed 26 stone and has since lost 7 stone. She uses her Instagram platform to document her weight loss journey and all the emotions that come with it. Trisha lives by the motto “IF IT IS TO BE IT’S UP TO ME”.

Dan Sweeney is the owner of PLAY creative, a digital marketing agency. Dan previously worked in the fitness industry and can be found on Instagram as @dansweeney14. Dan uses his social media platform to promote positivity and tries to encourage people to see that happiness is a choice. Dan recently spoke out about how he declared bankruptcy and how this impacted his mental health. Dan is also a co-host on The Trisha and Dan Show, and in the past has run 100km in 24 hours to raise vital funds for Edel House in Cork City.

Conor O’Keeffe is an Ultramarathon runner and mental health advocate after battling depression. In May last year, he won the Enduroman 200 Mile Ultra Race and became the youngest person to finish the race. No one had finished this race since 2016 and Conor was only the second person ever to complete that race in under the 60-hour time limit.  In April this year, he has set himself the challenge of running 32 marathons in 32 days in the 32 counties of Ireland, in a bid to raise €100,000 for Pieta House. Conor’s amazing journey can be followed on Instagram @cokeeffe.

Joe O’Brien is currently completing a doctorate in Health Psychology and runs the Instagram page @headfirst0. His special interests are in the psychology of behavioural change and the relationship between physical and mental health. He is currently based in Dublin where he works at Spectrum Mental Health. He collaborated with CIT and Da Silly Heads last semester also, delivering a talk to transition year students from local schools in the Bishopstown area.

In addition to the seminar, there was a selection of societies and external exhibitors in the main corridor of CIT, including CIT LGBT Society, CIT Mature Student’s Society, CIT Chaplaincy Service, CIT Gym, My Canine Companion and Remedy Massage.

Watch the video about the event here

To explore how CIT can collaborate with you, email extendedcampus@cit.ie or call 021 4335302.