A Mountmellick-based academic author has been working in recent years with a west of Ireland-based publishing house that promotes work highlighting the impact and importance of mental health issues.
Jennifer Murphy has been liaising with Book Hub Publishing which promotes the work of a wide variety of authors on a range of academic and non-academic themes.
“The latest publication is ‘Mental Health for Millennials Vol 6 – Hope and Inclusion,” said Jennifer who relocated from Dublin to Mountmellick over 20 years ago and who is involved with local charities and fundraising.
“The purpose of this TheDocCheck.Com ‘Mental Health for Millennials’ series is to encourage us all to read current material on various themes related to millennial life that is grounded in experience, with a backdrop in theory, written in a style that is fully accessible, interesting and genuinely meaningful to the daily experiences of us all,” said Jennifer.
“This is book six of our series, with one more book scheduled to follow. We included the guest chapters in this book because we all believe the themes of hope and inclusion, in the context of millennials, deserves greater attention,” she said.
“Our aspiration is that these books will facilitate readers to understand in a little more detail, the dynamics of millennial life as it is experienced, through providing frameworks for conceptualisation and practice.
“This series is designed to be useful for the individual looking to enhance their knowledge about millennials and mental health and wellness and the interested professional who does not want to read purely theoretical material,” Jennifer said.
“We really just want to highlight the stories of everyday people who are extraordinary in their own right for navigating the challenges of daily life,” she said.
“I believe there is something of interest for everyone in this book which is available on www.bookhubpublishing.com and also as an e-book from Amazon, and indeed the series.
“The book need not be read in any particular order and can be dipped in and out of as desired.
“It is our hope that it may be of benefit to others who identify with any of the issues raised and may even help as people reach for hope during challenging times.”
Issues discussed include racism; managing eating disorders; surviving bullying; living with ADHD; mindfulness and manifestation practices; psychology of sea swimming; perspectives from social care providers and insights of millennials in An Garda Siochana.
There are chapters on diversity and inclusion; social media; food sustainability; insights on the journey through mental illness towards wellness and the influence of sports and coaching on mental health.
“One author discusses hope for women with careers in Irish agriculture while others share their deeply personal experiences on hope after loss, both through suicide and pregnancy loss.
“There are also perspectives on disappointing parents when we take a different route in life,” said Jennifer.
“Another author documents the incredible challenges of a parent navigating the world of autism and mitochondrial disease for her children.
“An additional author, proud mum and scoliosis warrior, actively raises awareness of the ‘other’ challenges facing parents of children with additional needs.
“Other chapters discuss inclusivity in education and hospitality and another, the topical issue of the educational experiences for students during the pandemic,” she said.
Meanwhile, Jennifer is well settled in Mountmellick. “I was welcomed into the community with open arms and have established strong friendships here through sports.
“My daughter who is nine years of age, is born and bred here and is a very proud Laois lady.
“She’s actively involved in local sports and is an environmental activist in the town.
“I love to tell people we live in the middle of everywhere. The midlands are just so well connected.
“I studied at University of Limerick (UL) and was fortunate to meet my friend and mentor Dr Niall Mac Goilla Bhui, owner of Indie publishing house, The Book Hub Publishing, based in Athenry, during that time.
“We began to collaborate on contemporary HR issues and are actively writing books together. Another happy coincidence of midlands life; you can be pretty much anywhere in an hour or so.”
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