Publications

My Publications List

Let's Talk About Mental Illness

This booklet was created to enhance the reader’s understanding of mental illnesses and to shed light on how stigma, shame, and discrimination remain significant challenges for those living with mental illness. Developed and authored by Barbara Brennan during her time as National Team Lead of See Change, the guide was informed by comprehensive national research on attitudes towards mental illness. We all have a role to play in ending mental health stigma, and learning more about mental illness will help you have better conversations with those in your life who may need additional support.

The Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015: Personal and Professional Reflections

On 30 December 2015, President Higgins signed into law the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. This act is 'An Act to provide for the reform of the law relating to persons who require or may require assistance in exercising their decision-making capacity, whether immediately or in the future…'
This book contains a number of personal and professional reflections on the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015. Barbara Brennan contributed to this book, related conferences and also to the development of the HSE capacity training that is included in the HSELand training suite.

A New Reality living with Covid-19

Barbara Brennan spearheaded, developed, co-authored and produced this guide to support people returning to the workplace after a prolonged period of Covid-19 lockdowns. It has helpful information about stress and anxiety along with practical tips and tools for managing distress and grief and having better conversations with children about the impact of the pandemic.

Stand up to Stigma

This guide aims to educate the reader on how language around mental health can stigmatise individuals with mental health difficulties. Developed and written by Barbara Brennan during her time as National Team Lead of See Change and based on national research into attitudes towards mental illness, the guide highlights how the words we choose can make a person feel ashamed, isolated, and afraid. Fear of stigma may lead someone to conceal their mental health difficulty, delay seeking treatment, or avoid reaching out for help altogether. This guide explores how we can challenge our behaviours to help people feel more comfortable discussing their mental health, making it easier for them to seek support.

Suicide
Prevention
in the
Community

This book aims to offer practical, evidence-based guidance to help and encourage communities who want to get involved in suicide prevention by building their understanding, knowledge and skills.
Barbara Brennan contributed to this book, writing the sections on stigma and the See Change programme.

Mental Health in the Workplace: A Guide to Your Rights
(Easy Read version)

This guide is an Easy Read version and has been created to provide accessible information to improve awareness and understanding of rights in relation to mental health in the workplace and hopes to empower people with psychosocial disabilities to both understand and claim their rights in the workplace in a practical and implementable way.
This guide was developed and authored by Barbara Brennan for her client Mental Health Reform, and is based on employment law as it relates to mental health, the UNCRPD, Public Sector Duty and best practice around mental health in the workplace.

Mental Health in
the Workplace: A Guide To Your Rights

This guide has been created to provide accessible information to improve awareness and understanding of rights in relation to mental health in the workplace and hopes to empower people with psychosocial disabilities to both understand and claim their rights in the workplace in a practical and implementable way.
This guide was developed and authored by Barbara Brennan for her client Mental Health Reform, and is based on employment law as it relates to mental health, the UNCRPD, Public Sector Duty and best practice around mental health in the workplace.

Mental Health Matters: A guide to ending mental health stigma in the workplace

This guide highlights the workplace as a key setting for driving social change in attitudes towards mental health difficulties. Developed and authored by Barbara Brennan during her time as National Team Lead of See Change, and developed following national research on attitudes towards mental illness, this guide is intended for employers and employees who seek to foster a workplace culture where open and honest conversations about mental health are welcomed, and everyone feels comfortable engaging in them.

Discussing Mental Health:
A Support Guide for Line Managers

This guide was co-authored by Barbara Brennan for her client An Post, in support of their new mental health policy to give managers a practical approach to implementing the new policy and procedures around mental health at An Post. Topics covered in this guide included: Change management in relation to mental health, supporting colleagues, performance, managing your own feelings, support around suicide, absences relating to mental health difficulties and returning to work suports.
*please note this is not a publicly available guide, this is an internal guide for An Post staff.