Flash freeze puzzles city pedestrians

THERE was some puzzled looks on Henry Street recently when all of a sudden a group of over 100 seemingly ordinary pedestrians

‘froze’ on the spot.

For five minutes confusion reigned as passers-by navigated their way around the large crowd of living statues, who then started moving again just as suddenly as they had stopped.

It was all part of a

‘flash mob’ event organised by participants from EVE Saol Clubhouse, a HSE mental health programme, to highlight the Green Ribbon Campaign.

The annual campaign, now in its third year, aims to break down stigma by raising awareness and starting conversations about mental health difficulties.

This five minute flash freeze is a symbolic period of time, aimed at reminding people to take a few minutes to reflect on and be mindful of their own mental health.

The

‘flash freeze’ crowd were joined on the day by The High Hopes choir, who provided music as a cue for participants to freeze at the exact same time.

“It was a very successful event and raised a lot of awareness for green ribbon and mental health,

? said Linda Ansley of EVE Saol Clubhouse.

It’s the second flash freeze organised by EVE services for the Green Ribbon campaign.

EVE is a programme within the HSE, whose primary ethos is to provide community-based, recovery-orientated programmes for adults who experience mental health difficulties, intellectual difficulties, Asperger’s Syndrome, and physical and sensory disabilities.

The annual Green Ribbon campaign is organised by See Change, the National Stigma Reduction Partnership.

To find out more about the flash freeze event, get in touch with Saol Clubhouse on 01-8307455. Alternatively, e-mail [email protected] or checkout their blog page online at saolclubhouse.wordpress.com.