Date Posted: 11.02.2013

'SOPRANOS' star Joe Pantoliano is encouraging Irish people suffering from mental health issues to speak up and seek help after he suffered in silence for over 50 years.
The 61-year-old has told of how his life-long struggle with "brain disease" led him into acting because he could channel his emotion through his characters.
Half-Italian Pantoliano, or 'Joey Pants' as he is known, flew into Dublin to share his story of dealing with mental illness as part of Dublin's First Fortnight Arts Festival, a yearly event that aims to challenge the perceived stigma attached to mental health issues through creative arts.
Speaking to the Irish Independent, he explained how TV and movie projects became a form of therapy for him.
"I didn't want to live any more, I wanted to die. I was dumbfounded by that at the time because I want to leave this Earth having left my mark, evidence that I was here," he said.
"This disease absolutely spurred me on to acting because I found a craft I could master in order to let off steam and all of these unresolved emotional traumas that had occurred throughout my life. I could put into these characters, my emotional pain.
"The reason I came out to talk about it was because I was angry by the stigma and discrimination attached to it all." The Hollywood star is loved by many for his portrayal of Ralph Cifaretto in 'The Sopranos' and has featured in hits such as 'Risky Business' and 'The Matrix'.
- Laura Butler
Source : Irish Independent, January 10th 2013

If you or anyone you know needs to talk to some-one without judgement and in confidence, there are lots of sources of help :

Mental HealthIreland/ Young Mental HealthIreland
email: info@mentalhealthireland.ie

Aware HELPLINE PHONE: 1890 303302
Supports those who are directly affected by depression. Aware operates a helpline from10amto10pmMonday to Wednesday and10amto1amThursday to Sunday. The Aware Helpline is a non directive listening service for people affected by depression, either as sufferers or as family and friends. The Helpline offers a non judgemental listening ear to people who may be distressed or worried, or just need someone to talk to. You can also call the helpline if you are worried about someone who may be depressed or for information about depression or Aware services.

Bodywhys (The Eating Disorders Association ofIreland) HELPLINE PHONE: 1890 200 444

Bodywhys’ core services centre on providing confidential, non judgemental support for people affected by eating disorders. The helpline is open for two hours each week day offering a non-judgemental and confidential support and information service. Callers can access names of local health professionals, details of all Bodywhys support services and other voluntary organisations where appropiate. Bodywhys also offers support groups, an online support group and email support.

Childline HELPLINE PHONE: 1800 66 66 66

Childline is 24-hour service for children and young people up to 18 years of age. Childline is open 365 days a year (even Christmas Day!). It offers support to young people through the Childline listening service over the phone. You can call Childline for a chat or to talk about any problems you might have. Calls to Childline are confidential and we don’t have caller ID or trace any calls. It won’t cost you anything to call Childline and our number won’t show up on the phone bill.

Contact Youth PHONE: 0808 808 8000

Contact Youth provides counselling to young people inNorthern Ireland, believing that all young people have the right to free and confidential counselling.


GROW PHONE: 1890 474 474

GROW is a Mental Health Organisation which helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, from mental health problems. Members are helped to recover from all forms of mental breakdown, or indeed, to prevent such happening.

RECOVERY International Ireland PHONE: 01 6260775

Recovery International is a self-help group, founded in Chicago Illinois in 1937, by the late Dr. Abraham A. Low. It offers The Recovery Method of Will Training for improved mental health and for control of nervous symptoms.

Teen-Line Ireland FREEPHONE: 1800-833-634

TeenlineIrelandis a national helpline for teenagers. Teen-Line provides a listening and support service

Samaritans PHONE: 1850 609090

Samaritans is a confidential emotional support service for anyone in theUKandIreland. The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You can talk to Samaritans at any time of the day or night.

Shine (Supporting People Affected by Mental Ill Health) HELPLINE PHONE: 1890 621631

Shine is the national organisation dedicated to upholding the rights and addressing the needs of all those affected by enduring mental illness including, but not exclusively, schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorder and bi-polar disorder. Shine runs a confidential helpline open from9amto4pm, Mon-Fri (1890 621 631).

• Childline is 24-hour service for children and young people up to 18 years of age open 365 days a year. Calls to Childline are confidential and they don’t have caller ID or trace any calls. It won’t cost you anything to call Childline and our number won’t show up on the phone bill.

•Samaritans is a confidential emotional support service for anyone inIreland. The service is available 24 hours a day for people who are experiencing feelings of distress or despair, including those which may lead to suicide. You can talk to Samaritans at any time of the day or night.

Text Someone NOW

You can also access support and information on where to go for help in a crisis through your mobile by texting the word HeadsUpto 50424.

The Samaritans also offer a 24:7 text support service, 365 days a year, for anyone in emotional distress. This service is available nationwide. To receive the service, simply send an SMS text message to 087 2 60 90 90

Drugs and Alcohol

National Drugs & HIV HELPLINE FREEPHONE 1800 459 459

Providing confidential support & information.
 

Suicide and Bereavement

Console HELPLINE FREEPHONE: 1800 201 890

Supports and helps people bereaved through suicide The National Freephone Helpline is a confidential listening service for people bereaved through suicide. This service provides callers with the space and safety to speak about their loss. Callers are given the opportunity to express how they are feeling and coping or not coping as can sometimes be the reality. Callers will be offered contact details of Counselling Services and Support Groups as near as possible to the location of the caller.