Mental health and wellbeing will be on the menu, alongside all manner of gluten free goodies, at this year’s Coeliac Awareness Week, which takes place from May 10 to 14.
Sponsored by Promise Gluten Free, this year’s event will focus on the impact that a year of coronavirus pandemic lockdowns has had on both the physical and mental wellbeing of 50,000 coeliac sufferers in Ireland.
Coeliac Awareness Week 2021 will be a five-day virtual event with a range of talks, health clinics, demonstrations, and activities. A mindfulness seminar and talks from a psychologist, and a sleep expert will help attendees identify the mental health indicators that so many people miss or ignore, while also providing advice and insight into how to balance their mental wellbeing.
There will also be advice from the nutritional experts, dietetic consultations, cooking demonstrations by leading chefs, and fun activities for younger members of the family.
“The last year has been a challenge for everyone and this year’s Coeliac Awareness Week, which is kindly supported by Promise Gluten Free, is designed to support Ireland’s coeliac and gluten-free community with a mix of fun and educational events for all the family," said Coeliac Society CEO Gill Brennan.
“However, based on feedback from our members, this year we also wanted to address some of the psychological effects of the coronavirus and lockdowns, as well as discuss potential coping strategies to deal with living with coeliac disease and severe gluten intolerance.
“There are an estimated 50,000 people with coeliac disease in Ireland – and almost 37,000 of them are undiagnosed. If these people are consuming any gluten it will significantly reduce their ability to absorb the nutrients they need for their body need to function healthily. And we know from numerous studies that a poor diet can have a devastating effect on one’s mental health.
“Even for those who are diagnosed with coeliac disease or severe gluten intolerance, it can be difficult to articulate the enormous pressures felt around many daily activities that many of us take for granted. As we start to emerge from a third Covid-19 lockdown, they will feel the pressure of simple things such as planning to visit a friend’s house for dinner or heading to a restaurant. For coeliac children and their parents, just navigating lunchtime at school can be a minefield.
“Coeliac Awareness Week will provide those attending with an opportunity to explore these issues with the experts and, for those who need it, help them discover coping mechanisms to improve their daily lives. We see this as a wonderful opportunity to also raise awareness among the public of these important subjects.”
The events planned over the week include educational talks with professional nutritionist Sarah Keogh, psychologist Mary Borton, sleep expert Tom Coleman, as well as fun activities for children, a cooking demonstration with chef Tony Dempsey of the Bay Tree Restaurant, teaching wellness through laughter with Louise Burchall, and more.
Mary Horkan, senior marketing manager of Promise Gluten Free bakery, said: “Balancing nutrition with physical and mental health is something that Promise Gluten Free is very much passionate about. So we’re delighted to sponsor Coeliac Awareness Week once again and we look forward to a fantastic schedule of fun and invigorating events that will allow us to come together virtually to gain invaluable insights into improving our health and wellbeing.”
Register your interest in Coeliac Awareness Week at www.coeliac.ie
One of the Promise Gluten Free team, Alonsa Kelly, helping to prepare the care packs for the Coeliac Society of Ireland.
