The 24 page special is contained in a unique Mental Health Special Issue of Hot Press magazine, which hits the streets on Thursday, 27 September. The issue is published in advance of World Mental Health Day, on October 10.

Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody, Villagers’ Conor O’Brien, author John Boyne, Kevin Baird of Two Door Cinema Club, broadcasters Meghann Scully, Elaine Crowley, Eoghan McDermott, Niall Boylan, and Dan Hegarty, President of USI Síona Cahill, illustrator Holly Shortall, singer and actor Maria Doyle Kennedy, songwriter Stephanie Rainey, and GAA star Sarah Houlihan are just some of those who stepped forward to share their thoughts about their own mental health issues, alongside other major stars in music, sport, comedy and literature.

“This is a unique partnership with Lyons Tea and Pieta House,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “Together, we reached out to musicians, writers, singers, actors, broadcasters, sports stars and other well-known public figures, with the aim of taking the dialogue about mental health onto a new level in Ireland.

“The response to our call has been staggering,” Niall Stokes added, “and the contributions have been hugely thought-provoking, and at times deeply moving. People have shared their profoundest and most personal experiences of mental health issues with extraordinary generosity, honesty and openness. It adds up, I think, to a truly powerful chorus of 100 Voices, and makes a compelling and emotional statement about an issue that is of immense national importance.”

Lyons Tea, Hot Press and Pieta House will soon be announcing details of a major Town Hall event, which will take place in the banqueting hall, in Smock Alley Theatre, Dublin, on World Mental Health Day (October 10).

As a result of the three-way collaboration, 30,000 copies of the 24 page publication Now We’re Talking have been made available free in colleges all over Ireland.

Now We’re Talking: 100 Voices for Mental Health is part of a Mental Health Special Issue of Hot Press.

Also featured in this memorable issue of Hot Press:

• Kodaline sat down with us for a frank discussion about mental health – and their powerful new album The Politics of Living.

• Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins talks about the wide-ranging work they do and about the challenges faced by this incredibly important charity.

• In the Hot Press Interview, broadcaster Nikki Hayes delivers one of the most honest, open and revealing interviews ever in Hot Press, discussing her severe mental health issues – and lots more besides.

• The Mental Health Special also features: Sene Naoupu, Brent Pope, Laura Whitmore, Adam Clayton and the Irish Regional Director, Samaritans, Cindy O’Shea.

• Hot Press columnists Eamonn McCann, Roe McDermott and Niall Stokes also write about mental health.
The Hot Press Mental Health Issue is available in all good newsagents from 27th September or can be pre-ordered online from shop.hotpress.com
The new Hot Press is in stores tomorrow.