Green Ribbon Campaign
The Green Ribbon Campaign is Shine’s largest and most high-profile annual campaign. It is a key opportunity for us to lead the way on stigma reduction around mental illness in Ireland. More than a campaign, we are working to develop it as a social movement that highlights our shared responsibility to destigmatise mental health and foster a more compassionate and supportive society.
While the campaign runs throughout the year, we have designated September as the focus month for campaign awareness-raising events and activities. We promote the wearing of the green ribbon, a symbol of solidarity, encouraging us all to engage in open conversations and break down the barriers surrounding mental illness.
The Green Ribbon Campaign is Shine’s largest and most high-profile annual campaign. It is a key opportunity for us to lead the way on stigma reduction around mental illness in Ireland. More than a campaign, we are working to develop it as a social movement that highlights our shared responsibility to destigmatise mental health and foster a more compassionate and supportive society.
While the campaign runs throughout the year, we have designated September as the focus month for campaign awareness-raising events and activities. We promote the wearing of the green ribbon, a symbol of solidarity, encouraging us all to engage in open conversations and break down the barriers surrounding mental illness.
How our Green Ribbon Campaign is funded
The lead funder for the Green Ribbon Campaign is the National Office for Suicide Prevention. We also are supported by donations from the St John of God University Hospital and the public.
How the campaign aligns to Connecting for Life strategy
Connecting for Life is Ireland's national strategy to prevent suicide. It is a cross sectoral strategy with 69 actions under seven strategic goals. The Green Ribbon Campaign strongly aligns to Connecting for Life Goal’s 1 and 3.
Connecting for Life Goal 1:
To improve the nation’s understanding of and attitudes to suicidal behaviour, mental health and wellbeing.
Connecting for Life Goal 2:
To improve the implementation of effective approaches to reducing suicidal behaviour among priority groups.
Pictures from the 2025 Green Ribbon Campaign
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Green Ribbon Campaign 2025
Following the successful official online launch of the Green Ribbon Campaign 2025 on 26th August, which was attended by over 200 people including corporate partners, community organisations and key campaign supporters, the campaign went on to achieve significant national reach and engagement throughout September and into World Mental Health Day in October.
A team of over 30 Shine staff, volunteers and Ambassadors attended Electric Picnic, engaging with festival-goers over the course of the three-day event to raise awareness of mental health stigma and encourage open conversations around mental health. Across the weekend, over 12,000 Green Ribbon wristbands, 2,500 green ribbons, 3,000 temporary tattoos and 500 information cards were distributed.
Throughout the campaign, a wide range of workplace, community and public engagement events took place nationwide, including coffee mornings, walks, talks, information stands, community gatherings and large-scale national events.
- Shine Ambassadors delivered over 34 in-person and online talks during the campaign, sharing lived experience perspectives to help challenge stigma and encourage understanding.
- More than 16,000 Barry’s Tea ‘Time to Talk’ tea packs were distributed nationwide through community groups, events and partner organisations to encourage conversations around mental health. Shine also partnered with An Post to host a Green Ribbon coffee morning and meet-and-greet event in the GPO in Dublin city centre.
- Shine hosted a four-part lunchtime webinar series throughout September titled Reframing Mental Illness, exploring stigma in healthcare, workplaces, the Traveller community and third level education. The webinars featured expert speakers, Shine Ambassadors and people with lived experience, reaching over 1,000 attendees and continuing to be accessed online following the campaign.
- The campaign had a strong presence at major national events throughout September including Electric Picnic, the National Ploughing Championships, Longitude Festival, Cork Pride, UCC Freshers’ Fest and meet-and-greet events at Connolly and Heuston stations in partnership with Irish Rail. Through collaboration with AMLÉ and student unions nationwide, over 100,000 Green Ribbon wristbands were distributed, including 50,000 through student Freshers’ packs.
- The campaign also saw strong national visibility through the annual ‘Light Up Green’ initiative, with more than 50 landmarks and public buildings around Ireland lighting up green in solidarity with the campaign and its aim of reducing mental health stigma. Participating locations included the Four Courts, Dublin Castle, the National Concert Hall, National Gallery, National Museum, Dublin Airport, Cork City Hall, Limerick and Galway Civic Offices, Athlone Railway Bridge and many other OPW and civic buildings nationwide.
- The Green Ribbon Campaign 2025 also received significant political, media and community support throughout the month, including engagement with An Taoiseach Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill TD, Minister for Mental Health Mary Butler TD and support from the Lord Mayors of Dublin, Cork, Limerick and Galway.
Overall, the Green Ribbon Campaign 2025 continued to grow in scale, visibility and engagement, helping to encourage open conversations about mental health and challenge stigma in communities, workplaces, colleges and public spaces across Ireland.
View the 2025 Green Ribbon Impact Report here
Shine’s Policy Submissions
The Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in Ireland
Founded in 1996, the highly competitive Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism awards year long, non-residential fellowships to journalists from the United States, Colombia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates to report on a mental health topic of their choice. In 2023, Shine’s Headline programme, in partnership with the Carter Center, proudly announced the rollout of this prestigious fellowship in Ireland through the Rosalynn Carter Fellowship for Mental Health Journalism in the Republic of Ireland.
Find out more
Mental Health Media Awards
Shine works closely with the media to promote responsible and accurate reporting on mental health. Through guidance, training, and collaboration, Shine helps journalists and media professionals understand the impact of stigma and misinformation while encouraging coverage that is respectful and informed.
Find out more
Green Ribbon Order Form
To order your FREE Green Ribbons, please fill out this form with your order details:
