Ahead of Time to Talk Day coach operator Aircoach, and local charity Inspire, have unveiled details of a new Wellbeing on Wheels initiative aimed at driving improvements in mental health and wellbeing for thousands of passengers.

The initiative will see Aircoach passengers on the company’s popular 705X route, between Derry/Londonderry and Belfast International Airport/Dublin, encouraged to transform their travel time into wellbeing time by discovering a whole range of accessible short courses, toolkits, and mental health advice which can all be read or completed during their time on board.

With few distractions for passengers while on board, Aircoach and Inspire are hoping people will take the opportunity to discover advice on issues including mental health, alcohol, drugs, gambling, debt, loneliness, and building resilience, as well as a range of short courses on areas such as Getting a Better Night’s Sleep. Passengers can also find information on how to access further help on any issues of concern to them.

Passengers can access the Wellbeing on Wheels hub by scanning a QR code carried on the inside of the coaches or through the websites of Inspire Wellbeing and Aircoach.

Inspiration

Speaking about the inspiration for the initiative, Kim Swan, Managing Director of Aircoach, said: “Wellbeing on Wheels came about because, with so many of our Aircoach journeys and routes starting and ending at airports, we frequently see passengers grappling with a wide variety of emotions when boarding and disembarking our coaches. Also, we know conversations between passengers, who are often strangers, can see people opening up to each other about things that are happening in their lives.

“Ensuring our passengers are looked after is a key value for Aircoach, and we wanted to see if we could find a way to help passengers combat any negative feelings or worries. We approached Inspire because as a leading charity, it is known for its commitment to helping people improve their wellbeing. Together we realised we had a captive audience on board, with fewer draws on their attention than at other times in their lives, and so the idea to enable them to turn their travel time into self-care time with Wellbeing on Wheels was born.

“Along with Inspire, we’re tremendously excited by Wellbeing on Wheels and hope it will be the impetus for many Aircoach passengers, and others, to start their wellbeing journey.”

The need for the new initiative has been underscored by the findings of an important new survey, conducted by Censuswide, which is being released tomorrow for Time to Talk Day, the UK’s biggest conversation about mental health. Run by mental health charities, MIND, Rethink Mental Illness, and in Northern Ireland by Inspire, in partnership with Co-Op, the poll surveyed 1001 people in Northern Ireland.

Speaking ahead of the release of the findings and the importance of initiatives such as Wellbeing on Wheels, Kerry Anthony, CEO of Inspire Wellbeing, said: “As people across Ireland are starting conversations about mental health on Time to Talk Day, we are delighted to be launching Wellbeing on Wheels, in partnership with Aircoach, to encourage passengers to build a little wellbeing into their journey.

“In a recent survey we conducted, we know that people are still struggling with their mental health, with personal worries and struggles on top of issues like the rise in the cost-of-living and the distressing events going on in the world. So, we are hoping through this initiative, we can drive positive change by bringing mental health information directly to people across Ireland. Whether it be a mindfulness podcast to listen to on your journey, advice to help with sleep, or a self-help guide around relationships, Wellbeing on Wheels can help you build a little wellbeing into your day.”