Cork psychotherapist shortlisted for top mental health award

A CORK-based psychotherapist has reached the shortlist of a prestigious mental health awards initiative celebrating inspirational stories.

Dr Susan Lawlor was nominated in the professional category of the Mental Health Awards which are judged by a panel representing clinicians and national mental health organisations across the UK and internationally.

Dr Lawlor co-founded a mental health charity, State of Mind Ireland, with her late brother, Dr Martin Lawlor, a leading consultant psychiatrist, in 2013.

The initiative aims to improve the mental health and the working life of sports players and sporting communities.

Dr Lawlor also works with a global team assessing and counselling young people and adults with autism and ADHD.

The Tralee native is continuing to thrive in her career despite finding her life shattered in December 2018 when her brother, Dr Martin Lawlor, was killed in a hit-and-run collision on Kinsale Road. The 49-year-old is survived by his wife Helen Murphy Lawlor from Millstreet and their three children, Jennifer, Samuel, and Rebecca.

Almost five years on and Dr Susan Lawlor is continuing to carry on her brother’s legacy.

Last year, she was named as World Dignity Mental Health Champion Award winner.

Dr Lawlor shared her joy at being nominated for this year’s Mental Health Awards.

“This nomination means the world to me and is a welcomed surprise,” she told The Echo.

“I am beyond honoured to work and to be trusted with the most vulnerable in our communities on a global scale whilst overcoming personal tragedy simultaneously. This award symbolises true dedication, heart-felt devotion and extremely hard work.

“It represents everything that my late brother and co-founder of State of Mind Ireland Dr Martin Lawlor stood for. He taught me from a very young age to treat all people with the utmost kindness, respect and dignity and I hope I’ll continue to do him proud as I continue on our work”.

She hopes that her achievements can inspire others.

“I firmly believe that by doing good by others it returns full circle and comes back to us. Being kind and compassionate towards ourselves is so important. Life is not easy for anyone nowadays but we need to try to find the light in the darkest of days. Hope is a prerequisite for our survival, we need something to hold onto. We need to believe that situations can change and problems can dissolve in the light of a new day. We need to just keep holding on. When the world says, “Give Up”, Hope will always whisper “Try It One More Time”.

Dr Lawlor acknowledged the grief that she and her family have suffered in recent years.

“I hope that I can be a good role model for young people and adults alike who experience tragedy like my own. It takes a lot of courage to push through hard times. Grief can destroy you if you let it take a hold of you. You are helpless in the face of it. It is like a window but it only opens on its own accord and at times without any warning at all. However, we must not stand there stuck in the cold. We need to realise that every moment that we had with the person was something to cherish and now every tear that we shed represents the love that still exists between us. I hope whoever is reading this gets comfort in knowing that someone so special to them will never be forgotten. They will forever live in our hearts and we will be reunited with them one day but not today. We cannot stop living because they are no longer with us, they would not want this. In another time, in a happier place, we will meet them again.”