Fermanagh fitness enthusiast Caroline Greene has a positive message to relay as she holds a fundraising Exercise to Music event in the run up to Christmas.

The main target of her special evening is to raise awareness of mental health and wellbeing.

The emphasis will be on ‘the power of exercise to make you feel good about yourself’ and the activity will take place in Derrygonnelly Community Centre on December 20, 2018.

The night’s chosen beneficiary is the Aisling Centre, Enniskillen, and the format will include Zumba, Aerobics and Cardio Combat.

Caroline, the main organiser, backed by a team, explains that her background is in psychology, which she studied to Degree and Masters levels.

“Personally it was why I chose the subject; I wanted to gain an understanding of my own mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

“I have suffered and been treated for depression since I was 17,” disclosed Caroline, who mentions that “it comes and goes” but adds that she has “definitely improved”. She revealed that she has received different sorts of counselling and been prescribed medication.

Caroline, who has decided to speak openly in a bid to encourage and help others, confesses that “the stigma around mental health” has always been an issue for her.

She admitted that in the past she “came off any help received medically because of the stigma” and did her best to beat it by herself, but stressed ‘it was the wrong thing’.

Caroline, who has “overcome that pattern”, went on to express the view that “because depression is such a grey area, it’s hard to know the right treatment for it” and she feels “people should not dismiss one form of treatment over another on how someone might judge you.”

Reflecting on her psychology studies, she said her “degree dissertation was based on structured group exercise and its relationship with body image, self-esteem and changes in mood.”

Caroline said she came to realise that “mental health comes in many different forms with so many contributing factors.”

She continued: “The focus in the end was not why someone is the way they are but how do they help themselves. I realised this is what I wanted to do as a living and that was to combine looking at the fitness industry to treating the whole person.”

“I feel my job is about people and promoting healthy lifestyles,” enthused Caroline, who has been doing this for nine years.

She runs fitness classes in Derrygonnelly, Belcoo, Glenfarne and Enniskillen and also works in Derry. She is passionate about teaching women strength and conditioning as she believes it makes them feel strong inside and out.

She admitted she “suffered isolation” following the birth of her son and “suffered postnatally after the birth” of her daughter.

She felt: “Exercise was an escape and also a way of socially including myself. I feel I want to help others by being open; this is how it was, without dressing it up”

Caroline points out ‘there is light’ and she revealed: “It was a long journey for me and I can finally stand up and say I feel ok but I can understand other people might be in the middle of their journey when they have not come to terms with their feelings. I believe it’s important that they reach out and seek support without worrying about being judged.”

She advocates focusing on “the positive way to deal with things” and she looks forward to her upcoming Exercise to Music evening as a fun event.

She welcomes everyone (16 plus) to come along. Describing it as a ‘social occasion’, she says they will also be supporting a worthy cause.

She mentioned that she had chosen to hold the event in support of the Aisling Centre as she disclosed that some years ago she “reached out” to the Centre and acknowledged the help received.

“I felt it was good to have someone to call when you felt completely alone,” admitted Caroline.