Bressie has received a huge honour from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland.
The Blizzards frontman is well-known for his work towards mental health along with his music and television work.
The Westmeath native has campaigned tirelessly for mental health awareness and in 2015 set up A Lust For Life which aims to normalise conversation about mental health and emotional well-being.
Bressie was honoured with the Honorary Fellowship, the highest honour the Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery can bestow, in recognition of his contribution to mental health advocacy.
The 36-year-old gave the conference opening speech and highlighted that change is happening on the road to normalising mental health conversation.
“If we are to truly transform the outdated and generational attitudes towards mental health in Ireland it will take a collective response from our health care professionals, those in influence of power and our wider society and we must do so with empathy, sensitivity and humanity,” he said at the conference.
“We must recognise the progress that we have made in this regard in recent years but it’s a long road to travel.
“We must join the dots and work together if we are to normalise the conversation around mental health and develop a system that supports and cares for the most vulnerable, while also looking at ways of moving towards a preventative rather than reactive model of care.”
Vice-Dean of RCSIÂ Dr Theresa Frawley praised Bressie for using his public image to help promote mental health awareness.
“As a mental health champion, Niall uses his public profile to help others affected by mental health issues and especially focuses on the needs of younger members of society.
“He promotes the importance of identifying and destroying the stigma associated with mental health. He strives to create awareness around mental health and to motivate others towards self-efficacy.
“He also encourages people to be true to oneself, to engage with relevant services and supports and when possible to take personal control of one’s health and wellbeing,” she added.
