Irish parcel delivery company DPD Ireland has become the first corporate organisation in Ireland to partner with Legend on the Bench, a suicide prevention charity founded by former professional footballer Micky Hazard, installing two dedicated mental health awareness benches in Athlone as a visible commitment to employee and community wellbeing.

Midlands 103 reported that one bench has been installed at DPD Ireland's head office at Athlone Business Park, providing employees with a permanent outdoor space to pause, connect, and reflect during the working day. A second bench has been donated to the wider community and installed at the rear of Athlone Castle overlooking the River Shannon, with the location selected following guidance from the director of the Samaritans. The installation was supported by Westmeath County Council.

The Legend on the Bench initiative places specially designed benches in public and workplace settings, each carrying a message of connection and hope, with the aim of encouraging conversations about mental health and reminding those who are struggling that support is available.

Des Travers, CEO of DPD Ireland, said the partnership reflects the company's dual responsibility to its workforce and the communities it operates in. He said: "At DPD Ireland, we recognise that mental wellbeing is just as important as physical wellbeing, and creating an environment where people feel supported is something we take very seriously. We are delighted to become the first Irish corporate organisation to support the Legend on the Bench initiative. This partnership reflects our commitment not only to our own employees but also to the communities we serve every day. We hope these benches encourage people to pause, talk and remember that help is always available. If even one conversation starts because of these benches, they will have made a real difference."

DPD Ireland has held Great Place to Work certification at its head office for three consecutive years and has expressed hope that its involvement with Legend on the Bench will encourage other Irish businesses to support the initiative and help expand its reach nationally.

For HR practitioners, the DPD Ireland model illustrates how employers can extend mental health commitments beyond internal programmes into tangible, community-facing gestures that reinforce workplace culture and employer brand simultaneously.