For the second year running, Mental Health Ireland have chosen to mark the whole month of October as World Mental Health Month. This October, the charity has a jam-packed programme of events to raise awareness of World Mental Health Month and love you to get involved!

World Mental Health Day is October 10th, and this year’s theme is ‘Mental Health is a Universal Human Right’. World Mental Health Day has been celebrated around the world since 1992.

How Can I Support World Mental Health Month?

There are lots of ways that you can support Mental Health Ireland in celebrating World Mental Health Month this October. Everyone can play a role in increasing our awareness of mental health. The charity is encouraging more people to have open conversations about mental health and help reduce the stigma that often still exists around it. But it can be challenging to raise awareness about mental health when you’re not sure how.

That’s why Mental Health Ireland has created a suite of resources and events for World Mental Health Month to help individuals and community groups and other NGOs to get involved.

Download Free Resources

Mental Health Ireland has co-designed a range of free downloadable resources that you can use throughout the month to show your support for the campaign. Download and print them out for your school, workplace or community group. Or share the link via email to your friends and colleagues. You can also purchase your own World Mental Health Month merchandise with copies of these resources already printed out.

Host a Connect Cafe

Download your own toolkit to host a Connect Café. A Connect Café is an opportunity to bring people together for a chat and a cuppa and raise awareness of mental health. Learn more about hosting a Connect Café here. You can also join the Connect Café information sessions to learn more

Get Involved in the 5 Ways to Fundraise Campaign

Help raise vital funds for Mental Health Ireland to continue to support people around the country. You can do this by getting involved in the 5 Ways to Fundraise Campaign.

Some ways you can fundraise money for Mental Health Ireland are:

• Host a Cake Sale or a Bake Off Challenge with friends or work colleagues.
• Become more active by walking, running, swimming or cycling during the month of October and ask your friends, family and colleagues to sponsor you to do so. You don’t have to be Usain Bolt! Start by setting yourself a smaller challenge of increasing your steps by a little every day for a month. Feel better mentally and physically and raise money for a good cause at the same time!
• Host a spooktacular Fancy Dress Halloween party and ask attendees to donate to Mental Health Ireland. Or why don’t you encourage your colleagues to come to work in fancy dress and have a prize for the best dressed! Don’t forget to send Mental Health Ireland your fancy dress pictures to share on their social media channels!

Or you may have your own fundraising ideas! Let the Mental Health Ireland team know about your fundraising activities by contacting fundraising@mentalhealthireland.ie

Share what events you are running for World Mental Health Month or find out what events are being held in your area here. Don’t forget to check out the World Mental Health Month Website and follow the Mental Health Ireland social media channels for the latest information.

https://www.facebook.com/Mental.Health.Ireland

https://www.instagram.com/mentalhealthireland/

https://twitter.com/MentalHealthIrl